Homes Where Smokers Live - How Did You Get Rid of Odor?
eldemila
12 years ago
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xamsx
12 years agolast modified: 7 years agomariend
12 years agolast modified: 7 years agoRelated Discussions
How do I get rid of this water feature?
Comments (31)The etching could be altered to a tree next to a rock. Someone would probably buy it for what it cost to have a etcher come over and alter it....See MoreGetting rid of old cat odor in my "new" house
Comments (10)The intensity of the smell makes me believe this is not just about flooring. Being one who has been owned by many cats, I know that smell - and what it takes to get to that level. Flooring may only be the beginning. Cats spray - this spray is often to be found on walls or up-right surfaces. You may be looking at (if my cat senses are telling me everything) drywall removal. They prefer to spray in areas that they feel is their territory = bedrooms. A cat's bedroom is it's castle. The sniff test - yep, hands and knees, nose to the wall/floor- is going to be your best detection method. If you can smell it (even a tiny bit) you may be looking at full removal. You may want to remove base boards to view the bottom of your drywall. If you see areas that are darker or look "wet" you may be looking at cat damage. I know the enzymes work well in patches, but if you have as much cat urine as I think you might have, you may be better off at "gutting" any room that has the smell. It is up to you and your tolerances. Personally, if it were my home, I would hire a crew to come in and remove all drywall and floors and see where that leaves me. I am someone who can not abide smell so I know I would not be happy in such a situation and I know that I would go through $1,000s of the enzyme stuff knowing full well it wouldn't be the end of the smell. of course, it isn't me. This is a "non-professional" opinion. I'm just joining in the discussion....See MoreCan we completely get rid of cigarette smoke odors in a house?
Comments (80)We bought a smoker's house without realizing it, three years ago. They painted over nicotine and aired it out before we came. The market here has been tight for several years, we already sold our house and were living in a Residence Inn with two big dogs. We did not get an official inspection although an engineer looked at the mechanics and build. We only spent 30 or so minutes in the house, and one of the family members was there constantly opening and closing the door, saying he was waiting for UPS. He was actually guaranteeing fresh air in the great room. Unfortunately, when houses are being sold well above asking and there are dozens of offers on one house, they would not consider anyone who wanted an inspection. We should have known better. End result. We hired professional cleaners to wash the tongue and groove and tree trucks in the great room (this is a cabin style house), tore out carpets and curtains, washed every single surface including windows and door hinges, used two coats of smell blocking primer and then painted, used shellac on the wood, replaced the furnace and a/c and had ducts cleaned, ripped out the kitchen and replaced cabinets and flooring, replaced anything and everything with a motor or that generated heat (including outlets and switches), left nothing undone - the house still smelled like an ashtray. With the very cold weather we have had this winter, suddenly the house started smelling like cigars. We had a 16 merv Hepa filter installed in our furnace and are running two hepa stand alone air cleaners and it doesn't matter. The house still stinks. There is nothing left to clean. The odor must be coming from behind the wallboard, inside the wall cavities. Do not listen to anyone who says they made the odor go away. If they grew up with smokers or are/were smokers, their sense of smell does not work like others. I thought, for just one second, that I got a whiff of cigarette smoke, but no one else smelled it so I let it go. Never again! By the way, when my son was house hunting and suspected he was in a smoker's house, he looked inside the closet and saw the tell-tale drip of yellow. Nicotine! In another, he noticed that wires were yellowed. I had thought that meant they were old, but it is actually a nicotine sign. PVC should be white, not yellow. Brown drips are also a sign of nicotine. Do not buy a smoker's house!...See MoreHow do I get rid of the guilt?
Comments (46)@cookingistherapy, I read this thread last night and I believe you asked about what to use for writing on the back of photographs. You will need an acid-free marker that you can pick up at any scrapbook store or order online. Mine is a ZIG brand with two different sized tips on each end. It is archival quality, fade proof and non-bleeding. They are not expensive. I use mine all the time. I believe they come in colors as well. Hope your guilty feelings about what to do are fading what with all the wonderful advice you have been given. It is a difficult task to deal with but we have all been through it at one time or another. I have been married for 43 years and no, I do not need anymore knick-knacks, paddy-whacks, or give a dog a bone! lol I have told my family I need no more of such things and only plan on replacing items that either break down or need replacing, like appliances and furniture, etc., But that is not to say I do not want to keep decor items updated though. I can purchase these things myself if need be. And that is a big IF. :))...See Morecordovamom
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12 years agolast modified: 7 years agoeldemila
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12 years agolast modified: 7 years agoeldemila
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7 years agoLinda Doherty
7 years ago
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