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Nicotine Problem
I went to a clients home today. I have never seen a home so bad in my life. There was no walking room in this house. This house had 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom. Every room has stuff clear to the ceilings. I felt some what uncomfortable being there but she had called because my mother referee me. Her husband whom passed away in 2001, he was the one who kept the house spotless. But after his passings she let the house go.But what stuck out was the nicotine on the walls in dining, living room. She left to go to a doctor appointment. I tried my hardest to get nicotine out but it just came back. I tried Bleach but just came back. But by 9pm you would walk into this house and feel happy. There was walking room, the 3 rooms felt spacious and inviting, kitchen just sparkle. THe 2 bathroom was spotless. I had never it my life see so many dishes in my life. This women had 4 WEEKS of dirty pots and pans, dishes and she was eating off paper plates because she told me that she didn't have clean dishes adn the dishwasher was feel with DIRTY DISHES TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anyways how do you get nicotine off the walls for good? She told me that she been smoking since 2001 because of her husbands passing
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Renee on -
Robert - I read somewhere that you may be able to remove nicotine from walls by applying a solution of vinegar, dish washing detergent and hot water to the walls and then wiping dry. This is a really hard stain to remove because it has a significant amount of oil in it. I would be hesitant to try this method of any wall that was painted with flat paint - think water stains on top of nicotine stains if it doesn't work. I'm thinking it would work better on a eggshell finish. Professionally, this is not a project I would take on for any client. From personal experience, at my previous home, the original homeowners had smoked inside the house for 30+ years. Before repainting, we had to prime the walls with Kils, in order for the nicotine not to seep through the new paint. I think repainting with the proper primer is the only way to get rid of nicotine stain once and for all
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Permalink Reply by Natasha on -
Wow it sounds like she has a hoarding problem! I know someone like that... She keeps everything that ever gets into her hands... Every plastic shopping bag, every newspaper, even ever yogurt container... She has to wash her dishes in the bathtub because she can't get to the sink!
Anyway, nicotine is a horrendous problem that often just won't go away. You can even paint over it and it will still "bleed" and seep through the paint and come back. Here's what I can say after a little research (keep in mind I haven't tried any of these):
I would first wash down the walls with TSP (tri-sodium-Phosphate) which is readily available at all hardwares, home supply or paint stores in a powdered form and used like an ordinary household powdered cleaner.
I have always used Soilex to clean walls. The house I moved into was coated with nicotene and it came right off with Soilex and you don't have to rinse it.
1. Mix TSP with water according to the package instructions. Use the "heavy cleaning" formula if available.
2. Throughly clean the wall using a sponge instead of a rag. Sponges lift off the nicotine rather than push it into the wall like a rag or towel would.
3. After washing a section of the wall, rinse the sponge out in a clean bucket of water.
4. Repeat this process until the nicotine is off of the wall
Open windows in room and make sure the room is well ventalated.
Step2
Place a towel along the baseboard of wall to be cleaned. This is to prevent the product from running onto baseboards and carpet. Put on gloves and optional goggles.
Step3
Spray Greased Lightning on walls, letting the product run the length of the wall. ( Here is where you see the brown stains from the nicotine run down the wall.)
Step4
Starting at the bottom of the sprayed wall, wipe the product off the walls. Work your way up using several rags. Rinse the rags in clean water. Repeat if necessary.
409 Spray, BAM! spray, Orange Glow or Lysol Basin Tub & Tile cleaner. I prefer 409. They all work great. Start at the bottom of your wall and work your way up. Spray about a two or three foot section. Wipe it off and move upward. If you start at the top or middle area, the nicotine stain will run down and leave a path on the wall which is hard to remove. But after you've cleaned a section, any runs can easily be wiped away.
When you do the ceiling it would be best to wet a sponge with cleaning spray, rather than spray the ceiling. You can test the spray and see if it doesn't drip onto your floor.
p1
Remove stains from vinyl wallpaper covered walls, ceramic tile or stone such as marble or alabaster by combining two 2 cups of hydrogen peroxide 1 cup of warm water and 1 tsp. of rubbing alcohol. Rub the stains with a cloth or soft-bristled brush until clean.
Step2
Clean wood walls by combining 1 to 2 tbsp. of standard dishwashing detergent in hot water. Stir the mixture briskly until a heavy foam appears. Clean the stained areas by applying only the foam to a sponge or cloth and rubbing the area. Once clean, dry the area thoroughly with a clean towel.
Step3
Rejuvenate nicotine-covered, painted walls. Combine a 1/4 cup of white vinegar, 1/2 cup of sugar, 1/2 cup of laundry detergent and 2 quarts of hot water. Apply the solution to your walls with a sponge or cloth, rubbing until clean and wiping dry.
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Permalink Reply by Roy Kennedy Capital Household Se on -
Robert Hi Ive done this before the nicotine is all over everything inside furniture drapes pictures the whole house . Try going to a paint store and get yourself some TSP that will help remove it cause its water soluble . Then it has to be painted but thats also why you cant use regular paint you have to use an oil blocker then latex over that otherwise it will just bleed right thru the new paint .And you will have a mess on your hands . Good luck it sounds like it might be a good job to keep you busy for a while I just saw Natashas reply and thats interesting the way she describes bringing the paint back .Im sure it works , I never tried that I always preferd to paint the walls and have a new finish
Regards
Roy
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Permalink Reply by Michelle on
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Hi, Robert! Try using a solution of 1 gallon warm water and about 1/4 cup corn starch or corn flour. Apply this to the walls with a cloth and then wipe of with a clean damp cloth. The corn starch will absourb the nicotine film. Also works great on windows and no streaking!
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Permalink Reply by Carole Pagan on -
Michelle said:Hi, Robert! Try using a solution of 1 gallon warm water and about 1/4 cup corn starch or corn flour. Apply this to the walls with a cloth and then wipe of with a clean damp cloth. The corn starch will absourb the nicotine film. Also works great on windows and no streaking!
Cornstarch! I'll be darned. Learn something new everyday. I had to go try it, and it worked!
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Permalink Reply by Tatyana on
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I have there was a similar situation. Children have properly advised you. In due time we well have recommended company House Cleaning Service in Seattle city owing to heavy work on similar conditions!
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