How to Get Rid of Cigarette Smell From a House

Step 1

Cigarette smoke sticks to everything! Remember this as you are cleaning. The first thing to do is wash and sanitize all fabric surfaces. Take down the curtains, bedspreads, and even the shower curtain! Wash all of them. Take the covers off of chairs and sofas and wash them if you can. If you can’t, use a carpet cleaner with a hose attachment and clean as much surface as you can. Don’t forget the pillows! If you don’t have access to a carpet cleaner with a hose, try spraying your furniture with OdoBan. It is a great product, it kills germs and leaves a fresh scent.

Step 2

Wipe down the windows. Cigarette smoke leaves a film on even nonporous surfaces. Clean all the windows. You will probably notice the room getting brighter. This would also be a good time to wipe down the blinds with a cleaner. Tar from cigarettes yellow and discolor blinds. If they don’t go back to their original color, it’s best to buy new blinds. You will appreciate this in the long run.

Step 3

Paint the walls. Some of the time, you can get by with washing all the walls with a cleaner but for the most post, you need to paint. Apply a primer first and then select a paint with low VOCs. They are better for you and the environment.

Step 4

Clean the floors. Sweep and mop all hard floor surfaces. Vacuum and clean all carpets. If you don’t have a carpet cleaner, spread a little baking soda on the floor and let it set for about 30 minutes, then vacuum. You can spray with Febreeze afterward if you like.

Step 5

Go back and check all of the less obvious places. Wash toys, throw blankets, and wipe down all counter-tops and cabinets. Don’t forget to clean off fan blades and other light fixtures. That should do the trick.

How to Do Smoking Tricks

With this post I open new series of “How to” articles found here – How to do just about everything.

Although doing smoking tricks is by no means the healthiest party stunt you can pull, there’s no denying that it’s impressive. There’s something very aesthetically pleasing about the way smoke moves, and being able to manipulate it with your mouth is a skill to master. Here’s how.

Step1

Blow O’s or smoke rings. To do this (and most smoking tricks) you should not take the smoke into your lungs but into your mouth instead. The reason for this is because you will need to retain the smoke much longer than if you were simply inhaling.

Holding smoke in your lungs for these tricks will make you cough, and that doesn’t look very cool. Use the muscles in your cheeks to suck in a full mouth of smoke, then form a tight “O” shape with your lips, making sure that your cheeks are stretched taut. Make quick, precise movements with your mouth to contract it slightly, and do this several time in succession. A stream of smoke rings should follow one after another.

Step 2

Create another trick-blowing one smoke ring through another. Contract your mouth muscles to push rings out until you figure out how to make some O’s large, some small, some fast and some slow. This will probably take a good deal of experimentation before you get it down. Position your head so that you’re aiming at a downward angle. Blow a medium-sized, slower moving “O.” It will drift upward and expand slightly as it floats up. Right before it reaches about the same level as your mouth, blow a smaller, faster moving “O.” Keep practicing with the size and speed of your O’s until it looks right.

Step 3

Learn the French inhale, arguably the sexiest smoking trick. This is when you take smoke into your mouth, allow it to drift out of your mouth while simultaneously inhaling it through your nose and then exhale through the mouth. To begin, exhale completely so that there is as little air in your lungs as possible, then fill your mouth with as much smoke as you can. Do not blow the smoke out, instead simply open your mouth and allow it to drift out and upward. It may help to jut your lower jaw and bottom lip forward slightly. Once the smoke is drifting upward, inhale long and hard through your nostrils. This will draw the stream of smoke through your nose, into your lungs and back into your mouth. Finally, exhale through your mouth.

Step 4

To make the French inhale even more impressive, blow one large “O” out of your mouth instead of just exhaling. The reason that it’s wiser to stick to one big smoke ring rather than several smaller ones is because the tendency is to lose a lot of the original smoke during the process of the French inhale. This will leave you with significantly less smoke to work with, as well as less lung power.

