Smoke Odor - How to Get Rid of it (in apartment)

Lender · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2012 · 147 posts · 76 votes

[ Nitty - Gritty Rental Management Stuff 101 ]

Smoke odor in an apartment - would appreciate opinions, recommendations, some magic spray or powder you've used, any ideas to eliminate the odor.

(It was tobacco smoke, just to be clear.)

Thanks in advance for your recommendations.

Joffrey

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Dell Schlabach
Investor · Canton-Akron, OH · Member since 2012 · 917 posts · 477 votes
13y
I have looked for magic sprays and powders, have used herbal concoction sprays, , expensive ionizers, etc.

These days I use oil based CoverStain, primer by zinnsser, available at your local home depot or lowes.

Reccomendation was from local fire restoration company , best one I have found.

Also works great on most any stains that need covered, we use it as our primer on old trin that tends to bleed through most primers.
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Tevis Verrett
Lender · Woodland Hills, CA · Member since 2013 · 362 posts · 115 votes
13y
Hey Old Friend!

Cheap way: industrial sized spray bottle of Frbreeze (sp?). You may need to pull all of the carpets also.

Expensive way: there is a paint brand that will cover odors, and you must first wash the walls.

I will go get my coveralls and come over to help you,

Tevis
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Steve Babiak
Real Estate Investor · Audubon, PA · Member since 2009 · 13k+ posts · 8k+ votes
13y
Related threads already have the answers:

http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/67/topics/78889-smoker-rehab-keys-to-success-with-tobacco-smoke--before-after-pics

http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/67/topics/63695-heavy-smoker-rehab

http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/67/topics/83682-what-is-required-to-get-rid-of-cigarette-smoke-odor-staining-etc

http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/84/topics/88547-intense-odor-from-pets-grease-and-who-knows-what-else-best-way-to-remedy-situation

http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/84/topics/29143-smells-like-smoke

http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/84/topics/90864-smoke-odor-in-carpet

http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/67/topics/88945-repair-smoke-damage-soot-and-smoke-odor

https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/56/topics/81030-need-help--carpet-cleaning-experts

http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/67/topics/70662-vent-cleaning-required-on-rehabs
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Joffrey Long
OP
Lender · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2012 · 147 posts · 76 votes
13y
Thanks so much, everyone, this is great.

Joffrey
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Joel OwensBusiness Member
Moderator
Real Estate Broker · Canton, GA · Member since 2010 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
13y
Why not just rent to another smoker??

Ad could read (move in ready, just bring the cigarettes!) lol
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John Newland
Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2009 · 46 posts · 22 votes
13y
I just did a house with this issue. I had the carpet pulled and the walls and ceiling washed down (the guy used bleach which I questioned but worked great), primed with Cover Stain, and top coated with Behr Ultra paint. It looks fantastic, nothing has bled through and the smell is gone (it went from pet and smoke odor to bleach to oil paint fumes to a freshly painted house in a matter of days.) You can use a Shellac base primer which should encapsulate the staining AND odor (Cover Stain just covers the stain not odor) but you should really wash the walls down with at least a TSP substitute prior to priming and painting to ensure a good bond. Good luck.
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Kirk R.
Peoria, IL · Member since 2013 · 967 posts · 383 votes
13y
Joel Owens LOL

But do you think it might actually work?
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Robert Steele
Investor · Lucas, TX · Member since 2010 · 620 posts · 352 votes
13y
Paint the interior with oil based exterior paint. After that you won't even notice the tobacco smoke. >-)

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Pat L.
Rental Property Investor · Upstate, NY · Member since 2012 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
13y
house nearby was listed high
stank of cigar smoke & basement had that stale beer stench.
sold to an elderly smoker @ full price???

we bought one that they smoked in for 45 years.
we removed all the floor coverings etc & painted/sealed all the surfaces with shellac. it worked!!
Thankfully it didn't have forced air, so the ductwork didn't need cleaning.
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Stefanie Bergmann
Real Estate Agent · Miami, FL · Member since 2013 · 11 posts · 0 votes
13y
i am a Realtor and we have people coming to our office to present their services all the time, and we had someone come in and tell us about a process they use to clean mold and odors, specifically smoke with machines using hydrogen peroxide.

They are called Biosweep and I believe they operate nationally. It sounded very good, but I have not personally tried it.
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Scott W.
Real Estate Investor · chicago, IL · Member since 2012 · 1k+ posts · 231 votes
13y
Here's what you do: 1. go on ebay & get an ozone machine for about $100. 2. Seal the rooms 3. Put a moving fan on there to spread it out with a timer overnight. 4. Continue with the next room.

Make sure no pets or plants are in there...it'll kill it.
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Kirk R.
Peoria, IL · Member since 2013 · 967 posts · 383 votes
13y
Scott W.

Hi Scott, How well does the ozone machine work?

Would it work on Curry?

Best Regards.
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