My Oxford, MS House Smells Like Nicotine!

2/23/2022 (Permalink)

Treat left-behind nicotine and tar before moving in, or it will almost certainly return!

Photographs tell a story, but sometimes the story leaves out a few details.  This is especially true with the current real estate market.  Properties are often snapped up based solely off the listing photos.  What a surprise when the new homeowner gets their first good look at what they bought and realizes the former owner must have been a heavy indoor smoker.  For decades.

Now what?

The smell left behind after years of heavy smoking isn't something that goes away without assistance, and sometimes it is next to impossible to get all of it out, but there are some things you can do to lessen the severity.  No, we don't mean plugging in an air freshener and calling it a day.    Before beginning any nicotine cleaning, it's a good idea to have the air ducts cleaned.  Air is recirculated throughout a home, so possible years of buildup could be lurking in your ducts. 

Once the ducts are clean, the inside needs a thorough scrubbing and encapsulation (sealing).  This means that cabinets, vanities, and other hard surfaces need to be cleaned to remove the tar left behind after a smoker leaves.  Walls and ceilings should be repainted with a stain-blocking primer after washing the walls with a strong cleaner formulated to combat tar and nicotine.  Simply painting over a smoker's walls will not work because stains will eventually bleed through. 

It is important to make sure all of the steps are performed, otherwise, the smell will almost definitely return.  It can be a bit overwhelming.

Why not make one call and have all of it handled?

SERVPRO of Oxford/Batesville/Clarksdale has it covered!  Air duct cleaning, encapsulation, fogging, and anything else needed to get your new home smoke-free, we've got you.  Give us a call to discuss your needs at 662-281-1881.

We're always here to help.