How to remove cigarette and smoke smell from clothes

Step by step

1. 1

   Air the clothes out first

   Hang smoky clothes outdoors or by an open window for a few hours before washing, especially after a campfire.

   Why: It's common practice rather than an extension step: some odor leaves with fresh air, and smoky clothes won't scent the rest of the hamper.

2. 2

   Wash warm in small loads

   Wash in warm water with a liquid laundry detergent, on a normal cycle with a warm rinse. Keep loads small so the clothes move freely. For bleach-safe whites, powder detergent with liquid chlorine bleach also works.

   Why: Smoke residue is oily and particulate. Detergent, warmth and agitation work it out of the fibers.

3. 3

   Add vinegar if you like, skip the softener

   Adding 1 cup of white vinegar to the wash with the detergent is a common suggestion. Leave out fabric softener and dryer sheets entirely.

   Why: Vinegar is a reported tip rather than a tested result. Softener would only mask the leftover smell.

4. 4

   Smell, then wash again right away

   Smell the clothes as soon as the wash ends. If smoke remains, wash them again the same way immediately. Cotton and cotton blends can need 3 to 5 washes for heavy tobacco smell.

   Why: Each wash removes more residue. Stopping early leaves enough behind to bring the smell back.

5. 5

   Air-dry and check before the dryer

   Air-dry between washes, or use a no-heat setting. Only machine-dry once the clothes are completely free of smoke smell.

   Why: Dryer heat can lock the odor into the fabric and make it harder to remove.

Why smoke smell clings to clothes

Smoke is fine particles plus sticky, oily compounds. On fabric they settle between and onto the fibers, and from there they keep releasing odor. Tobacco smoke adds nicotine and tar, which stick especially well, so clothes worn around smokers for a long time hold more than a jacket from one evening by a campfire.

That's why the fix is repeated washing with detergent rather than a spray. Fragrance sits on top of the residue and fades, and the smoke smell is back. Smokers also carry residue into homes and cars on their clothes, so washing promptly helps keep it from spreading.

Why no dryer and no softener

Extension guides from Oklahoma State and Texas A&M both warn that dryer heat can lock smoke odor into fabric. The fix is simple: air-dry, check the smell when dry, and only then use the dryer.

The University of Kentucky's guide says to leave out fabric softener until all odor is gone. Softener deposits its own scent on the fibers, which can hide a faint smoke smell you'd otherwise catch and wash out.

By situation

Campfire smell

Air the clothes out overnight, then give them one or two warm washes with liquid detergent and no softener. Single-exposure smoke usually comes out faster than tobacco.

Clothes from a smoker's home or thrift store

Expect several washes. Wash in small loads, smell after each one and keep going until no smoke remains before drying.

Coats, wool and dry-clean-only items

Air them outdoors and take them to a dry cleaner, saying it's smoke. Don't wash items whose label says dry clean only.

Smoke smell after a house fire

Launder everything washable as above, repeating as needed, and dry-clean the rest. Clothes heavily affected by fire smoke may need professional cleaning; check what your insurance covers.

Smell still faint after several washes

Soak the items in baking soda dissolved in water, then wash again. Check the closet too: if it stored smoky clothes, it may need wiping down.

What not to do

• Don't put smoky clothes in the dryer. Heat can lock the odor into the fibers.
• Don't use fabric softener or dryer sheets until the smell is gone. They mask the odor instead of removing it.
• Don't spray perfume or fabric freshener on smoky clothes. The residue keeps releasing smell after the fragrance fades.
• Don't mix vinegar and chlorine bleach in the same load. Acid plus bleach releases chlorine gas. Use one or the other.

Other methods that work

Baking soda soak

For a smell that lingers after washing, soak the clothes in baking soda and water, then wash again.

Caution: It's a finishing step, not a substitute for washing.

Chlorine bleach for whites

For bleach-safe white cotton, powder detergent plus liquid chlorine bleach in a warm wash is one of the extension options.

Caution: Check the label for the bleach triangle, and keep chlorine bleach away from wool, silk and spandex.

Dry cleaning

For anything that can't be washed, a dry cleaner can remove smoke residue. Tell them it's smoke.

Stain still there?

The smell came back after the clothes dried

Residue is still in the fibers. Rewash in warm water with liquid detergent, no softener, and smell-check before drying.

Clothes smell clean, but the closet still smells of smoke

The closet itself holds residue. Wipe the shelves and walls and leave an open container of baking soda inside. See smoke smell in a house.

Safety

• Never combine chlorine bleach with vinegar or ammonia.
• Follow care labels. Check the laundry symbols for water temperature and whether bleach is allowed.

Never mix cleaning products; see chemicals you must never combine.

Questions

Smoke elsewhere

• Smoke: what causes it and how to remove it
• Smoke in a car
• Smoke in the house
• Smoke in a microwave

Other smells in clothes

• How to remove mildew smell from clothes (musty, moldy or sour)
• How to remove skunk smell from clothes