Are you a new homeowner taking over a home previously occupied by a smoker? Or maybe you’re a landlord attempting to remediate smoke from your property after your tenant moved out? Cigarette smoke is one of the most difficult household contaminants to remove completely, so how can you actually get rid of it?
Join us here at Grimebusters as we break down the truth about why cigarette smoke requires far more than scrubbing brushes and cleaning sprays to remove. We’ll explore these challenges, along with how our cleaning professionals in Edmonton can help. Read on!
The Challenges of Cigarette Smoke
Cigarette smoke of any kind is harmful to human health. Many are aware of both the dangers of firsthand smoke and secondhand smoke. But have you ever heard of thirdhand smoke? Thirdhand smoke refers to the scent and residue from cigarettes and tobacco products that cling to surfaces throughout the home. It poses a high risk to anyone who breathes in or is in contact with these surfaces. Much like secondhand smoke, someone who has never smoked a day in their life can still be affected by it.
Before we explore how cigarette smoke can be tangibly removed from a home, we must first understand why it’s so difficult to remove in the first place. When it comes to cigarette smoke and nicotine, the real issue lies in the stubborn residue and odours left behind.
Residue That Hides Everywhere
Cigarettes leave behind a dark, sticky residue known as tar on surfaces throughout the home. This tar becomes more evident the longer someone smokes in the home. Tar from infrequent or short-term smoking may only appear as a thin film. In contrast, tar from long-term smoking often leaves dark, thick streaks or patches. Even if parts of your walls look clean, don’t be fooled. Cigarette odours can still cling to those surfaces in thin, nearly invisible layers. To completely remove this residue, every surface in the affected areas must be thoroughly sanitized and decontaminated. This includes walls, hardwood floors, windows, doors, ceilings, baseboards, and more. At Grimebusters, our cleaning professionals in Edmonton leave no stone unturned and no surface untouched.
Smells That Sink Deeper Than You Think
The longer someone lives and smokes within a home, the harder it becomes to remove these odours fully. Eventually, these smells seep into the home’s surfaces, especially porous surfaces. Carpets, drywall, and hardwood are especially susceptible to the odours of nicotine and cigarettes. Carpets, in particular, hold onto smoke extremely well. Carpet fibres act like a sponge, with spaces and nooks to trap in smoke. In many cases, HEPA vacuuming and steam cleaning combined with deodorizing agents are enough to achieve results. But in homes with many years of heavy smoke, carpet removal may be the only option. Cleaning professionals in Edmonton, like Grimebusters, use what’s known as hydroxyl generators to neutralize lingering nicotine odours. These are industrial devices that work by creating hydroxyl molecules, which react with the smoke pollutants through oxidation. We also utilize thermal foggers to disperse a deodorizing vapour that penetrates deeply into porous materials.
Why Cleaning ≠ Full-Scale Remediation
As a result of how deeply cigarette smoke stays, standard cleaning alone is rarely enough. Household air cleaners, deodorizing sprays, or a basic scrubber simply aren’t enough to eliminate this pollutant. Overusing cleaning sprays will only temporarily mask the odour. The smell will still be present, noticeable, and pose a risk to the health of those living in the space.
At Grimebusters, our cleaning professionals in Edmonton don’t simply clean the space. We remediate it by detecting smoke, sanitizing every surface, thoroughly deodorizing, and sealing the surfaces afterwards.
Scrubbing Won’t Cut It. Call Grimebusters.
Dealing with cigarette smoke is one of the most challenging remediation jobs out there. Let Grimebusters help. Since 1994, we’ve been supporting residents across the greater Edmonton region with their cleaning and remediation needs. We’re your local heavy-duty cleaning professionals in Edmonton. Reach out to us today to book your nicotine and cigarette smoke cleaning, and get one step closer to a fresher, healthier home.