A cigar aficionado loves the aroma of a fine cigar, but the smell clings to clothes and furniture. The good news is there are easy ways to fight the effects of a fine cigar with smoke odor eliminators.
Whether you’re celebrating a wedding, graduation, retirement party, or simply sitting down to relieve stress, a good cigar is all about ritual. It’s no wonder relaxing amidst the aroma of a premium cigar is often a transcendent experience. But the 21st century hasn’t been kind to cigar smokers. One person’s ritual is another person’s “smoke smell,” and the smoke odor has staying power. Cigar ash creates noncombustible minerals like potassium and magnesium, and like cooking odors, it clings to clothing, car upholstery, and furniture fabrics.
Household Cleaners as Smoke Odor Eliminators
If you live in colder climates, there’s no avoiding having to smoke inside. Cigar lounges are equipped with ventilation systems, and building a smoking room is an option, but if you’re looking to enjoy a cigar at home and are worried about lingering odors, you won’t need to get too creative. Household cleaners are all you’ll need.
Setting out bowls of vinegar for a few hours will absorb odors rather than merely mask them. Baking soda also absorbs smells. Sprinkle baking soda on furniture fabrics and carpets and let it stand for a few hours or overnight. Vacuum the excess with a hose attachment, and the room will have no trace of a cigar.
Air cleanses remain one of the most effective ways to rid a room of odors. When all else fails, open a window and let Mother Nature do her work.
Commercial Smoke Odor Eliminators
Commercial air purifiers from companies like Dyson work well but can be expensive. An economical and more compact solution is Lampe Berger™ (pronounced: Bershay). These oil lamps were originally used to disinfect morgues and hospitals, so eliminating odors from a Robusto or Toro won’t be a problem. Using state-of-the-art catalytic combustion technology, they became a staple in smoking clubs in the early 1900s.
Some designs have become collectibles, but there is no need to get fancy. Basic models are inexpensive and can purify a 400-square-foot room in about an hour and remove 68% of the bacteria.
Protecting Clothes with a Smoking Jacket
Cigar life is all about special occasions, and sometimes that means being dressed in your best. Dry cleaning will remove smells from formal wear, but everyday clothes are a different story.
Smoking jackets, long associated with Hugh Hefner and the Playboy mansion, were not just novelties. They protected clothes from smoke and ash. Because most are made from silk, they don’t absorb smoke odors like porous materials. It wasn’t just “Hef” who wore one. In the 1950s, Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, and Cary Grant all wore smoking jackets as part of their formal attire. Smoking jackets are still around, but there are other options if you simply want to freshen your clothes after a smoking event with friends.
Removing Smoke Smells from Clothing and Fabrics
Eliminating odors from clothing doesn’t have to be a chore. Over-the-counter products, like Febreze™, are effective, but all-natural cleansers and household products are all you need.
Washing clothes with a half cup of white vinegar removes stubborn odors. Sprinkling baking soda and letting it stand for a few hours before running clothes through the wash also works wonders. Hanging your clothes outside may sound old-fashioned, but fresh air with the added benefit of a sun cleanse (not for too long — UV rays can fade colors) will have clothes smelling like new.
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