When you move to a new home, the last thing you want is lingering bad odors from the previous occupant. One very difficult odor to remove is tobacco odor. What are some things you can do to get rid of such a nasty smell?
To start with, you will need to get fresh air moving through the home, so open the windows and doors and keep them open for as long as possible. Next, you can place natural odor absorbers throughout the home. Citrus peel, baking soda, and coffee grounds work well.
Cigarettes leave behind a sticky, smelly nicotine residue which can be very difficult to remove as it adheres to most surfaces. Hard surfaces, except for wood, can be cleaned using an ammonia-based cleaning product. If there are window blinds that you wish to keep, take them down and soak them in a tub. After giving them a good scrub, hang them back up to dry. Replace any light bulbs that were left by the previous owner, as the nicotine will disperse into the room when the light is switched on. You should also replace any air conditioning or HVAC filters.
You will likely want to give the home a fresh coat of paint. However, nicotine tends to seep through ordinary paint. So be sure to buy paint designed to prevent this from happening.
It is very difficult to remove nicotine odor from carpeting. If you really want to get rid of the smell, it is best to remove any carpets in the home and replace them. Before you install new carpet or flooring, though, make sure you have thoroughly cleaned and dried the floor underneath.