Removing Smoke Stains: Vinegar, Baking Soda and More

Cigarette smoke and smoke from other sources can stain walls and fabrics and leave a residue on the surface that seems almost permanent. White walls that have been exposed to cigarette smoke will usually have a yellowish tint to them, and light-colored fabrics on couches can also discolor due to smoke contact. Luckily, smoke residue can be removed from walls and fabrics, and it can be done with various household products.

Although cigarette smoke does tend to turn walls yellow, the smoke is only able to stain the surface. You can get rid of the smell on the walls by washing them with either soap or vinegar and water, and then paint over the walls to hide the yellowish tint. Washing the walls will also help to decrease the appearance of stains, so some smoke damage may not require painting if the damage was minimal.

Furniture can also become damaged due to constant smoke exposure, but cleaning the furniture can easily reverse it. The cleaning process will depend on the type of furniture damaged, since some pieces may require special attention. You can wash your cushion covers in the washing machine, or choose to use a spray on cleaner directly on your couch. Some carpet cleaning companies have equipment for sofas and other pieces of upholstered furniture, or you can choose to rent your own cleaner from a local super store. Baking soda works great at soaking the odors out of cushions, and all you have to do is sprinkle it and let it sit for about 15 minutes before vacuuming it up.

Car upholstery can be tricky since it can't be thrown in the washing machine, but a decent detail job should be able to help with some of the smoke damage. You can also use baking soda on the upholstery in your car, or spray it with vinegar before shampooing your seats. You can use a vinegar solution to clean any residue off of the windows, and also spray down the rugs before washing them as well. If the smoke smell is fairly strong, you can try airing out the car by rolling all of the windows down for an extended period of time.