When my uncle died we sold his house (he lived alone) and I have it on good authority that the new owners are still trying to get rid of the smell! His house was inherited from his parents, and my Nan was a chain smoker. Instead of actually thoroughly cleaning, they just wallpapered over when the layers became yellow. The new owners stripped about 5 or 6 layers of wallpaper from one room, all nicotine stained and stinking.
During the initial house clearance, I recovered a photo I loved, and took it home. I spent about an hour painstakingly cleaning the nicotine off the frame to restore it to its former glory.
I never remember being smoked around in that house when I was young, but it was very different smelling to other people's houses, and I spent a lot of time playing outside.
When my Nan came to live with us, she was still a heavy smoker with terrible asthma and was prone to frequent chest infections. She was only allowed to smoke in the outhouse, but my parents shielded me from this. I do remember the huge plastic vessel shaped like a blimp that she had to take her inhalers from, and her disgusting cough. Put me off smoking for life.
Said I'd never go out with a smoker ever, and was very disappointed when I found out DP smoked. I didn't get rid of him because you can't help who you love, but he knows I hate it and has never made an effort to change
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