Question: How to Get the Awful Cigarette Smell Out of the Beds/Mattresses?
I painted the house, washed the curtains, threw the carpets out, opened the windows, washed the beds but the smell seems to be embedded in the mattresses.
Answer: This reminds me of my brother-in-law who loves smoking in the room each time he comes back to stay in the family house for a week or two.
Every time he finishes his short stay, I am the one who has to clean up the room thoroughly to get rid of the awful cigarette smoke smell. Urgh, hate it, but there is nothing I can do as it’s a family house, not my own house! If it was my own house, I would forbid any smoking in the house.
I use a deodorizer such as Febreeze for temporary solution when I am too lazy to do the room cleaning. After all, it’s not my own home, right? For your information, Febreeze only masks the bad odor temporarily. The bad smell will return as soon as the spray product evaporates.
Sunshine is a natural deodorant. When it’s a super hot scorching day, I will haul the mattress outdoors in the sunshine.
When I feel like spending more time to get rid of the cigarette smell, I will sprinkle the mattress with baking soda, rub it and pat it into the fabric so it gets as far into it as possible. Let it sit overnight and then vacuum it all back up.
So far, these solutions work for me. Mind sharing yours?
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
They can be profesionally steam cleaned, the same as carpets and upholstery.
try putting it out in the sun,for some fresh air. bad idea smoking in bedroom.
Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda on top of the mattress and leave on there for 8 hours. After the time passes, use the hose attachment from your vacuum cleaner and vacuum up all traces of the baking soda. Then make the bed up with a freshly laundered mattress pad and cover, sheets, blankets and bed spread. The pillows should also have been laundered. Cover those with newly-washed pillow cases. You should then be able to get a great, odor-free night of sleep.
Good luck and sweet dreams!
It is nearly impossible. Sorry, I have been there. I used spray on Febreeze with pretty good results, BUT, you have to do it repeatedly and really soak it and give it plenty of time to dry. Plus, you have to keep alternating (flipping) the mattress and doing it to each side. Be prepared to sleep on the couch for a week or more while you do this. Also, remove the paper that is covering the underside of your box springs. Spray VERY well in there. Replace the netting w/ a staple gun.
i know good mattresses are expensive to replace but i had the same problem. the only solution was to get new mattresses and have the old ones taken away. the smell gets so deeply imbedded that even professional fabric cleaners couldnt get it out. the smell gets in the mattress and not just on the surface. if you cant afford that the only other suggestion i could give is to buy some of those plastic covers that zip up over the mattress. it might keep the odor contained. also spraying lysol on them before you put the cover on helps alot.
Vinegar normally works pretty good with smoke smell although it probably won’t rid of it completely. If you still have smoke smell in the house itself, put glass cups full of vinegar throughout the house in the floor/windowsills. For the mattress, spray it down with vinegar and let is airdry.
Paul A is right steam clean with a carpet steam cleaner that has attachments for furniture. My husband and I have done this before on our mattress. Just get a good carpet solution cleaner to use too. Call your local janitorial supply store and they will have products for bad odors that are used in hospitals and schools. When using these products read directions carefully. When doing the mattress make sure you suck most of the water out of mattress to almost damp to the touch. Make sure you have plenty of air stirring like put a fan on the mattress make sure the mattress completely drys or it will mildew. Or you might want a professional carpet cleaner to clean the mattress.
I might add too the janitorial supply store may have air fresheners that are better for the odor.