May 03, 2023

How to Remove Smoke Smell from Wood Furniture

If you or someone you know has smoked a cigarette around wooden furniture, you might have noticed a smoky odor lingering on it. This can also happen if you have picked up a piece second-hand.

So if there is a piece of furniture in your house that has been privy to smoky smells, you may be wondering how to fix it.

Well, we are here to teach you how to remove the smoke smell from wood furniture. Whether you are dealing with fire smoke, or cigarette smoke, our helpful guide will teach you all the steps to remove the smell from the wood.

Not only will your furniture smell better afterwards, but it will look great too.

What this article covers:

How to Remove Smoke Odor from Wood Furniture
How to Remove Cigarette Smoke Smell from Wooden Furniture

How to Remove Smoke Odor from Wood Furniture

Step 1: Absorb

The first step to removing the smoke smell from wood is to absorb the smoky residue. This involves covering the furniture with baking soda.

Leave the baking soda on the interior part longer than the exterior part to allow it to absorb the smoke from deep in the surface.

Let it rest for a couple of hours or overnight before vacuuming it.

It may be wise to test baking soda on an inconspicuous part of the furniture first to ensure it does not react with your furniture.

If it is not safe, consider using coffee grounds or ground-up charcoal, which will have the same effect.

This is an effective way of prepping your furniture for cleaning, which is why it is also used to get skin oil out of wood furniture.

Step 2: Clean

The next step is to scrub your wood furniture piece.

Your best bet here is to use professional cleaning chemicals targeted to deal with smoke odors.

Something like Rob’s Reefer Rid is ideal.

You can also use oil soap, which many people find useful for getting stains out of wood.

If you do not have commercial products, you can make a homemade solution of equal parts water and vinegar.

Vinegar has odor-reducing properties, so it is often used to get blood stains out of wood or remove alcohol stains from wooden floors.

Take your cleaning solution and dilute it according to the instructions if necessary. Apply it to a sponge and lather it over your wooden furniture.

Use circular motions to clean the wood and do not be too abrasive, especially with antique items. This is also an excellent approach for getting oil stains out of wood.

Place your furniture piece in the sun to dry. The sun will also help extract the last of the smoke odors.

For dry, damaged, and veneered wood, use towels to manually dry the furniture piece.

Step 3: Ensure Fresh Smell

This last step is optional but can ensure that your furniture is left smelling fresh.

For this step, take a few drops of your favorite essential oil and apply it to a microfiber cloth.

Work the cloth over the furniture’s interior and exterior to leave it smelling fresh.

You can also use an air freshener targeted to minimize smoke odors to cover up any remaining smells.

If you have shelving or drawers, you can even put scented puppy pads in to ensure that the smoke smell isn’t transferred to items inside the furniture.

This is especially useful if you want to use the furniture piece for storing clothing or bedding.

How to Remove Cigarette Smoke Smell from Wooden Furniture

Step 1: Wash

The first step to getting rid of the cigarette smoke smell is to wash or gently scrub your furniture piece.

Cigarette smoke often leaves a sticky residue behind so this is about addressing the odor at its core.

If you have ever had to remove sticker glue from wooden furniture, you would know that a good scrub can go a long way.

As we previously mentioned, you can opt for oil soap, a mixture of equal parts water or vinegar, or a professional cleaning solution that is targeted to deal with tobacco smells.

You can also use enzymatic cleaners, which are often used to deal with pet smells left by pet accidents but are highly effective in neutralizing other odors too.

Apply the cleaning solution to a sponge and work it into the furniture using circular motions. You can also use a soft-bristled brush to work it into the wood if you are dealing with solid wood furniture.

Then, allow the furniture to dry or dry it manually with towels.

how to get cigarette smoke out of wood furniture

Step 2: Address the Odor

Sometimes a good old scrub, as described above, is enough to eliminate the odors. But there are some additional measures you can take to ensure that any lingering odors are addressed.

One way of doing this is by using a steam cleaner and gently steaming the furniture. The steam displaces the smoke molecules and can, in essence, absorb the smokey smell from your wooden furniture.

Open the windows if you follow this approach because the smoke smell will get transferred to the air quite quickly.

Another way of doing this is by using coffee grounds and newspapers. Line the drawers or shelves of your furniture with newspaper and sprinkle coffee grounds on it. Leave it for at least two days.

Once you remove the newspapers and coffee, the smells should be gone.

Step 3: Deodorize

The last step to ensure long-lasting freshness is to leave a pleasant scent on your wooden furniture.

You can apply wood oil or a few drops of essential oil to a cloth and work it into the furniture. Some people also use car air fresheners and leave them inside the furniture to ensure that it is left with a pleasant smell.

Any other type of air freshener can also work well for this purpose.

Conclusion

So, the good news is that your smoke-smelling furniture does not need to stay that way. Mostly because there are many ways to ensure your furniture is left smelling fresh and brand new.

Whether you are cleaning your own furniture or an old piece you recently acquired, our method will ensure that it is left smelling as great as the day it was created.

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