Getting Rid of Unwanted Smells

[dmsjps]

Can anyone tell me how to get rid of the smell of stale cigarettes in my house/conservatory? We told our son to stop taking his friends into his room because they smoke and it stinks the whole house out. We said he can use the conservatory, but we can still smell it in the house when they're there. The trouble is, the conservatory still smells even when they haven't been in it for a day. I've sprayed fabric freshener on the furnishings and odour neutralising spray around the conservatory, but nothing seems to shift it, except leaving the conservatory doors open all day. Obviously I can only do that on a weekend because I'm at work during the day in the week. Washing the cushions from the furniture doesn't help because within a few days it's back to square one. I don't want them to feel unwelcome, but I hate the smell and I'm worried my whole house will end up smelling like that. Surely there must be something I can use, but I just haven't been told about it yet!

[spudqueen]

Have you tried lighting a candle?

[Jules001]

They do actually sell anti tobacco candles or you can try putting a small amount of baking soda in the ashtrays in the room and/or leaving saucers of vinegar strategically placed around the room

[willowherb]

you could buy a humidifier..they are quite cheap at argos..and also they have similar gadgets that cleanse the air..i smoke and i have a long cylinder fan that can be used on low and it moves the smoke away..from the area..i would use one of these gadgets and make them have a small window open when theyare in their so the smoke can waft out..

[ICEMANSAV]

Oust is said to remove smells rather than cover them up. Mind you Tampax makes you roller blade with 5 dogs on a lead so don't know....

[Philtaz]

Personally I'd tell your son and his friends that your house and home is now a smoke free zone and that they must smoke outside and nowhere else.  Then they can either like it or lump it, or go and smoke in their own homes!

[Eeeek]

I'm with Philtaz on this one!

[ursula62]

Me too!

My singing teacher used to make her husband smoke in the garden!

[woofgang]

Well if you can't do as philtaz suggests, then I have a couple of ideas. There's a thing called a ZILO, same idea as those bars of metal soap that is amazing but works quite slowly look here http://www.qvcuk.com/ukgasp/frameset.asp?nest=%2Fukgasp%2FIsItemNumberRedirect.asp&country=uk&txtDesc=zilo&image1.x=6&image1.y=5

or if you have money to spend on the problem, then the Oreck air purifier works much more quickly and seems to help to keep the carpets and curtains smell free too. We have the Zilos around the house for general freshness and the odd visitors ciggie but when some of our friends come, then we use the oreck for fast heavy duty freshening. Me personally, I'd make your son fork out but then I am just nasty!!!

[purplefish]

I also agree with Philtaz

not only does it make your home smell bad now but when it comes to selling it it'll decrease the value of the house.

[dmsjps]

Thank you so much to everybody for your hints, I didn't think there would be so many suggestions and I'm very grateful. I've been out today and bought Oust, but until I wake up in the morning and go into the conservatory I won't know whether it has worked or not. I LOVED your reply though, ICEMANSAV, it made me laugh out loud as I was scrolling down my computer screen and my husband thought I'd gone mad!

 

After what the majority have said though, I don't think I'll spend a lot of money on trying to get rid; if this doesn't work I'll tell them they'll have to smoke in the garden and use a bucket with some sand in it to put their tab ends in (otherwise I'll end up with a garden like a rubbish dump). Until I read most of the replies, I would have felt mean kicking them out in the cold, but I won't now.

 

Thanks once again to everyone.