| One of the particular challenges that comes with | | | | before you paint. |
| staging some older homes, especially ones that have | | | | The drapes are another place that soaks up nicotine |
| had the same residents for decades, is that of | | | | in your home. If the curtains are in good condition |
| nicotine residue accumulation. When someone smokes | | | | and are neutral enough to use in your home staging, |
| in a home for many years an oily residue builds up on | | | | then wash them with either bleach or vinegar in the |
| the walls, on the furniture, and in the carpeting | | | | wash water. If they cannot be washed, have your |
| making the surfaces sticky and leaving an acrid odor. | | | | drapes professionally cleaned. If the smell does not |
| Nicotine residue is resistant to cleaning or even | | | | come out of them then replace them. |
| painting over in many cases, particularly when it has | | | | The furniture in your home will also likely be retaining |
| built up over many years. Due to it's oily nature, the | | | | odors. Any upholstery that smells should be covered |
| longer it stays on your walls or textiles, the harder to | | | | with a liberal sprinkling of baking soda and allowed to |
| get off it becomes as well; it petrifies to a sticky | | | | sit overnight if possible before vacuuming it up. To |
| noxious grime. Because the staging process is all | | | | wash the upholstery with good results it is best to |
| about making prospective buyers feel welcome and | | | | have the furniture professionally cleaned. If your |
| comfortable in your house, it is important to not | | | | furniture is in poor shape, consider renting or |
| distract them with | | | | borrowing some. |
| To get your smokey space clean and sweet smelling, | | | | Last but not least is the carpet or rugs. For area |
| first tackle the walls. Depending on how long the oils | | | | rugs, you may want to have them sent out to be |
| have been accumulating on the walls, it may be | | | | cleaned because the job will be done more |
| possible to wash it off. Try using a solution of hot | | | | thoroughly than you can do at home. For any wall to |
| water and ammonia or a TSP solution; you will likely | | | | wall carpeting that you have it's a good idea to start |
| need to also use a fair bit of elbow grease. If your | | | | with a generous sprinkling of baking soda throughout; |
| ceiling is washable and accessible, give it a scrub too | | | | leave the soda on overnight if possible and then |
| because it will be retaining odors as well. | | | | vacuum the next day. Repeat is the smell is still quite |
| Once the walls and ceiling are clean, let them dry and | | | | strong. I have had a lot of success with taking out |
| then inspect their condition. Normally it would be fine | | | | some fetid cat urine smells out of carpets with just |
| to leave them as they are if the smell and residue | | | | baking soda, it's quite impressive. As with any staging, |
| have been removed. However, if it has been long | | | | you will want to have the carpets professionally |
| enough since the last coat of paint for nicotine to | | | | cleaned or at least rent a cleaner and do it yourself. |
| build up on the walls, then you will probably want to | | | | Following these steps should help remove the stains |
| paint for your home staging. You will need to use a | | | | and the stink of cigarette smoke from the interior of |
| primer under the new paint, particularly if not all of | | | | your house, leaving it more inviting to prospective |
| the reside was removed. If the walls still smell you | | | | buyers. Instead of distracting them with an |
| may want to use two coats of a special primer | | | | unpleasant odor, they will be able to concentrate on |
| designed for painting over smelly or stained walls | | | | the character of your home! |