Prep first
Before you start
- Check the care tags on curtains, carpet and upholstery before any liquid touches them.
- Vacuum loose dust from the carpet and upholstery so the cleaning doesn't turn it into a muddy paste.
- Test every cleaner on a hidden spot first, and keep the windows open while you work.
Smoke smells are oil-based, so they cling to walls, ceilings, curtains, windows and carpet, and they build up over time. They can also sink into carpet padding and upholstery stuffing, which is why surface cleaning alone often isn't enough. Check the care tags on curtains and upholstery before you start, since they decide what can get wet.
Whether the smell comes from cigarettes, cigars or weed, the same deep clean works on the same surfaces. Start by opening the windows and clearing soft items out of the room, since the smell lives in the air and in fabric. Air and fabric fresheners only cover the odor, so the cleaning has to remove what's causing it.
8 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Warm waterUsed for the wall wash, the rinse and wetting the cloths.
- Dishwashing detergentLabeled for greasy dishes, so it can cut the oily film that smoke leaves on walls and ceilings. (opens Amazon)
- Rubbing alcoholA 70% isopropyl or 90% denatured type with no added color or fragrance, mixed half and half with water for the windows. (opens Amazon)
- Paper towelsFor wiping heavily smoked windows, switched out as they get dirty. (opens Amazon)
- Soft cloths or spongesFor washing and rinsing walls and ceilings, changed often so the film doesn't spread. (opens Amazon)
- Carpet shampooA product made for your carpet's fiber type, used as its label directs. (opens Amazon)
- Baking sodaA gentle deodorizer for dry carpet, sprinkled on and then vacuumed up. (opens Amazon)
- Vacuum cleanerFor removing loose dust before cleaning and the baking soda after it has sat. (opens Amazon)
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7 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 7
Clear the room and ventilate
Take curtains, bedding, loose cushions and rugs out of the room, then open the windows. Ventilating the room while you work helps carry away the smoke that is still in the air.
Tip. Work from the top of the room down, so drips from the ceiling don't land on clean walls.
Step 2 of 7
Wash the walls and ceilings
Mix warm water with dishwashing detergent labeled for greasy dishes. Wipe the walls and ceilings from top to bottom, working in small sections so the film lifts before the surface dries.
Tip. Wring the cloth out well so the wall doesn't get soaked.
Step 3 of 7
Rinse the walls and ceilings
Wipe the same sections again with a clean cloth and plain warm water to lift the soap film. Change cloths often, since a dirty cloth only moves the residue around.
Careful. Flat and matte paint is less durable than other finishes, so keep the pressure light and don't over-wet it.
Step 4 of 7
Clean the windows
Mix equal parts water and rubbing alcohol, then wipe the glass with paper towels. Use this mix on heavily smoked windows, and switch to fresh paper towels as they get dirty.
Tip. Finish with a dry paper towel to remove streaks.
Careful. Rubbing alcohol can damage vinyl and plastic trim, so keep the mix off plastic and vinyl frames.
Step 5 of 7
Shampoo the carpet and curtains
Shampoo the carpet following the product's directions, working in sections. Launder curtains only if their care label allows it, and take dry-clean-only curtains to a professional cleaner instead.
Tip. Clean any rugs the same way once they're back in the room.
Careful. Test the shampoo on a hidden spot first, since some dyes and fibers react to cleaners.
Step 6 of 7
Dry the room completely
Keep the windows open and the room ventilated until the walls, carpet and curtains are fully dry. Don't put furniture or fabric back until it's dry all the way through, since any moisture left behind keeps the cleaning from being finished.
Tip. A fan pointed across the carpet speeds up drying.
Step 7 of 7
Deodorize and vacuum the carpet
Sprinkle baking soda evenly over the dry carpet, let it sit, then vacuum thoroughly. Baking soda is a gentle deodorizer and is safe on most home surfaces, so it suits the carpet.
Tip. Vacuum any hard floors nearby if baking soda drifted onto them.
Careful. Keep baking soda off aluminum, which it darkens.
What makes the job easier
Products that help
Choose a carpet shampoo made for your carpet's fiber type, and skip scented products, since fragrance only masks the smell.
OdoBan Odor Eliminator & Disinfectant Concentrate
How we picked these: each product is made for this kind of odor or surface, its maker doesn't warn against using it on cigarette smell, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely before you use it again.
How to tell it's really done →A faint smell often fades as everything dries and airs out; give it a day before a second round.
Find the guide for your stain →Heavy grime or a lingering smell usually needs a second round once it's fully dry.
See what to do for what you're seeing →When to call a professional →How to tell it's done
The room is clean when the walls, ceilings and windows wipe clean and the carpet and curtains smell neutral once they're fully dry. If it still smells once everything is dry, the smoke has probably sunk into the padding or stuffing, so keep the room ventilated and check those next.
