With so many people moving during the summer, this quick tip is for the entire house! Several years ago, my husband and I moved into a new place. While the previous owners didn’t smoke inside, they smoked outside and the place still smelled like cigarette smoke. Not how we wanted to live!

First thing I did: swept and mopped hard floor surfaces. For the carpeted areas, I sprinkled all the carpets with baking soda. You will need a ton of baking soda! It’s fantastic! Let the baking soda sit for as long as you can. That way it will absorb more of the odor. This method works with many types of smells. After letting it sit, vacuum the baking soda up off the floor. Repeat as necessary. I think I had to do it about 3 times before I really felt like my home smelt fresh.

In the kitchen, I cleaned all surfaces, especially inside the cupboards. Much easier to do before you put the dishes in!

The house smelt much better! Then I did laundry. My clothes still smelled faintly of cigarette smoke. I was able to wash out the washer with vinegar and baking soda (separate loads), deodorizing the dryer was harder. I finally came upon this tip- place charcoal in the dryer but do NOT turn it on! Just let it sit in there for several days if possible. The charcoal absorbs the odors, and leaves it ready for laundry! Charcoal isn’t just for camping!