Asked on Apr 10, 2015

Removing cigarette smoke from DIY project

I recently started a DIY project- an old Ethan Allen dry sink- that I was planning on giving a nautical makeover. I was pretty far along in the project, and then abandoned it, because the more I painted, the worse the old cigarette smell became. (I know, I should have cleaned it first...) Does anyone have a solution for how to get rid of it-other than stripping it all down and starting over?? Any and all suggestions welcome!! Here's the full blog post: http://countrydesignhome.com/2015/04/07/diy-dud-this-sink-stinks/
  14 answers
  • Jean Thompson Jean Thompson on Apr 10, 2015
    Try wiping the Raw wood on the inside and bottom and back and drawer rails with just Plain white vinegar .. wet the rag and wipe... let dry might have to do this every day for a week....see if this helps... Good idea to really scrub a item with Murphy's Oil soap before painting.. and if in doubt after it drys use a sealer product before painting...
  • Sue @ Housekaboodle Sue @ Housekaboodle on Apr 10, 2015
    Agree with above, plus you could put it in a box and close it up with baking soda inside the box and then open it up in a few days or a week and check if the smell is gone.
  • Darla Darla on Apr 10, 2015
    Get a good quality shellac and seal it with that.
  • Gill Moreton Gill Moreton on Apr 11, 2015
    Hi, you could try something I saw - sounds weird, but can work. You get one or two strong onions, chop them up. Put them on plates through the item and then cover the furniture with a piece of plastic Trash bags will do. Leave overnight to work then discard onions, remove plastic. Air furniture.
    • See 2 previous
    • Country Design Home Country Design Home on Apr 12, 2015
      @Katrina Warren Thanks! That might be a little less smelly than the onions- anything is worth a shot at this point.
  • Duv310660 Duv310660 on Apr 11, 2015
    No, no, I have your answer. It's either a coat of shellac or lacquer (sorry, I'm getting old and losing it). Go check out "4theloveofwood.ca"; Kristy is the one who taught me this (I would trust her with my kittens). Whichever one it is, it totally blocked 60 years of cigar smoke when I inieirited an armoir. You can control the surface shine as well!
  • Karen V Karen V on Apr 11, 2015
    Paint with Primer Sealer and that will seal in the old stink, and then you can paint it what ever color you want. Ben Zinnsers, Or Bulle EYe, Or Kiltz will work use the oil base, and you can paint over it with any type of paint.
    • Country Design Home Country Design Home on Apr 12, 2015
      @Karen V Hi Karen- I did use Kilz primer on several parts of the piece and that made no difference at all. It is the water vs. oil that makes the difference, I think.
  • Karen V Karen V on Apr 11, 2015
    next time use TSP and wash all the old tar and Nicotine off first..
    • Country Design Home Country Design Home on Apr 12, 2015
      @Karen V Hi Karen- I have actually done that with other pieces and sometimes that doesn't even get the odor out. Especially this one, when its so deep into the wood and not just the varnish, any water just causes the odor to leech to the surface.
  • Crystal Crystal on Apr 11, 2015
    I used to smoke...and my garage was the place. It was also full of items packed away; most in cardboard boxes. I must say, as I pulled things out, they either got washed; thrown out; or, when really important, I would just let it air out; both inside and outside of the house...depending on the weather. Time was the only thing that took away the odor. It probably would have worked on the other things I threw out had I of known time was the answer. Hope it works for you also. Good luck.
    • Country Design Home Country Design Home on Apr 12, 2015
      @Crystal Thanks Crystal! It is out on my porch as we speak. I am leaving it there for awhile until I can spray it with some shellac sealer.
  • Crystal Crystal on Apr 12, 2015
    Hey Sue, FYI. 99% of the items I "aired out" both inside and out of the house (depending on the weather) all lost their smell after several days of "airing"...or maybe it was weeks - with no extra help...only washing when I could. It sounds like you're on the right track. Good luck. That darned cigarette smoke ruins everything, doesn't it. I'm going to be the worst "reformed smoker" alive. I can't stand the smell...and I still smoke. Good luck with all. Take care. Cheers!
  • Country Design Home Country Design Home on Apr 12, 2015
    Hi Crystal- thanks for the pep talk! Really discouraged by the whole thing.
  • Karen V Karen V on Apr 13, 2015
    Try adding pure Vanilla extract to your paint...
    • Country Design Home Country Design Home on Apr 13, 2015
      @Karen V That's interesting, Karen. Never heard of that. Does it help neutralized the smell or just cover it up?
  • Karen V Karen V on Apr 14, 2015
    It gets rid of a lot of odors, I add it when painting interior walls for people who don't like the smell of paint. You can get Clear Vanilla from Wiltons.
    • Country Design Home Country Design Home on Apr 14, 2015
      @Karen V Thanks Karen! I am definitely going to try this. I think its too late for the dry sink, but good to know.
  • B J Bourque B J Bourque on Feb 24, 2018

    HAVE you tried stuffing the thing with newspapers, wrap it up in blanket and setting on sun? After that damp wipe with vinegar and let dry. Good luck!

  • M. M.. M. M.. on Feb 24, 2018

    You have gotten a lot of answers for your question! If you don't have one already, I recommend a power sander. There are small palm sander for getting in the tight spaces. Since the smoke permeated the entire piece, I'd go back to square one and sand every surface, even the hidden ones, like the drawer boxes, etc. Yes, it can be discouraging to start all over again, but then you won't have to worry or think about it when your piece is finished and in your home (or passed down to a family member).Wipe the raw wood with either vinegar or rubbing alcohol and air it out, possibly in the sunlight if you can.