So You're Saying... I Smell?

My mom used to put small glasses of vinegar out before parties. She would hide them behind photos or decorations. This was in the early 70's. They would be left out for a few days after. It was to absorb the smoke from smokers that attended. This was before it was PC to ask people to smoke outside.

It is a cheap idea, but you try it by changing the vinegar every 4 days or so. I know Costco carries vinegar, that may help in the cost.

I don't think they have the right to ask you that!!!!!!!!!!!! Weather her stuff smells like smoke or not. Shoot even if you did smoke it's not their business! I do know what you mean though about getting used to smells when you are around them so much. My son's room will start smelling cause he does not clean the glidder's cage often enough. He does not notice it cause #1 he's a boy and #2 he lives in the room.

You might want to look into getting an ozone machine. (Ask some auto detailers about them.)

Are you sure it's not a soft surface (carpeting, draperies, blinds) that's holding the smell? It's just really odd that with no carpet, etc., that smell would last 6 years....

I rented an apartment once--the guy & his wife HAD to be chain smokers--the dining room ceiling tiles were BROWN from smoke, but once the carpeting was out, and all the woodwork washed, all painted, etc., there was no smell at all.

Good luck.

We have an Alpine purifier - wort every single penny. It gets rid of ALL smells.

We bought our first condo where the previous owner smoked. We cleaned the walls with TriSodium Phosphate (TSP), then primed, then painted. Changed the carpeting and padding. Remodeled all of the bathrooms and used the Alpine for months. No smell.

Why are you worried about what your daycare provider says?

Snotty woman should have kept her judgmental thoughts to herself.

super rude. She has no business asking this. Not like you kid smells of BO or dirty butt. That would indicated possible neglect, but even then that is a very thin line, to ask about.
IMO, shes fishing for something. maybe there is some smell she doesnt like about your home and is wondering what it could be from, but still her manners are horrible. Even if you do, she cant legally say, she wont watch your child.
The people before we owned our home smoked inside on a daily basis. We replaced carpets, window treatments, re-painted, and cleaned air vents. VERY expensive. I dont smell it at all and I am very sensitive to smoke. Even if shut up for the winter, I dont smell it. So if your smelling it, its likely the carpets and window treatments. Even then it should not permeate your clothes. Thats too subtle of a smell.
My family often smells of onions, and fried food just cause we cook every single day with strong smelling foods. The most I have ever been told is that I smell delicious.

Years ago I moved into a home that was owned by a smoker. There was a disgusting film over everything in the home. In addition to painting and washing the window treatments, we washed the cabinets and all the wood work. You can wash wood cabinets, base boards, etc. Google this on-line. Vinegar is wonderful at taking odors away and can be diluted to clean wood as well. You can put all the air purifiers in the world in your house, but if you don't clean the source, you will still have a problem.

First off, I do not agree with the other responses in saying it was rude of the daycare worker to ask if you smoke.

I am extremely allergic to cigarette smoke, second hand cigarette smoke, and cigarette smoke that becomes permanently glued or attached to my clothes from being around places where people smoke. I have had to throw away clothes because airing them out and washing them still does not get rid of that particular smell.

I actually get migraines from cigarette smoke and my eyes begin to itch. Both of these will last for a couple to three days for me. It is rather debilitating.

If your daycare provider is asking, she sounds like she has a very sensitive nose and is trying to figure out what that particular smell is. So I understand her question.

If you call you a professional or industrial cleaning services that specializes in cleaning homes after fires and floods, there is a 'bomb' that actually targets the cigarette smoke molecule and changes the smell forever. It works quite well.

What Mum4Ever said...

Place activated charcoal all over the place (just make sure pets and kids leave it alone). It naturally absorbs odor. Hopefully it will help.

I didn't read the other responses.. As far as what the daycare provider said...I feel for you both. I'm sure it's embarrasing. But I can't stand smoke either. I had a baby on Friday night that stunk so bad. I had to give him a bath. But the clothes she sent for him were so smoky smelling as well. I had to put his clothes through the laundry. I found a blanket of our own, because of course his blankets were awful too... I kept him naked and swaddled in a clean blanket until the laundry was done.

We had the same problem in this home. In fact, like you, we don't smoke at all or allow people in that do. They smoked so much that we had to wash every window, wall, floor, the inside and outside of cupboards, appliances, and everything was deeply yellow. It was interesting to watch the real colors come through. I think it took a few years of wiping the walls with peppermint oil mixed with water, running lemon and peppermint oils through a good cold air diffuser...I'm talking about one that costs at least 80 dollars and uses water to run.. Eventually, it's gone. But every night at a certain time of the evening, I swear I smell it again and I think we have a ghost here, I kid you not.

Call a company in your area that does cleaning and restoration of homes after a fire or some other disaster. Ask them what they could recommend for your situation that you could do yourself.

And you might ask your daycare people to keep letting you know if you're ever "smelly"! Apparently a little smokiness is the default position for your noses. :^)

Shaklee used to see an air cleaner that really works, but because few people bought it they discontinued. I could probably find one from you from an old distributor if you were interested or start searching the net for air cleaners. Be sure to read reviews before choosing one. they aren't cheap.

I think we have the same air purifier as Jennifer P. It's now called Fresh Air by Ecoquest and I agree with Jennifer 100%- it's worth every penny.

I don't know of anything else that will get rid of the smell forever. Can you ask around to your friends to see if they have a purifier you can borrow for a few days? We loan ours out to friends on occasion.

Woodwork that hasn't been properly sealed can hold smoke. My parents built our house and used wood for everything. Not all of it was properly sealed. They were chain smokers and we had a wood stove. My husband I moved there after my mom died for almost 2 years. When we did move, all of our stuff smelled like "mom's house." Even a piece of furniture she owned still has that smell on occasion.

I would definitely look into the higher quality air purifiers and keep your house as open in the spring and summer as possible.

We used baking soda a lot in places that really smelled to get us through.

I would also contact some of these restoration companies about whether or not if you resealed the woodwork, if that would help.

Good luck. It's not fun at all.

I would also be thankful that the daycare provider said something. I'm sure you've gotten to know each other quite well and she knew you all didn't smoke and was very curious where the smell was coming from. :)