Why Do My Clothes Smell Like Cigarettes When I Don’t Smoke?

If there’s one thing that many people don’t want to smell, that would be cigarette odour. Cigarettes, as we all know, have been existing for centuries already. They have been providing the much-needed nicotine hits to many adult smokers. And despite the risks associated with tobacco products like cigarettes, a lot of smokers still rely on them to satisfy their nicotine cravings.

However, cigarettes can bother many people due to the smoke they produce. The smoky smell of cigarettes can be unpleasant, especially for those who don’t smoke at all. You might then wonder why your clothes smell like cigarettes even if you don’t smoke.

Here at Native Smokes 4 Less, we’ll uncover the reasons why your clothes smell like cigarettes despite not smoking anything. We’ll also break down primary ways of removing cigarette smell from your clothes, delicate items, and other surfaces. 

What Causes Clothes to Smell Like Cigarettes?

You might already be aware of the dangers associated with cigarette smoke, especially if you inhale it from others. The cigarette smoke you inhale from the surroundings is known as secondhand smoke.

Once exposed to such smoke, you are only putting yourself at risk of getting sick. Some health problems related to secondhand smoke exposure include an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and respiratory illnesses.

Now, cigarette smoke may also turn into thirdhand smoke.

Thirdhand smoke, like secondhand smoke, comprises all pollutants coming from tobacco cigarettes. It will then settle on and cling to surfaces long after a cigarette has been extinguished. Most of the time, this type of cigarette smoke latches on soft surfaces as its harmful particles can easily fit themselves into their pores. Some of these surfaces include clothes and upholstery.

So, the primary reason why your clothes smell like cigarettes is thirdhand smoke.

Any clothing that you are wearing or store away at home can smell like cigarette smoke if you are often exposed to tobacco smoke. The particles from the smoke can then sink deeply into their surfaces, which can be difficult to remove. Even after washing them multiple times, expect that your favourite blouse, skirt, or jeans will continue to smell. 

Another potential reason why your clothes smell like cigarettes is nicotine absorption.

If you tend to smoke cigarettes, the nicotine from the tobacco products will get absorbed by your body. When you sweat, it can somehow smell like cigarette smoke, which is then transferred onto your clothing, causing it to also smell like cigarettes.

It’s important to note that thirdhand smoke, while it primarily latches onto soft surfaces, can still be dangerous to your health.

Similar to secondhand smoke, thirdhand smoke contains nicotine, tar, heavy metals, and other harmful substances. These toxins may then be trapped within clothes fibres. When they off-gas over time, these harmful pollutants end up being released into the air. When you touch, ingest, or inhale thirdhand smoke, it can cause a range of health risks such as cancer, heart disease, and lung illnesses.

Removing Cigarette Smell from Clothes

Removing cigarette smell from your clothes can be challenging since thirdhand smoke particles often penetrate deeply into the fabrics. Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to remove cigarette smell from your clothes.

Washing and Laundry Methods

If your clothes are machine washable, the best thing you can do is to carry out a number of laundry methods. Some of these washing and laundry methods are as follows:

• Use baking soda: Washing your clothes with baking soda can help absorb and remove cigarette odours. It can also give your clothes a fresh scent. To use baking soda effectively, you must toss your clothes in the washing machine while they are still damp. Then, add a cup of baking soda right on your clothes. Launder your clothing with a normal wash cycle. Repeat these steps if the first pass doesn’t get rid of the cigarette smoke smell.
• Add a laundry scent booster: Laundry scent boosters are made to keep your clothes smell fresh by neutralizing odours, including smoke. They are typically available in stores. Once you buy one, just follow the instructions set by the manufacturer. Most of the time, you only have to measure a recommended amount of laundry scent booster and pour it directly into your washing machine before adding your clothes and detergent.
• Try a vinegar rinse: If you have smoke-damaged clothes, you might want to air them out first for 24 or more hours. Once done, spray them down with a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water. You can do this multiple times if your clothes smell extremely smoky. Before drying them, you must run them through the washing machine again with your favourite detergent. If you somehow smell vinegar from your clothes, just leave them be since it will go away naturally. You can wash the smelly clothes for up to five cycles if they still have a smoky odor.
• Use lemon juice: Using a lemon juice rinse may effectively eliminate the lingering smell of cigarette smoke from fabric. To achieve this, simply dunk your smelly clothes into a solution of one part lemon juice and two parts water. Make sure that the fabric of your clothes remains submerged for at least 10 minutes to obtain the best results. Then, proceed with a standard wash cycle to thoroughly clean the clothes.

