Getting cigarette smoke out of clothes and fabrics?

[Rall]

Alright, so I live with a chain smoker and every time I leave the house, I smell like cigarette smoke. Never touched the things in my life, but it smells like I smoke a pack a day. I keep all my clothes in a small closet, and the door is closed almost 24/7. No matter how much perfume I use, or how much incense/candles I burn, it just doesn't help.

My significant other and I went over to a friends house only to hear his mother say "Phew, who smells like cigarette smoke?" I shouldn't be so sensitive about it, it's just something I've had to live with for so long.

Does anybody know a good way to nip this in the bud? Maybe something with a strong smell I could put in my closet or something I could spray on myself before I leave the house? I'm about willing to try anything.

[cdawnfine]

I quit smoking in Feb of 06, and all I can say is this is a very difficult thing to do. The most reliable is plain News Paper in your closet but this needs to be changed about 2 times a day the paper absorbs the smell. This is the best advice I can offer you. I have painted my house, put down wood floors and I still think I smell it once in a while.

Good Luck

Originally Posted by Rall

Alright, so I live with a chain smoker and every time I leave the house, I smell like cigarette smoke. Never touched the things in my life, but it smells like I smoke a pack a day. I keep all my clothes in a small closet, and the door is closed almost 24/7. No matter how much perfume I use, or how much incense/candles I burn, it just doesn't help.

My significant other and I went over to a friends house only to hear his mother say "Phew, who smells like cigarette smoke?" I shouldn't be so sensitive about it, it's just something I've had to live with for so long.

Does anybody know a good way to nip this in the bud? Maybe something with a strong smell I could put in my closet or something I could spray on myself before I leave the house? I'm about willing to try anything.

[Rall]

Wow, I've never heard of that! Thank you for the suggestion. I'll definitely try that.

[cdawnfine]

You are welcome, thats what I did for all of my purses

[mimimomo]

Febreeze

[mickey3696]

The only true way of getting it out is to not have it there in the first place. Why not ask the other person to go outside or better yet to quit all together? I have been quit for 3 years but when I smoked I went outside cause my DH had quit and didnt like it. My mother also smokes outside. I had smoked for over 25 years and I did it. I cant stand the smell now. I had no idea how bad it was till I quit. I few weeks ago I went into an icecream place and had a sample but couldnt taste the icecream for the smell from the spoon the lady gave me. She had smoked and never washed her hands after so when she touched the spoon it made it smell like it. I never knew how bad it was till I quit.

[Rall]

Furbreeze? I think I tried that when I was younger, but I can't remember how well it worked. Worth a try again since I don't remember it failing, though.

And, as much as I'd love for her to quit altogether, I can't ask a person not to smoke inside when they rightfully own the house... She's a senior citizen and has tried to quit about 4 or 5 times before. I love her dearly, and wish she would quit, but we don't bother her about it anymore... My boyfriend told me bluntly I probably won't get away from it until we get a place of our own. I hated the thought of that, but I'm starting to think he's right...

[Breezeaway]

Charcoal will absorb smells, Open a bag of charcoal and sit it in your closet.

[ladyjane]

Eco-88
Eco-88- pet odor and pet stain remover. Guaranteed!


Incredible stuff! I once received a package of dog clothes and could not wash some of them because of the fabric. I put them in a bag and sprayed Eco-88 lightly. You do have to be careful with some colors.

Before I got rid of my carpets I used that for tough stains...it was unbelievable!

It is guaranteed!

[lil fu fu girl]

You might want to try a air purifier in your room and a filtrete filter in the air/heat unit, as the smoke will travel into your room via the duct system. I feel sorry for you, because not only will it be on your clothes but your hair and skin as well. I cannot stand that smell! Cannot understand in this day and time, with all the research on how bad it is, why people still do it.
Nothing like spending your older years with an oxygen mask on 24-7!

[Connie]

Coffee! Just buy a bag of cheap coffee and open it and set it in the closet or anywhere else you want the smell absorbed! I'm not sure if your clothes would smell like coffee though.

[Rall]

Oh yeah. Don't you just hate it when you're out somewhere nice and catch a wiff of your hair only to notice it smells like cheap cigarettes? I sure do. And that might be a million dollar idea there. I could, at the very least, put some kind of air freshener down there.

The smell of coffee is 100 times better than cigarette smoke, so even if I did I'd consider that a win. Not so sure about the charcoal though.

Anyways, thanks for all the suggestions guys. I'm gonna try to make the best of an old, bad situation until I can finally move into a smoke free home.

[Breezeaway]

Plain charcoal, that you use in a grill. Not the kind that has lighter fluid in it like matchlight.

[Rall]

Ohhhhh, Okay! I'm not much of a griller so I had no idea there was a difference. I'm gonna see if I can't try all of these to decide which works the best.

[Ladymom]

Oh, yuck. there is nothing worse than cigarette smoke in your clothes and hair.

Not just the smell, but aren't you worried about secondhand smoke? And your poor Yorkie is exposed to it, too.

If it were me, I'd find another place to live. It's not worth jeopardizing your health.