Short answer: to get rid of cigarette or musty smells at home, you need to pull the odor out of where it hides (sofas, curtains, walls and closets), fix the cause if it's damp, ventilate every day and neutralize the air with a nebulizing diffuser loaded with the BENDIS Aloe Vera neutralizer. It's formulated for fatty acids and amines, the molecules behind stale cigarette smoke, damp, pets and fish.
Why cigarette and musty smells won't go away
They belong to the fatty acid and amine family: molecules that dissolve in fat, not in water, and stick to fabrics, wood, paint and plaster. That's why an apartment where people smoked still smells of cigarettes months later, and a damp closet smells stale even after you wash the clothes. If you just spray air freshener, the smell is back ten minutes later.
How to remove cigarette smell from your house step by step
- Stop smoking indoors. As long as people keep smoking inside, no method will hold up. Balcony or street.
- Ventilate with a cross breeze every day, at least during the first week.
- Wash everything washable: curtains, covers, cushions, small rugs and bedding.
- Clean walls, ceilings and furniture with water and mild soap. Nicotine leaves a yellowish layer that keeps smelling. If people smoked there for years, repainting with a sealing paint makes the biggest difference.
- Neutralize the air with a nebulizing diffuser with Aloe Vera in the living room or bedroom where people smoked.
How to get rid of musty smell in your house
- Find the cause. A leak, condensation on windows, a bathroom with no extractor fan or laundry drying indoors. If there's visible mold, clean it or call a professional before anything else.
- Lower the humidity in the air by ventilating in the morning and, if needed, with a dehumidifier.
- Empty and air out closets that smell stale, and don't put away clothes that aren't completely dry.
- Neutralize the remaining odor with Aloe Vera in the affected room: basements, storage rooms, ground floor apartments or bedrooms.
Also for pet and fish odors
Aloe Vera offers maximum effectiveness against four odors: cigarettes, damp, pets and fish. If you have a dog or cat, we have a dedicated guide: how to get rid of pet odor in your house.
The Aloe Vera neutralizer
It's a refill for nebulizing diffusers that acts on the bad odor instead of masking it, and leaves a fresh, soft note.
| Odor | Aloe Vera effectiveness | Otherwise, use |
|---|---|---|
| Cigarettes | Maximum | Jazmín (Jasmine) as a second option |
| Damp | Maximum | Jazmín as a second option |
| Pets | Maximum | Jazmín as a second option |
| Fish | Maximum | Jazmín as a second option |
| Food and frying | Medium | Jazmín, which is the first option |
| Smoke, burnt, toilet, sweat | Not its family | Cotton Fresh |
Where to use it
- Apartments where people have smoked, before renting, selling or moving in.
- Homes, basements, storage rooms and ground floor apartments with a damp or stale smell.
- Homes with a dog or cat, veterinary clinics and dog grooming salons.
- Fish shops and areas where fish is prepared.
How long it lasts and how much it costs
Aloe Vera costs €29.99 for 150 ml and €34.99 for 250 ml. Up-to-date prices in the fragrances and neutralizers collection.
| How you use it | Approximate duration of 250 ml |
|---|---|
| Intense, with the device running 24 hours | 1 month |
| At home, normal use | 2 months |
| Gentle and only a few hours a day | 3 to 4 months |
It also depends on the size of the space and the diffuser. For a home, a device from the home collection is enough.
Frequently asked questions
How do I remove cigarette smell from a room?
Ventilate, wash the curtains and bedding, clean the walls and furniture, and leave a nebulizing diffuser with Aloe Vera in the room for a few days at medium intensity. If people smoked there for years, repaint.
How do I get rid of musty smell in a closet?
Empty it, clean the inside with water and a little vinegar, leave it open for a day and don't put damp clothes back in. If the smell stays in the room, neutralize it with Aloe Vera.
Can I use it in a home with a dog or cat?
Yes, in the air and at low intensity, with the room ventilated and never spraying it on the animal or near its food. With cats, even gentler. We explain it in the pet odor guide.
What about kitchen smells?
It works, but for frying and food the first option is the Jazmín neutralizer. Aloe Vera is better if what smells is fish.
Does it smell like aloe vera?
It leaves a fresh, soft note. It isn't a room fragrance: the focus is on neutralizing.
Not sure what kind of odor it is? Check out the guide to choosing an odor neutralizer.
Source: BENDIS neutralizer effectiveness chart by type of odor.
