Smelly situation?
Question:i just moved into an apartment and the previous tenant was obviously a smoker and they left this nasty after smoke smell and i don;t know how to get rid of it and its getting my stuff smelling like it too. i was just wondering if anyone know a good way to get rid of it, not cover up, but get rid of that smell. i already tried fabreezing it but it only works for a few minutes. and the carpets already been cleaned too.
Answers:
Buy or rent an Ozone Generator. Don't bother with the cheap ones you can find at big box retailers, buy one on-line that produces large amounts of the stuff (enough that you should'nt be in the room for long). Ozone will oxidize all odor causing substances leaving them odorless and harmless forever.
They are pretty expensive $300+ but if you can find a place that rents them out for a week, you'll be good to go after about 5 days. Be sure to turn it off and open windows when you need to be home.
Don't let anyone tell you an ionizer is the same thing - they use a similar process but Ozone is far more powerful (hence the need to leave the room).
Good Luck!
Oust!
Have the apartment complex clean the evaporator on the a/c. Having the vents cleaned wont hurt either. The Ozone machine suggested will help too. Have the maintenance person also check for holes in the return air. It's possible to have smokers living next to you, When you cut the a/c on, it will pull air from the other units into yours.
23 years HVAC and Apartment Maintenance
Smoke is like grease in the way it reacts to cleaners. I have found that a mild solution of ammonia and a mild degreaser, like dish soap, or even laundry soap (smells better) works well. Change the cleaning solution often, so don't make too much in a batch. Wash EVERYTHING you can. You could also paint the walls with Kilz, but this is just as easy, and you don't have to paint. Mix about 1/4 gallon ammonia, and a small squirt of soap, in a gallon bucket. Try a similar solution for the carpet if you can. It will stink, so ventilate. Its a lot of work, but it will do the job. Good luck.
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