Originally Published July 26, 2018
The best ways to clean cigarette smoke and nicotine off walls include:
- Hire a professional: Contact a professional service like Rainbow Restoration® to restore walls without the risk of further damaging them.
- Vacuum: Lightly cleaning and vacuuming may help remove deposits of tar on smoke-damaged walls.
- Ammonia solution: Cleaning with an ammonia-based solution and scrubbing may help minimize smoke stains on walls.
- Prime and repaint: Priming and repainting may help reduce smoke damage on walls.
According to a 2021 study, over 28 million adults currently smoke cigarettes. Cigarette smoke's negative impact goes beyond adverse health consequences and has the potential to decrease the value of properties by causing tar and nicotine stains on walls. Lingering cigarette smoke odor and stains can make spaces less enjoyable to live in. Anyone dealing with these issues should know how to clean cigarette smoke off walls.
While there are several DIY approaches to removing smoke damage from walls, hiring a professional to restore a property is ultimately the most effective method because experts have the necessary experience to perform jobs correctly and won’t cause further damage.
If professional remediation is not an option, these methods may help remove nicotine and tar stains from walls.
Table of contents:
1. Vacuum and Scrub Walls
Lightly cleaning smoke off walls with a vacuum and an upholstery brush attachment can help remove any loose debris. To further clean walls, it can be useful to scrub them with a cleaning solution. It’s advisable to work in small sections and dry the wall accordingly to prevent drywall from becoming too saturated with the cleaning solution.
If drywall becomes too saturated with liquid, it can cause considerable damage, making restoration efforts even more costly and labor-intensive. Calling Rainbow Restoration’s expert service professionals to restore smoke-damaged walls is an effective way to bypass this risk.
2. Clean With Ammonia Solution
Creating a cleaning solution consisting of ammonia and water may be useful when cleaning smoke off walls. It’s recommended to wear protective gear and properly ventilate spaces during this process, which consists of spraying the cleaning solution onto walls, using a sponge to scrub smoke stains, and subsequently wiping areas with fresh water.
Removing nicotine stains can be difficult if the room has been exposed to smoke over a long period of time. Property owners typically need to repeat these steps over the course of several days to get effective results. Hiring trusted restoration professionals, like those at Rainbow Restoration, eliminates the need to engage in prolonged and sometimes ineffective cleaning efforts.
3. Prime and Repaint
It’s advisable to clean and remove peeling or chipping paint from walls before priming and repainting. It may also be useful to cover floors and furniture to minimize the risk of damaging other parts of the room. Adding a foundational layer of primer to a wall before painting may help the paint adhere more effectively. When painting, it’s recommended to apply even layers of paint and repeat the process in order to get a better finish.
Priming and repainting walls without professional expertise is labor-intensive and time-consuming and may result in unprofessional-looking walls. These risks can be avoided by engaging the help of efficient and trustworthy service professionals with years of experience, like those from Rainbow Restoration.
Why You Should Hire a Professional
If the process of how to clean cigarette smoke off walls seems overwhelming, call a professional. Hiring a professional is the best way to clean smoke off walls and effectively remove cigarette smoke odors, with several key benefits:
- Expert knowledge and experience: Rainbow Restoration has decades of experience in smoke damage restoration. Our adept service professionals meticulously assess and restore smoke-damaged walls to produce expert results.
- No unnecessary work or further damage: Those who are inexperienced can further ruin smoke damaged walls when trying to restore them. Enlisting the detail-oriented help of Rainbow Restoration service professionals prevents further damage.
- Facilitates the complete recovery of a property from smoke damage: When a property owner attempts to restore smoke-damaged walls, there’s a significant chance that a property won’t be completely restored to its best possible condition. Rainbow Restoration service professionals have the tools and expertise to ensure restoration jobs are done right.
Rainbow Restoration offers different services to restore residential and commercial properties to their best possible condition. Experienced service professionals take a comprehensive approach to smoke stain and odor removal rather than merely covering them up.
By enlisting Rainbow Restoration’s services, property owners can expect great results without the headache of navigating the process themselves.
Reasons To Clean Cigarette Smoke Off Walls
If walls are marred with the odor and stains of cigarette smoke, it can be unappealing and also have additional side effects.
- Smoke stains and odors can lessen the value of property: The smell of cigarette smoke and the distracting stains of smoke damage can leave others less willing to rent or purchase properties.
- Lingering smoke can affect more than just walls: Smoke damage on walls can leave a smoke smell on clothes that’s difficult to remove and even has the potential to negatively affect skin and health.
- Painting can’t begin until the consequences of cigarette smoke are addressed: While it may seem like a fresh coat of paint will take care of lingering cigarette odor, this effort may be ineffective without first removing the odor of smoke. Enlisting the help of a professional to address the negative effects of smoke and fire damage is the best course of action in these situations.
Trust Rainbow Restoration for Cigarette Smoke Stain and Odor Removal
Those wondering how to clean cigarette smoke off walls should hire a professional to avoid the stress and struggle of engaging in this difficult process. Most walls that have been damaged by cigarette smoke or a fire won’t be restored by simple fixes like vinegar-based cleaning solutions and vacuuming. Rainbow Restoration has the tools and expertise to properly assess smoke damage on walls and restore them to their best possible condition. Call to schedule service today.
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and may not be applicable to every situation. You are responsible for determining the proper course of action for your home and property. Rainbow Restoration is not responsible for any damages that occur as a result of this blog content or your actions. For the most accurate guidance, contact the Rainbow Restoration location nearest you for a comprehensive, on-site assessment.
FAQ About Cleaning Cigarette Smoke Off Walls
As an industry leader we believe setting the highest standards in water, fire, and mold damage restoration requires a continuous focus and dedication to education and improvement. All Rainbow Restoration service professionals are graded and evaluated on response time, professionalism, and customer satisfaction. This commitment to exceptional service also includes using our experience and expertise to answer your restoration-related questions. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about cleaning cigarette smoke off walls.
What gets cigarette smoke off walls?
Vacuuming, cleaning and painting may sometimes help rid walls of cigarette smoke stains and odors. However, these methods aren’t always effective and can be labor-intensive and time-consuming for those unfamiliar with these processes.
In these cases, enlisting the help of trusted professionals like Rainbow Restoration can simplify the process and ensure walls are properly restored.
What’s the best way to get cigarette smoke residue off walls?
Vacuuming, cleaning, and painting may sometimes get smoke residue off walls. What cleans smoke off walls will differ depending on the severity of the smoke damage. Instead of guessing how to clean nicotine off walls, those with this issue should enlist the services of a trusted organization like Rainbow Restoration.
Does vinegar remove cigarette smoke from walls?
Vinegar-based cleaning solutions may sometimes remove cigarette smoke from walls; however, professional cleaning solutions are proven to be more effective. Having a professional address the issue is the most effective way to restore smoke-damaged walls.
What’s the best way to clean a house with cigarette smoke damage?
Vacuuming, cleaning with an ammonia-based solution, and priming and repainting walls may help clean a house with cigarette smoke damage. However, these efforts can be ineffective or further damage walls when done by anyone lacking the proper experience and specialized knowledge.
Rather than potentially damaging walls even more, a professional service like Rainbow Restoration can expertly remove nicotine from walls and make the process of cleaning a house with cigarette smoke damage easier, faster, and more effective.