Non-Washable Fabric Solutions

Not all clothes can be washed. If you have a smoky-smelling jacket or other non-washable garments that are not washing machine-safe, fear not! Here are some things you can do to freshen them up.

• Air out the fabrics: Believe it or not, fresh air is a natural odour eliminator. You can hang your non-washable clothes outside for at least 24 hours, ideally longer if the cigarette odor persists. Even after clearing smoke from the room, letting these clothes hang outside can remove smells faster.
• Sprinkle baking soda: Baking soda is truly a versatile odour remover, even for non-washable clothing. You may want to bring the garment outside and generously sprinkle baking soda over the fabric. Allow the clothes to sit for at least 24 hours before vacuuming or shaking them off. You might want to repeat the process numerous times to eliminate the smoke smell completely.
• Use hydrogen peroxide treatment: If you have hydrogen peroxide at home, you can mix it with water and use the mixture to remove smoke odours from your non-washable fabrics. You can use a sponge or cloth to apply the cleaning solution to your clothes. Let the mixture sit for an hour.
• Maximize charcoal: Charcoal works like baking soda since it can absorb natural odour effectively. You may want to sprinkle charcoal on the affected surface of your clothes and let it sit for an hour to absorb the smell of cigarette smoke. After the charcoal has sat, use a vacuum cleaner to remove charcoal residue.
• Steam the fabrics: Steam can help freshen and deodorize non-washable clothes. You can use a steamer to gently heat the garment, allowing the steam to penetrate the fabrics and remove odours of cigarette smoke. For optimal results, use a 3:1 ratio of distilled water to rubbing alcohol. 
• Seal smoke-smelling fabrics: Sealing smoke-smelling fabric in a resealable plastic bag with unscented dryer sheets for a few days can also help remove the smell. After reopening the bag, the dryer sheet should have absorbed the cigarette odour.
• Buy odor-eliminating spray: Commercial odor-eliminating sprays are available at grocery and convenience stores. While they don’t eliminate the odour completely, spraying them on your clothes can mask the cigarette smoke smell. Buy one from your trusted retailer and use it according to the instructions of the manufacturer.

Preventing Cigarette Smoke Odors

Cigarette smoke odours can be annoying, especially if they stay too long in your clothes and other surfaces and areas of your home or office. To prevent these pungent cigarette odours from lingering, you can do a number of things.

First, you must air out your room. You may want to open a window or turn on the AC to somehow improve ventilation as well as neutralize odors after smoking cigarettes. And if you’re smoking cigarettes, it would be best to do it outside.Smoking inside will only allow the cigarette smell to permeate the surfaces of your home or office, including your clothing. It may likewise cause thirdhand smoke to settle in your area.

You must then wash your clothes regularly to get rid of the cigarette odor. Make sure to follow the previously discussed tips regarding washing and laundering clothes to keep them smelling fresh.

If your budget permits, you can invest in air purifiers and place them in your home or office. These special devices can help remove smoke and contaminants. They can also improve air quality. 

Another important factor is the kind of cigarettes you smoke, the odor of native cigarettes, for example, tends to be less of a problem.

Eliminating Old, Lingering Smoke Smell

The smoke from cigarettes may linger long on surfaces after initial exposure. It often stays not only in the air and walls but also on clothes and other fabrics. Failure to remove cigarette smoke on these surfaces may only lead to health risks, especially for those who are often exposed to the smell.

To eliminate old, lingering smoke smell in your surroundings and surfaces, we’re here to share a number of effective strategies. Some of these strategies are as follows:

• Deep clean your place: Deep cleaning is a cleaning method that gets rid of not only visible smoke residue but also the particles coming from the cigarette smoke. You can do this by dusting contaminated surfaces, vacuuming carpets and upholstery, washing curtains, cushion covers, and other fabric items, and wiping walls and ceilings.
• Use odour absorbers: You can invest in various types of odour absorbers to help absorb the lingering smell of cigarette smoke. You can buy odor-eliminating sprays or gels and use them accordingly. You can even use bowls of baking soda or activated charcoal around your place and let them absorb the smell of smoke.
• Invest in air purifiers: Investing in a good air purifier with a special type of filter like HEPA or activated carbon can help you remove cigarette smoke particles and odours from the air. You can use them alongside odour absorbers.
• Ventilate the whole area: You can also get rid of the old, lingering smoke smell of cigarettes by allowing good ventilation in your area. You can do this by opening your windows regularly to allow fresh air to circulate and help remove any lingering cigarette odor. You can also let the fans run regularly to achieve the same effect. 
• Seal off sources of residue: If possible, you must seal any areas where cigarette smoke may linger. These areas include vents or openings. 

