Problem Overflow

Smoke, smells and damp getting into your apartment, and how renters stop them.

Smoke from next door

The smoke smell is stuck in your curtains, bedding and clothes

Easy · About 1 hour

Where I am
Everything soft in the room smells a bit like an ashtray.
Where I want to be
Fabrics that smell clean again.
What's in the way
Fabric holds on to smoke particles long after the air clears.

Try this first, free: Hang curtains and bedding outside on a dry, breezy day. Fresh air takes out more than you'd think.

The fix

  1. Wash what you can in hot water, following the label, with a splash of white vinegar in the rinse.
  2. For things that can't go in the machine, hang them outside or in front of an open window.
  3. Spray a fabric refresher made for odors, and let it dry fully.
  4. Run the purifier in the room while it all airs out.

What this won't fully fix: Washing and airing get the smell out, but it will come back until the source of the smoke is sealed or stops.

What to get

These open an Amazon search, so you can pick the one that fits. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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