How to get rid of the tobacco smell in your clothes
The easiest alternatives to washing
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LIFESTYLE Tips
Are you a smoker who wants to impress a non-smoker without overwhelming them with your tobacco-heavy odor? Or are you a non-smoker whose clothes fell victim to someone else’s bad habit?
Whether you're trying to hide the smell fast, or frustrated that it got in your hand-wash-only clothes, Laundry Care has found several ways to remove the smell without throwing those clothes in the laundry machine.
Baking soda
The versatile chemical compound of sodium bicarbonate, better known as baking soda, has many functions outside of the kitchen. One of them is the ability to absorb nasty odors caused by cigarette smoke, though the process does require some patience. Put your smokey clothing in a large plastic bag and add half a cup of baking soda. Then, close the bag and shake it around for 30 seconds. Leave the bag overnight, and the next day you can take out the items and shake off all the baking soda, leaving you with odorless clothing.
Fresh air
Depending on how strong the smell is, simply airing out your clothes can be enough to take care of the problem. Hang your clothes up outside, or at least by an open window, and let them be for a few hours. If you live in an apartment complex, keep in mind that the people living below you may smoke from their window or balcony and potentially worsen the situation.
Spray
The quickest way to erase the smell is by using an odor-eliminating spray, which can neutralize the smell remarkably fast. The downside to this option is that you’ll have to fork over some money for the product. You might also end up replacing the smoke with a different smell that might not be to everyone's taste, such as lemon or mint.