How to Eliminate Stubborn, Horrible Household Odors—Pet, Smoke, Mold, Mildew

I love the smell of a campfire mixed with the scent of pine trees on a cool summer night. But stale cigarette smoke odor in a car or apartment; or the smell of an old house fire? That’s different and a problem EC reader Lisa is finding to be anything but pleasant.

 

 

Help! I have a chance to go back home—to buy the home I grew up in. In the years since I’ve lived there, the house has had a fire so there is smoke damage. Can you recommend something we could use to get the smoke smell out? We are tearing out all the damaged wood from the home but still we have the smoke odor.

I’m curious to know if Nok-Out, the product that you talk about often, would work to eliminate that odor. I appreciate your column and enjoy reading it each day. Love, love the tips and use them often. Thanks so much. You have blessed my life in so many ways. Lisa

 

Good news for Lisa (and many thanks for her kind, encouraging words)! Yes, without a doubt, Nok-Out will eliminate the smoke odor and every other kind of odor Lisa—or you—may be dealing with.

• MORE: 11 Everyday Uses for Nok-Out—the World’s Best Odor Eliminator

The science

Unlike supermarket room fresheners that do little more than try to cover up odors with fragrance, Nok-Out is an “oxidizer.” When it comes into direct contact with the source of the odor, it oxidizes that smelly stuff, changing it into something that no longer has an odor—pure oxygen. But it can only do this when it comes in direct contact with surfaces that have been touched by the stinky stuff, be that an entire room, a garbage can, or a teen’s shoes.

Cool mist

The cheapest and most effective way to get Nok-Out to every surface in a room that the smoke has touched—even those areas that may be inaccessible, is with an ordinary household humidifier that delivers cool mist. Then wait for the simple science that makes Nok-Out work. Just be aware that results will not be instantaneous.

Prepare for the oxidation process to give off its own odor in some situations, as the smoke smell gets eliminated. I’ll tell you now during the process of oxidizing the offensive odor, it’s going to smell like a stinky swimming pool with a hint of chlorine. Don’t be surprised by this. It’s part of the process. Just wait.

Sweet smell of nothing

Once the oxidation is complete you’ll be left with the wonderful smell of—nothing! The odor will be gone and it will not come back. Just know that depending on the severity of the situation you are dealing with, this oxidation process could take days, not only hours.

• MORE: The Simple Science of Eliminating Bad Odors

Dispense with a humidifier

The Best Inexpensive humidifier for this purpose—when an entire room or large area has been penetrated by the smoke and it is nearly impossible to hand-spray Nok-Out in order to touch all of the areas— is a cool mist room humidifier like this Honeywell model. Its large capacity allows it to run for many hours between fill-ups.

 

 

Another option that will deliver Nok-Out mist perfectly in any enclosed space is this Fogmaster Jr.

 

 

 

Large, closed areas

To eliminate old and persistent smoke odor in a room or car, first spray Nok-Out full strength in the corners, cracks, baseboards; on door-jams and casings.

In a jug or other large container, pour 1 cup  (8 oz.) Nok-Out and one-gallon room temperature tap water. Use this to fill the humidifier. Operate it in the room as needed with all windows and vents closed for up to four hours at a time.

• MORE: Help! My Apartment Stinks Like a Stale Ashtray

 

Where to find Nok-Out

I’m excited to let you know that Everyday Cheapskate has partnered with Nok-Out to bring you the best prices on all sizes of Nok-Out Odor Eliminator—with shipping included and great customer service (call Ted at 866-551-1927 or 512 607 6621; or email ted@nokout.com for help if you have a specific odor situation).

Nok-Out Odor Eliminator is available direct

 NOK-OUT 16 oz. $19

 NOK-OUT 32 oz. $26

 NOK-OUT 128 oz. $40

Or you can get find Nok-Out at Amazon.

Safe and amazing

For my readers not yet familiar with Nok-Out it is a clear, odorless liquid; a safe and amazing odor destroyer for use in any area where odors occur. It is water-based, mild enough to wash your hands in; is non-allergenic, non-staining, and antimicrobial. Nok-Out destroys odors caused by pets, organic decay, tobacco smoke, fires, sweat, mold, bacteria, and fungi. Nok-Out leaves carpet, upholstery, cars, trucks, shoes, gym lockers, the air you breathe—you name it—smelling fresh!

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Everyday Cheapskate participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.

 

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