The smell of tobacco in an apartment is a serious problem. If you're buying, renting, or simply want a smoker to stop smelling their home, you need to understand why it's so difficult to eliminate and what really works.
Why the smell of tobacco is so persistent
Tobacco smoke contains over 7,000 chemical compounds, many of which settle on porous surfaces—walls, ceilings, fabrics, wood—and form what is known as "third-hand smoke." These deposits are not removed by ventilation or superficial cleaning.
• Settles in walls: paint absorbs smoke compounds. Sometimes the only solution is to sand and paint.
• Permeates all fabrics: curtains, sofas, carpets, clothes.
• Reactivates with humidity: a humid day can make the smell return strongly even after cleaning.
• Conventional air fresheners don't work: they only mask the smell temporarily.
The protocol to eliminate tobacco smell
Step 1: deep cleaning
Wash all washable fabrics. Clean walls and ceilings with water and vinegar or specific products. In severe cases, sanding and painting may be necessary. Change air conditioning filters if any.
Step 2: intense ventilation
Ventilate the apartment for at least 48 hours with windows open if possible. Use fans to create cross-ventilation.
Step 3: continuous neutralization
Ventilation and cleaning remove what's on surfaces, but compounds still in the air and those released from surfaces require continuous neutralization. A nebulizer with a tobacco neutralizing refill constantly acts on these molecules, eliminating them from the ambient air.
For apartments for sale or rent
If you have an apartment that belonged to a smoker and you want to sell or rent it, the smell of tobacco can significantly reduce its value. Buyers and tenants perceive the smell within the first few seconds of entering. Installing a BENDIS system two weeks before viewings can make a difference in price and selling time.
At BENDIS, we install in less than 15 minutes. Free device. Specific tobacco neutralizing refill. From €39.99/month including VAT.