If there is a stain too
Related guides
A smell usually has a stain or a spill behind it. These guides cover the cleanup in detail:
What changes for yours
Adjust for what holds the smell
Couches and upholstered chairs
Upholstery takes in smoke and holds it deep in the fabric, so the surface can look clean while the smell stays. Blot any cleaner with a cloth dampened in cool or lukewarm water, and never use hot water on it. Check the care tag first, and if it says no liquid cleaning, vacuum the cushions instead of wetting them.
If you're not sure what the fabric can take, test a hidden spot first or take the piece to a professional cleaner. Keep the upholstery as dry as you can so moisture doesn't reach the stuffing underneath.
Carpet and rugs
Carpet holds smoke in its fibers and in the padding underneath, so the cleaning has to reach both without soaking through. Work in small sections and keep the moisture near the surface so it doesn't soak into the pad. Rugs get the same treatment, but check their care label first, since not every rug is washable.
Let the carpet dry fully before the baking soda goes down, so the powder isn't mixed into damp fibers. Vacuum slowly afterward so the baking soda has time to pull up what it has touched.
Wood furniture
Wood furniture has a finish that heat and steam can damage, so keep hot water and steam off it. Keep vinegar away too, since it breaks down finished wood over time.
Wipe with a cloth that's only damp, and dry the wood right away so water doesn't sit in the grain. If the finish looks dull after cleaning, let it dry fully before you judge it.
Prevention
Keep the smell from coming back
The only way to fully stop the smell from building up again is to prohibit smoking and vaping indoors, including in cars. Once the room is clean, keep that rule in place so nothing new settles onto the walls, curtains and carpet.
Keep the room ventilated day to day by opening windows when you can, since fresh air helps clear smoke from the air. Vacuum the carpet and wipe hard surfaces when they look dull or dusty, so the film doesn't build up unnoticed. Repeat the full deep clean whenever the smell comes back, starting with the room that smells most.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies get rid of the smell?
Most of the remedies people reach for are built for stains, not smoke film. Few of them suit smoke film, so only a handful are worth trying in this room.
Works3Helps1Skip2Avoid1
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't rely on air or fabric fresheners
They only mask the smell, and the smoke residue underneath is still there. Clean the surfaces first, then deodorize what's left.
Don't use vinegar on stone or wood floors
Vinegar etches marble and limestone, dissolves cement grout, and breaks down finished wood floors over time. Keep it away from those surfaces, even though it's a common household cleaner.
Don't use rubbing alcohol on acrylic or leather
Alcohol damages acrylic and modacrylic fibers, and leather manufacturers say never to use it on leather. Keep the half-and-half mix on glass only.
Don't mix baking soda and vinegar
Mixed in equal parts, they neutralize each other and lose their cleaning power. Use each one on its own, on the surface it suits.
Troubleshooting
If the smell comes back
Pick what you're seeing:
The smell returns after a few days
Smoke chemicals build up on hard surfaces and sink into soft ones, so some residue was probably missed. Repeat the wall wash and rinse on the surfaces you skipped, and keep the room ventilated.
Windows still look hazy after wiping
Heavily smoked glass can need more than one pass. Wipe again with fresh paper towels and the same half-and-half mix.
The couch still smells after the room is clean
Smoke can settle into the stuffing and padding under the surface. Replace the upholstery stuffing if the smell remains after the hard surfaces are clean.
When to call a professional
If the smell lingers after you've cleaned everything, or the smoke came from a fire, a professional cleaner is the right call. After a house fire, trisodium phosphate cuts oily residue better than soap, but it needs its own strict safety precautions.
Questions
Does thirdhand smoke still matter after the air clears?
Yes, it can. Thirdhand smoke is a toxic nicotine residue that stays on surfaces and fabrics even after the air has cleared. Ventilation and air cleaning can reduce it, but they won't eliminate it, so the cleaning matters as much as the airing out.
Can an air purifier clear cigarette smell?
Not on its own. HEPA filters remove particles but can't remove gases, so they won't clear the smell by themselves. Avoid air purifiers that generate ozone, since they can make indoor air quality worse.
Is the cleaning different for cigar or weed smoke?
The same steps work, because smoke from any source leaves an oil-based film that clings to the same surfaces. You don't need to change the method for a cigar or weed room.
Does vape smell need a different clean?
Use the same steps, since the room has the same walls, fabrics and carpet. The only way to eliminate exposure is to stop vaping indoors.
What if the couch or curtains have no care tag?
Don't guess. Test a hidden spot with warm water and dishwashing detergent first, and use only that method if the spot holds up. If it's still unclear, or the fabric looks delicate, take it to a professional cleaner.
Should I replace the carpet or just clean it?
Clean it first. If the smell remains after the hard surfaces are clean, the carpet padding is the next thing to replace.
Odor guides
Still smells?
Start from the bigger picture
More odor guides
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.