How To Remove Smoke Smell From Plastic

By  Kathryn Milner

Things Needed

  • Water

  • Measuring cup

  • Sink stopper

  • Liquid dish soap

  • One dish rag

  • White distilled vinegar

  • Two large buckets with lids

  • One bag of charcoal

  • Paper towels

Tip

If possible, use a citrus scented liquid dish soap because of its strong odor. This will enhance the smoke odor removal process.
If concerned about charcoal residue staining plastics, double wrap each individual piece of charcoal with an additional paper towel, and wrap with a rubber band to hold the paper towel in place.
If you need to remove smoke odor from your home, you can leave the vinegar solution uncovered. This will allow the vinegar to help cleanse the air of smoke odor.

Warning

Keep charcoal away from children. If consumed, it can be fatal. Do not place charcoal near heated surface or anything retaining heat. Do not rub your eyes after touching charcoal. Burning and irritation can occur, and may damage eyes.

Smoke related odors are among the most difficult to eliminate. Smoke seeps into fabrics, plastics, glass, hair, and even appliances. Home remedies have proven effective against smoke and cigarette odors. Here are some helpful tips for removing smoke odor from plastic household items.

Cleansing

Step 1

Run water in kitchen or bathroom sink until a warm temperature is reached and apply the sink stopper. Pour one cup of liquid dish soap into the sink while running warm water until soap suds are visible.

Step 2

Place smelly plastics into the sink and submerge. Dispense two tsp of liquid dish soap onto dish rag, and dampen with warm water.

Step 3

Remove plastic items from warm water and scrub them with soapy dish rag. Scrub for approximately five minutes and submerge plastics again in sink.

Step 4

Leave the plastics submerged for fifteen minutes before draining the sink.

Step 5

Rinse the plastics with cool water thoroughly, and let air dry.

White Vinegar Treatment

Step 1

Pour three cups of white distilled vinegar into a bucket large enough to hold the plastic items.

Step 2

Place the plastics into the bucket and add two cups of cold water.

Step 3

Seal the bucket with lid and leave overnight.

Step 4

The next day, remove the plastic items from the bucket and put them in the sink.

Step 5

Carefully rinse plastics with cool water and let air dry.

Charcoal Odor Removal

Step 1

Wrap ten pieces of charcoal in paper towels individually. Place five pieces of wrapped charcoal at the bottom of the tub.

Step 2

Put the plastic items inside the tub, making sure they sit squarely on bottom layer of charcoal.

Step 3

Place the five remaining pieces of charcoal on top or in between spaces of plastics inside the tub.

Step 4

Seal the tub and leave overnight.

Step 5

Remove charcoal pieces and plastics from tub. If charcoal dust can be seen on the plastic items, rinse with cool water. Allow plastics to air dry.

Recommended