Smoking is a huge contributor of indoor air pollution and a particularly unhealthy, costly habit that increases the chances of house fires, and renders your home less desirable to live in and visit.
We are all aware of the serious, harmful consequences smoking poses to our overall health and fitness, however, we are less aware of the adverse and dangerous effects that second and third-hand smoke can have on our loved ones and the inside of our homes. A known human carcinogen, passive smoke is a combination of the smoke exhaled by the smoker and the smoke being emitted into the air from the tobacco product itself.
Cigarette, cigar and pipe smoke are extremely unpleasant for non-smokers and the odour seeps into almost every exposed crevice and corner of the house, clinging to ceilings, walls, floors, fabrics and furnishings, rendering it almost impossible to remove.
This smoke contains a cocktail of noxious chemicals and minute particles that over time, stain and discolour painted walls, ceilings, fabrics, soft furnishings and wallpaper. The poisonous haze penetrates deep into electronic equipment such as computers, iPads, DVDs, televisions, fans, air conditioning units etc., leading to dangerous levels of chemical, moisture-laden dust that eventually results in corrosion and breakdown.
Over extended periods of time, smoke will embed itself into everything in your home, damaging and destroying items beyond repair. To eliminate the risk of future detrimental health issues caused by inhaling and ingesting these toxic fumes, you must remove all second-hand smoke from your home immediately.
There is no risk-free level of exposure to cigarette, cigar and pipe smoke; it is harmful to everyone. And it is especially dangerous to babies and young children as their lungs, respiratory and immune systems are extremely fragile and still developing, offering less protection to the effects of passive smoking. Clearly, the impact to babies and young children is much more destructive.
Young children constantly exposed to passive smoking tend to suffer more frequently with coughs, bronchitis, pneumonia, croup and ear infections, and have an increased risk of developing asthma, compared with children of non-smokers. Babies persistently subjected to breathing in second-hand smoke, have a higher risk of dying from sudden infant death syndrome.
Of course, it is not only babies and young children affected by passive smoking, but adult non-smokers are also highly susceptible to the harmful effects of inhaling second-hand smoke, increasing their chances of developing blood clots, strokes, lung cancer, heart disease and respiratory disorders.
Even pets are affected: not only do our four-legged friends inhale smoke, but the particles become lodged in their fur and are ingested when they clean themselves with their tongues. New studies have brought to light that persistent second-hand smoke may cause certain forms of cancer to mutate in cats and dogs.
Many governments are increasingly aware of the serious health risks posed by second-hand smoke and indoor air pollution and for this reason, have imposed comprehensive smoke-free laws, prohibiting smoking in public areas, including restaurants, workplaces and bars. This legislation will in time have a positive effect on our health and well-being, so let’s follow this example and quit smoking in our homes. Start by removing ashtrays and asking family members and guests not to smoke in the house when they visit. If they must smoke, politely ask them to smoke outside, away from the building. Creating a smoke-free environment is vital to purer, indoor air quality, and will make your home a safer, healthier and pleasanter place for you and your family.
Stale smoke is exceptionally difficult to remove and impossible to do so quickly. However, there are a few tricks of the trade to disguise its unpleasant odours.
To begin eliminating the stench and damage created by smoking in your home, open as many windows and doors as possible, allowing fresh air to flow through. Leave them open as long as possible as the fresh air will allow stale smoke and particles to dissipate, helping to cleanse the air.
Scrub walls and floors, wash curtains and other washable fabrics, allowing them to dry outside in the sunshine. Spritz upholstery with a home-made fabric freshener, clean all windows and glass, and spray around one of the delightful home-made air fresheners—a tea tree oil or eucalyptus formula is perfect at masking lingering odours. Sprinkle carpets and rugs with baking soda and leave for a few hours before vacuuming; this will soak up and neutralise stale smells.
The only way to remove smoke odour and de-fumigate your home completely is to begin thoroughly and systematically cleaning everything in your home. I know this process may seem a daunting, unachievable task, but begin slowly, with one room at a time, removing and cleaning wall hangings, curtains, blinds, soft furnishings, bedding, etc. You may even want to consider hiring a steam cleaner to thoroughly clean fabrics and upholstery.