If the old, lingering smell of smoke still exists even after doing these things, you may want to hire a professional cleaning service. Cleaning professionals often have the right tools and knowledge on how to deal with the stubborn smell of cigarette smoke. Just make sure to hire those who are reputable.

Removing Smoke Smell from Delicate Items

Cigarette smoke odor may also linger on the surfaces of delicate items, especially those made from silk, leather, or wool. Some may be hand-washed, while others require dry cleaning. Fortunately, removing the smoke smell from delicate items is still achievable, as long as you carry out a number of things properly.

One of the things you can do is place your delicate items in a well-ventilated area or outside in fresh air. You must then make sure to store them away from direct sunlight, especially if they’re sensitive to light.

Now, another thing you can do is sprinkle baking soda over fabric items. Baking soda is known to absorb odour. Leaving it overnight may help get rid of the stubborn smoke smell from delicate surfaces. Once done, shake or gently vacuum it off. 

Aside from baking soda, you can also use activated charcoal or coffee grounds to remove any smoke smell from your sensitive items. You can place the affected items in a sealed box with activated charcoal or coffee grounds and leave them for a few days.

You can likewise lightly mist your delicate items with a diluted solution of white vinegar or vodka and allow them to air dry. Doing so helps neutralize odours on their surfaces without leaving a strong smell.

Lastly, you can take advantage of fragrance-free odor-eliminating sprays or an enzyme-based deodorizer to get rid of the cigarette smell over your delicate items. Make sure, however, to first test a small area to ensure they won’t generate any damage. 

Removing Cigarette Smoke from Non-Fabric Items

Aside from your clothes, cigarette smoke may also stick to a number of non-fabric items. Some of the most common items where cigarette smoke may linger include phones, laptops, tables and chairs, wallets, handbags, belts, and shoes.

Since they are made from different materials, it’s important to clean them properly to avoid damaging their surfaces. Some cleaning methods you can do to remove cigarette smoke from non-fabric items are:

• Wipe with vinegar solution: Hard surfaces like wood, plastic, glass, and metal may be cleaned with a vinegar solution. You can mix equal parts of white vinegar and water and use it to clean and neutralize the odours of non-fabric items with the said surfaces. 
• Use baking soda, activated charcoal, or coffee grounds: You can then place the items in a sealed container with an open box of baking soda or a bowl of activated charcoal/coffee grounds. Doing so can help absorb stubborn odors of cigarette smoke.
• Wipe with alcohol or vodka: If possible, you can lightly wipe the surfaces of your non-fabric items with rubbing alcohol or undiluted vodka. Doing this can help break down and remove any smoke residue from cigarettes.
• Expose to indirect sunlight: Some non-fabric items may be exposed to indirect sunlight for a few hours. Doing this allows fresh air to dissipate the smell of cigarette smoke from your things.
• Place in a sealed bag: Non-fabric items may also be placed in a sealed bag with a few dryer sheets to get rid of stubborn cigarette smell odour. You can leave them for a couple of days so the sheets can absorb the smell of cigarette smoke.

If all these cleaning methods don’t work, it’s time to call professional cleaners. Professional cleaners possess the right cleaning tools and products to get rid of cigarette smells. They also know the right cleaning techniques to carry out for specific non-fabric items.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my clothes smell like cigarette smoke?

Your clothes smell like cigarette smoke since they might have absorbed tar and other particles from the smoke. If you’ve been near a smoker or in a smoky environment, your clothes will slowly trap the odour. You can even pick up the smell of smoke if you’re near smoke-contaminated items or in a poorly ventilated space.

Why am I smelling cigarette smoke when there is none?

You might be smelling cigarette smoke when there is none due to phantosmia. It is a condition where the brain misinterprets signals from the olfactory system, allowing you to perceive smells that aren’t actually present. It can be triggered by sinus infections, migraines, neurological conditions, or prolonged exposure to cigarette smoke.

Summary

Your clothes smell like cigarettes, even if you don’t smoke, due to thirdhand smoke. Thirdhand smoke is cigarette smoke that lingers and latches onto surfaces. From your clothes to your furniture, cigarette smoke particles may stay there for hours. Without proper cleaning, the strong odour of cigarette smoke will stay there alongside its harmful particles.

If you’re smoking cigarettes, it’s best to do it outside or in a place that is well-ventilated. Alternatively, if you don’t smoke but might be interacting with smokers, it would be best to wash your clothes with the right cleaning solutions to get rid of cigarette smoke residue. Additionally, you must clean and maintain your non-fabric items to ensure they will be free from any cigarette smoke elements.

Since you already know why your clothes smell like cigarettes, it would be the best time for you to know how cigarettes actually work, here at Native Smokes 4 Less.