You might be a smoker. Or someone in your family smokes. Whatever the case may be, there’s no arguing that lingering cigarette smell can be bothersome even for smokers themselves. Moreover, you don’t want to be embarrassed when your guests come over to your house.
Or let’s say that you’re about to buy a second-hand leather sofa from a known heavy smoker. You just couldn’t resist its low price. And for that price, you think it’s a steal because the leather couch looks really new. Now, the leather couch may be an eye-catching addition to your living room but let’s face it; your guests would be turned off when they recognize the cigarette smell coming from the sofa.
Cigarette smell is notorious for lingering in rooms. If you smoke in your bedroom, then don’t be surprised to realize that the odor will remain not only in your bedsheets but also in pieces of furniture like leather chairs. The smaller the bedroom is, the more likely that the cigarette smoke odor will linger in the space.
Other factors that can affect cigarette odor lingering in a room are ventilation and the frequency of smoking done in the room. If there’s no ventilation in the room, then the cigarette smoke will be retained. The same goes if you frequently smoke in the room.
So, the question that is you want to answer is this: what can you do to get the cigarette smell out of the said piece of leather furniture? We’ll give you several ideas that you can try to get rid of the lingering cigarette smell out of leather furniture.
Solution #1: Vinegar
You can argue that vinegar doesn’t have the best smell, but this common kitchen item could ultimately be the best solution to stubborn cigarette smell. After all, vinegar is considered one of the most effective natural fresheners. It is also inexpensive. The chances are high that you have one right now in your kitchen.
How do you use vinegar to get rid of the cigarette smell out of leather furniture? First, dilute vinegar and water following a 1:4 ratio. Get a microfiber cloth and dip it in this vinegar solution. Alternatively, pour the said solution into a spray bottle. You can then apply the vinegar solution directly to the sofa.
Get a cleaning cloth and gently rub it into the surface of the sofa where you applied the vinegar solution. If you’re worried that the vinegar solution would cause discoloration, you can do a quick spot test on the back of the sofa. After wiping down the furniture with the vinegar solution, get another clean cloth and dampen it with hot water to remove the vinegar solution.
For good measure, you can also get rid of the stubborn cigarette smell in the living room or any part of the house where the leather furniture is located. Simply fill several bowls with white sugar and place them in the room. Let them sit overnight. Another way to do this is to wash the walls and ceilings near the leather furniture with vinegar. Don’t rinse off the vinegar, and instead, let it dry completely.
Solution #2: Leather Cleaner
Another way to get rid of the stubborn cigarette smell out of leather furniture is to apply a leather cleaner. This is a common product you can buy online or at home improvement stores. Specially formulated to remove stubborn stains and dirt, a leather cleaner can also be effective in getting rid of cigarette smell from leather surfaces. Another advantage of using a leather cleaner is that it can restore the pH balance of leather, which means bad odor would eventually be gone from its surface.
Look for a quality leather cleaner and then apply it to the entire surface of the leather couch or sofa. Make sure that you apply it evenly and including the seating and back sections of the sofa. These are the areas that are likely to emit cigarette smells or odors.
Solution #3: Baking Soda Solution
Like the lowly vinegar, baking soda is an all-natural, effective, and cheap solution for getting rid of cigarette smell out of leather sofa or furniture. Baking soda is known for its deodorizing properties. It is also colorless. Therefore, it won’t ruin the appearance of your leather couch.
And more importantly, it can absorb and neutralize the irritating and lingering smell of cigarette smoke.
Using it to remove the cigarette smell out of leather furniture is also easy. Simply sprinkle baking soda all over the surface of the leather furniture. Let it sit overnight. The following morning, vacuum it up before wiping it away using a damp cloth.
Solution #4: Mild Laundry Detergent
Mild laundry detergent can be another alternative in the unlikely occurrence that vinegar solution and baking soda fail to get the job done. Take note of the word ‘mild’ as using a strong laundry detergent may ruin the beautiful appearance of your leather couch or furniture.
Here’s how to use mild laundry detergent to get rid of the stubborn cigarette smell. Put two to three drops of the detergent in a spray bottle and then add warm water. Spray this homemade solution on your leather couch. Then wipe it down using a clean cloth or soft sponge. This solution may be able to get rid of the stubborn cigarette smell on your leather sofa.
If necessary, you may also apply leather conditioner to the leather furniture. This should help minimize the risks of the laundry detergent running the look of the couch. You may also use oils like olive oil or linseed oil if you don’t have a leather conditioner.
Solution #5: Ventilating the Room
This may be the simplest way of getting rid of the cigarette smell out of leather furniture, but this may not be the most effective. Still, this is one trick you might want to try first before the other tips listed above.
Ventilating the room is particularly effective if the cigarette smoke odor is still new not only to the leather sofa or furniture but also to the entire room. Ventilating space can get rid of the unwanted smell.
Get an exhaust or portable fan and switch it on. Then direct the air towards the door or window. You’d want the air to sweep the odor out of the room. You can also open the windows so that fresh air would come in and overwhelm the cigarette smoke odor.
Tips to Mask the Cigarette Smell
As has been mentioned earlier, the odor of cigarette smoke is notorious for its lingering effects. Thus, you can’t completely discount the possibility that the disgusting smell of cigarettes will remain in the leather furniture as well as the room where it is located.
Still, you can try to mask the cigarette smell. One way to do this is to use an air purifier. This is a household item you can buy for a low price online or at home improvement stores. Sure, this may not be enough for a guest sitting on your leather couch not to notice the cigarette smell emanating from it. But if the guest isn’t staying for too long, then he or she may not even be bothered by the lingering cigarette smell.
A similar trick that you can try is the use of odor-neutralizing sprays. This is also easy to use as you only have to spray them in the room to get rid of the odor coming from the leather furniture. Just make sure that the spray will not be too close to the leather furniture so as to avoid it ruining the appearance of the furniture.
How to Prevent Cigarette Smoke from Lingering in Leather Furniture
Once you have gotten rid of persistent cigarette smoke odor from leather furniture, you should now avoid smoking when you are in the room or seated on the leather couch. If you can’t help it, then make it a habit to stand near the window when you smoke. This way, the smoke from the cigarette won’t linger inside the room. Also, blow the smoke out of the room to prevent the odor from staying inside.
You must also learn to dust your room regularly. Dust helps in keeping the odor of smoke in your room. It may also be transferred to your leather furniture, which can result in the lingering smell of cigarette smoke. Dust and wipe down the non-porous areas in your room, including leather furniture, to prevent cigarette smoke from lingering.
Finally, make it a habit to clean up the butts. Avoid leaving cigarette butts in your room even if you use an ashtray. Toss them in the trash can. Or you can wrap them in a damp paper towel before disposal.
Practicing these simple acts should not only keep your room free from irritating cigarette smell but also make your leather furniture smelling fresh all the time.
