As commercial painters, and because we do a lot of paint work for apartment complexes in the Toledo area, we come across a lot of unsavory things...
Cat pee on the carpet.
Animal feces behind furniture.
Rat’s nests in cupboards.
And yes, cigarette stains.
And as commercial painters and handymen, it’s our job to get rid of the unsavory, and make a unit not only livable, but attractive as well. So, in order to keep our clients happy, we’ve had to learn a few tricks…
Today we’ll share with you our tips on how to get rid of that lingering cigarette smell, and the discoloration that comes with it:
Trick #1: The White Vinegar Solution
For tough stains, add warmed vinegar to a spray bottle and just blast the area. No dilution needed. For weaker stains, dilute using a one-to-one ratio of warm water and warm vinegar. Again, apply the mixture directly to the walls. Tar and nicotine are sticky substances, and eventually harden to the surfaces on which they lay. By applying vinegar, you are effectively softening the residue for easy removal AND killing the smell.
Fun Fact: This solution works great for killing and removing mold as well.
Trick #2: The Ammonia Method
When mixed with water, ammonia serves as a great tool for removing cigarette tar and nicotine stains from the walls. Combine 1 tablespoon of ammonia for every cup of water. If there are numerous stains, combine ½ cup of ammonia for every gallon of water. IF the walls are already painted, reduce the mixture to ¼ cup ammonia for every gallon of water. For a stronger solution, increase the mixture to a full cup ammonia for every gallon of water. Apply the solution directly to the wall and let sit for about five minutes. Wipe clean, and then follow with a rinse of warm water.
For The Stains That Just Won’t Quit
Sometimes, cigarette stains just won’t budge, no matter how much you drown them in vinegar and ammonia. For these tough guys, we break out the big guns: trisodium phosphate. While it sounds complex, trisodium phosphate can actually be found right at your local home improvement or hardware store, right with the household cleaning supplies.
If you need to resort to this method for removing cigarette stains and smell from your walls, wear gloves! Mix 1 tablespoon of trisodium phosphate in 1 gallon of warm water. Begin applying at the bottom of the wall, and work your way up. This solution can leave streaks, so we find that this method of application is best for avoiding streaks. Let the mixture sit for a while before wiping it off. Rinse with a sponge dipped in clean water. Because of the solution’s potency, you will need to change the rinse water often. Once the walls are clean, primer and paint them for the best results. Choose a primer that is made to cover tough stains.
Get Rid of That Smoky Smell
While all of these solutions are meant to remove cigarette stains from your walls, they’re not meant to combat that smell entirely. Remember, cigarette smoke has a way of evading every part of a home, including the HVAC system, rugs, flooring, etc. To chase the smell away completely, ventilate thoroughly while you work. If possible, set a large reversible fan inside a window to vent the household air outside. Remove and replace and/or clean any cold-air return filters in the house. Clean the grates around the cold-air return to remove tar and nicotine stains that have settled there. Clean the carpet if you have some, or remove and replace it entirely. Clean any drapes that were in the house while smoking was going on.
Call In the Experts
Cigarette stains are tough, and they’re not all going to disappear at the first signs of a homemade solution. At Liberty Paint & Construction, it’s our job to make a home, apartment unit or office complex look as good as new – and smell that way too. We know what solution each stain requires, and can effectively kill pesky cigarette stains and smells in one attempt. If you’ve tried and failed to remove cigarette stains from your walls, or if you don’t want to waste a weekend trying to figure out what works and what doesn’t, give us a call at 619-770-9437 or email us at [email protected]. We’ll be happy to take care of the job for you!
See what other services we offer at www.libertypaintandconstruction.com.
Cat pee on the carpet.
Animal feces behind furniture.
Rat’s nests in cupboards.
And yes, cigarette stains.
And as commercial painters and handymen, it’s our job to get rid of the unsavory, and make a unit not only livable, but attractive as well. So, in order to keep our clients happy, we’ve had to learn a few tricks…
Today we’ll share with you our tips on how to get rid of that lingering cigarette smell, and the discoloration that comes with it:
Trick #1: The White Vinegar Solution
For tough stains, add warmed vinegar to a spray bottle and just blast the area. No dilution needed. For weaker stains, dilute using a one-to-one ratio of warm water and warm vinegar. Again, apply the mixture directly to the walls. Tar and nicotine are sticky substances, and eventually harden to the surfaces on which they lay. By applying vinegar, you are effectively softening the residue for easy removal AND killing the smell.
Fun Fact: This solution works great for killing and removing mold as well.
Trick #2: The Ammonia Method
When mixed with water, ammonia serves as a great tool for removing cigarette tar and nicotine stains from the walls. Combine 1 tablespoon of ammonia for every cup of water. If there are numerous stains, combine ½ cup of ammonia for every gallon of water. IF the walls are already painted, reduce the mixture to ¼ cup ammonia for every gallon of water. For a stronger solution, increase the mixture to a full cup ammonia for every gallon of water. Apply the solution directly to the wall and let sit for about five minutes. Wipe clean, and then follow with a rinse of warm water.
For The Stains That Just Won’t Quit
Sometimes, cigarette stains just won’t budge, no matter how much you drown them in vinegar and ammonia. For these tough guys, we break out the big guns: trisodium phosphate. While it sounds complex, trisodium phosphate can actually be found right at your local home improvement or hardware store, right with the household cleaning supplies.
If you need to resort to this method for removing cigarette stains and smell from your walls, wear gloves! Mix 1 tablespoon of trisodium phosphate in 1 gallon of warm water. Begin applying at the bottom of the wall, and work your way up. This solution can leave streaks, so we find that this method of application is best for avoiding streaks. Let the mixture sit for a while before wiping it off. Rinse with a sponge dipped in clean water. Because of the solution’s potency, you will need to change the rinse water often. Once the walls are clean, primer and paint them for the best results. Choose a primer that is made to cover tough stains.
Get Rid of That Smoky Smell
While all of these solutions are meant to remove cigarette stains from your walls, they’re not meant to combat that smell entirely. Remember, cigarette smoke has a way of evading every part of a home, including the HVAC system, rugs, flooring, etc. To chase the smell away completely, ventilate thoroughly while you work. If possible, set a large reversible fan inside a window to vent the household air outside. Remove and replace and/or clean any cold-air return filters in the house. Clean the grates around the cold-air return to remove tar and nicotine stains that have settled there. Clean the carpet if you have some, or remove and replace it entirely. Clean any drapes that were in the house while smoking was going on.
Call In the Experts
Cigarette stains are tough, and they’re not all going to disappear at the first signs of a homemade solution. At Liberty Paint & Construction, it’s our job to make a home, apartment unit or office complex look as good as new – and smell that way too. We know what solution each stain requires, and can effectively kill pesky cigarette stains and smells in one attempt. If you’ve tried and failed to remove cigarette stains from your walls, or if you don’t want to waste a weekend trying to figure out what works and what doesn’t, give us a call at 619-770-9437 or email us at [email protected]. We’ll be happy to take care of the job for you!
See what other services we offer at www.libertypaintandconstruction.com.