Moving into a new home might mean that it needs some TLC, especially if there are smoke stains from the previous owner. Cigarettes are not only harmful to your health, but they can also affect your home.
New homeowners are often left to deal with the yellow stains from nicotine left by the previous owners. Not only that but the house might be left with an unpleasant, smoky smell.
At Residential Solutions, a leading interior home painter in Overland Park, we know that sometimes simply painting over cigarette stains isn’t enough. Oftentimes, you have to go through and thoroughly clean the walls to get rid of both the stench and the stains before adding paint to fix the discoloration.
Below are tips from professional painters in Overland Park on how to successfully remove smoke stains from your home’s walls.
The smell of tobacco is overwhelming and can settle into other places than just your walls and ceilings. If the previous owners left any hard surfaces, like tables and chairs, you might want to consider throwing them away. Interior house painters in Overland Park suggest washing old fabrics like curtains but replacing the carpets in your home. You should also replace any simple items, like lightbulbs, because they can also smell like tobacco.
The Best Place to Begin is Removal
Wash Everything More Than Once
Sometimes, it takes more than one round to get the smell out. It also sometimes takes more than inexpensive cleaning products. Home painters in Overland Park want you to understand that the smell might not come out if you just use water and dish soap. Nicotine and tar found in cigarettes can leave behind a sticky residue that might require the use of cleaning products.
It’s also important to test the cleaning product before you use it. Spray it on a small section of the wall, preferably somewhere hidden, to make sure the paint won’t have an adverse reaction. Interior painters in Overland Park suggest using these tools to clean your walls:
- Clean cloth or sponge
- Five-gallon buckets
- Magic eraser
- Drop cloth
- Rubbing alcohol
- Rubber gloves
Start the cleaning process by sponging down your walls with warm water and cleaning solution, then let them dry. Professional painters suggest doing one more thorough scrub with warm water and cleaning solution, then use a magic eraser.
Clean Your Air Ducts
This part of the process is often overlooked but essential to you and your family’s health. House painters in Overland Park might suggest having your HVAC system cleaned because it is the primary source of air in your home.
Over time, the house’s air ducts have accumulated air particles that contain the nicotine scent and have transferred them throughout the home. Cleaning your ducts can help eliminate the tobacco smell and make the air in your home healthier to breathe.
Residential Solutions – Interior and Exterior Painters in Overland Park
Residential Solutions: locally owned and operated since 2006. Our interior home painters in Overland Park are masters of the brush, creating stunning interiors and exteriors in Johnson County’s finest communities.
From Gardner to Olathe, Lenexa to Leawood, Shawnee to Overland Park (and beyond), we’ve got you covered! Owned by the dynamic duo of Craig Anderson and Coby Feris, the Residential Solutions team, the best exterior home painters in Overland Park offers top-notch service and prices that won’t break the bank.
Premium Paint Options? You betcha! The best residential interior painter in Overland Park has partnered with Sherwin-Williams, purveyors of the finest paint in the land. Choose between Resilience Premium Paint with a 25-year warranty or Duration Paint with a lifetime guarantee. The painters in Overland Park are here to help you make the best choice for your needs.
Once you’ve made your decision, our exterior house painter in Overland Park will work their magic. Prep work, paint application, and cleanup? The Overland Park residential exterior house painter has got it all covered. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the amazing transformation of your home’s curb appeal and interior. Trust the best exterior and interior painters in Overland Park to give your home the makeover it deserves. You won’t believe the difference premium paint can make!
