Does your favourite jacket smell like an ashtray by Friday?
There’s a familiar smell every smoker knows. You go back inside after a cigarette and you smell it everywhere. It lingers on your:
- Clothes
- Hair
- Car seats
Here’s the problem:
Smoke doesn’t merely smell. Smoke residues. And that residue penetrates fabric far more quickly than most realize.
The good news? For a reasonable price, you can maintain fresh-smelling clothes and hair with a proper wardrobe care routine at home–without having to rely on dry cleaning.
Ready? Jump in!
Inside this guide:
- Why Does Smoke Stick To Your Clothes?
- Do Light Cigarettes Smell Any Less?
- 7x Wardrobe Care Tips That Actually Work
- How To Keep Your Hair Smelling Fresh
Why Does Smoke Stick To Your Clothes?
Smoke contains microscopic particles and adhesive oils. When you smoke, those particles hang in the air and settle on whatever is near you. And clothes are the nearest thing to you.
Researchers call it “thirdhand smoke.” That residue that remains after cigarettes have been extinguished.
And here’s the kicker…
It doesn’t stay settled. Researchers at Yale discovered people track residue from smoking into smoke-free spaces on their clothing. Inside a single movie theater, residue levels equaled secondhand smoke from up to 10 cigarettes.
Pretty wild, right?
Material also makes a difference. Studies indicate cotton and terry cloth retain more nicotine compared to polyester. Yeah, that comfy cotton hoodie is absorbing it like a sponge.
Do Light Cigarettes Smell Any Less?
Many smokers purchase light cigarettes online in search of less odor. Sounds reasonable when you think about it. Less smoke should equal less odor, shouldn’t it?
Not quite.
Terms like “light”, “mild” and “low” were prohibited by the FDA on cigarette packaging in 2010 due to consumer confusion. Manufacturers altered package colours instead, using gold and silver. Even so, 92% of smokers were still able to recognise their brand.
Whether you pick up a pack at the corner market or compare discount cigarettes while purchasing light cigarettes online, smoke still behaves identically. It still lands on your sleeves. It still absorbs into your hair. The packaging doesn’t change the fact.
So the real fix isn’t the pack…
It’s your routine.
7x Wardrobe Care Tips That Actually Work.
Ok now on to the best tips of all. Read through all of the 7x tips. Choose the ones that work for you and implement them into your life. Having fresh smelling clothes is that easy!
Wear A “Smoking Layer”
This is the easiest trick on the list…
Designate one jacket or overshirt for smoking only. Wear it when you go outdoors to smoke. Remove it when you return indoors.
It covers everything beneath it. And you only have one garment to wash frequently. Simplify!
Wash Clothes Sooner, Not Later.
Smoke sets in fabrics the longer it stays in them. Don’t let your smoky clothes sit in a heap for a week.
Try to wash them within 24-48 hours. Use a quality detergent, and use the hottest water permitted by the care label.
Extra tip: During rinse cycle add 1/2 cup white vinegar. Vinegar eliminates odours rather than masking them. Don’t worry…you will not smell vinegar on your clothes once they dry.
Try Baking Soda
Baking soda is inexpensive and effective. Throw 1/2 cup in with your regular laundry detergent.
What about items you can’t throw in the machine? Things like:
- Wool coats
- Leather jackets
- Handbags and scarves
Throw them in a big bag with an open box of baking soda and leave them overnight. The baking soda absorbs the odor while you sleep.
Let Fresh Air Do Its Job
Here’s something most people forget…
Fresh air doesn’t cost anything. Hang your clothes outside on a windy day and let Mother Nature do her job. Sunshine and wind will work wonders. Spending just a few hours outside can greatly improve smoke covered clothes.
Keep Your Closet Smoke-Free
One smoky jacket can ruin your whole closet. So never hang smoky clothes with clean clothes.
Hang them up with their own hook near the door until they’ve been washed. Next, put something odour absorbing in your closet like a bag of activated charcoal or a few cedar blocks. Both are inexpensive and can last for months.
Pick Your Fabrics Wisely
Remember how cotton acts like a sponge? Use that to your advantage.
Choose a polyester or nylon jacket for your smoking garment. Synthetic materials will attract less build up and launder more easily. Reserve cotton and wool jackets for non-smoking occasions.
Use Fabric Sprays The Right Way
Most sprays on clothes will only mask odors for an hour or two at best. Perfumes mixed with smoke just make it smell worse!
Search for an odor-eliminating spray. You may also want to steam the garment first with a clothes steamer. The steam will open up the fibers and release trapped odors.
How To Keep Your Hair Smelling Fresh
Your hair is similar to cloth in many ways. It’s porous so it absorbs smoke and keeps it there. The longer and curlier your hair is, the more it can hold.
But here’s the thing…
You don’t have to shampoo your hair after every cigarette. Just follow these simple tips:
- Tie long hair back before you light up
- Wear a hat or hood outside
- Use dry shampoo to absorb odours between washes
- Try a light hair mist to freshen up
Use a clarifying shampoo once a week. Regular shampoo leaves build-up on your hair. The clarifying shampoo will remove it. Be sure to use conditioner afterwards so your hair won’t become dry.
Hands and skin, don’t forget about those either! Studies have found that nicotine residue on soiled garments can be absorbed through the skin. Remember to wash your hands after lighting up, and change clothes once you get home. Your skin (and everybody else around you) will appreciate it.
Fresh Clothes, Fresh Start
Smoke smell doesn’t have to cling to you wherever you go. There are easy adjustments you can make to your wardrobe routine to keep your clothes and hair smelling fresh all week. To quickly recap:
- Wear a dedicated smoking layer
- Wash smoky clothes fast with vinegar or baking soda
- Air things out and keep your closet smoke-free
- Choose synthetic fabrics for smoking time
- Protect your hair and wash your hands
Seriously it is that simple. Choose two or three tips, implement them as habits and enjoy cleaner clothes from now on!