How to Get Cigarette Smoke Smell Out of a Blanket

Smelling cigarette smoke on your favorite blanket is unpleasant. Cigarette smoke clings to most fabrics and is tough to get rid of because the tar and nicotine leave a resin on fabrics that some cleaners can't dissolve. Getting the odor out might take a few attempts, depending on how long or how often the blanket is exposed to cigarette smoke, but it is possible to remove it and make your blanket smell fresh and new again.

Removing Cigarette Smoke Odor from Blankets

• 1

  Spray fabric refreshers such as Febreze on your blanket if the smoke odor is from a visitor smoking in your house and the blanket is otherwise clean. Sprays that eliminate pet odors will work for this as well and can be found at your local grocery store. If the smoke odor is due to a smoker living in your home or doesn't come out with fabric sprays, proceed to Step 2.

• 2

  Wash blanket using bleach (if possible) and liquid fabric softener in the wash cycle.

• 3

  Smell the blanket before you place it into the dryer. If you dry the blanket when the odor of cigarette smoke has not successfully washed out of it, the drying will set the odor into it. If you smell cigarette smoke after washing, proceed to Step 4.

• 4

  Add 2 cups white vinegar and 1 cup baking soda to your wash, and place the blanket in to wash again. Vinegar and baking soda neutralize each other and the odor. You can add both together or add baking soda to the wash cycle and vinegar to the final rinse.

• 5

  Smell blanket to make sure the odor is gone before drying, as you may need to repeat the wash.

• 6

  Try tea tree oil if the odor is not fully removed after washing with baking soda and vinegar. Just a couple of drops added to the wash should be enough. You can purchase tea tree oil at any pharmacy or health foods/herbal store.

• 7

  Hang it outside in the sun instead of drying. Air drying outside in the sunshine can get rid of many odors.

• 8

  Soak blanket in a strong solution of vinegar and water if the above steps haven't removed the smell. Tobacco resin is a sticky material, and the acidic vinegar will dissolve this and should remove the smoke smell. After soaking, wash and dry as usual.

• 9

  Take the blanket to the dry cleaner if the odor is still present after trying the above steps.