Step 5

Inhale a drag, allowing a wisp of smoke to escape your lips and then suck it quickly back into your mouth. This trick isn’t as easy as one might think. Fill your mouth with a little less smoke than you used for the last tricks, then form a small opening with your lips for the smoke to drift out of. Once you are able to see a small but thick wisp float in front of you, use the same opening of your lips to gently suck it back in. Do not inhale sharply, as this is likely to make you choke on your mouthful of smoke (it enters your lungs much more quickly this way than if you’re slowly dragging on a cigarette). It might help to lean forward or follow the wisp slightly with your head as you suck it back in.

Smoking bans – a short history

When Michael Martin Introduced his uncompromising smoking ban in Ireland he claimed Ireland was the first country to introduce such comprehensive measures to prohibit the use of tobacco. Like so many other claims he makes, he is utterly wrong.

Throughout history smoking bans and prohibitions introduced by despots and totalitarian regimes have come and gone. The most recent in Europe prior to the introduction of Ireland’s repressive smoking legislation were the anti smoking laws of the Third Reich, introduced by the Nazi’s during their brief but devastating regime in Germany.

Despite some harsh punishments throughout the decades for those disobeying smoking bans including death, smoking and smokers have continued to thrive. Below are some of the failed smoking bans and prohibitions introduced throughout the ages including the proliferation of bans revoked after the failure of prohibition in America.

1575: Mexico:
The first recorded passing of legislation prohibiting the use of Tobacco occurs when the Roman Catholic Church passes a law which prohibits smoking in any place of worship throughout the Spanish Colonies
1600s: World-wide
Popes ban smoking in holy places and all places of worship. Pope Urban VIII (1623-44) threatens excommunication for those who smoke or take snuff in holy places.
1612: China
Royal decree forbids the use and cultivation of tobacco
1617: Mongolia
Mongolian Emperor prohibits the use of tobacco. People breaking the law face the death penalty.
1620: Japan
bans the use of tobacco
1632: America
The first recorded smoking ban in America occurs when Massachusetts introduces a ban on smoking in public places
1633: Turkey
Sultan Murad IV bans smoking and as many as 18 people a day are executed for breaking his law.
1634: Russia
Czar Alexis bans smoking. Those found guilty of a first offence risk whipping, a slit nose, and exile to Siberia. Those found guilty of a second offence face execution.
1634: Greece
The Greek Church bans the use of tobacco claiming tobacco smoke was responsible for intoxicating Noah..
1638: China
The use and supply of tobacco is made a crime punishable by decapitation for those convicted
1639: America
Governor Kieft of New Amsterdam beats Bloomberg by hundreds of years and bans smoking in New Amsterdam later to become New York.
1640: Bhutan
The founder of modern Bhutan, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal introduces that countries first smoking ban outlawing the use of tobacco in government buildings.
1647: America
People are only allowed to smoke once a day and public smoking is prohibited in Connecticut
1650: Italy
Pope Innocent X’s issues a decree against smoking in St Peter’s, Rome
1657: Switzerland
Smoking prohibition introduced throughout Switzerland
1674: Russia
Death penalty introduced for the crime of smoking.
1683: America
First laws in America passed prohibiting smoking outdoors in Massachusetts. Philadelphia follows suit introducing fines for offenders.
1693: England
First recorded ban in England introduced prohibiting smoking in certain areas of the chambers of parliament

* Smoking bans and prohibitions became rare during the 18th and 19th century. Trade in tobacco became an important source of revenue for monarchs and leaders and tobacco bans were revoked. Even the Pope not to be left out opened a tobacco factory in 1779.

1719: France
Smoking is banned with the exception of a number of provinces.

America and Prohibition

Smoking bans and restrictions found little favour in the developing Industrial world of the 19th century. However in the USA as the century drew to a close moral crusaders outraged by the consumption of alcohol and tobacco by American people began to demand action by federal and state legislators. This culminated in an amendment to the American constitution which allowed for the prohibition of alcohol in 1920.

Believing that prohibition might be “for their own good” Americans at first seemed to reluctantly accept it. However they rapidly grew disenchanted with the oppression. The rich and powerful colluded and rubbed shoulders with gangsters in efforts to maintain the flow of alcohol. Speakeasies flourished, hip flasks became a popular symbol of defiance.

American Anti Cigarette League
Lucy Page Gaston of the
Anti-Cigarette League 1900

During this period the imposition of smoking bans reached a zenith with the sale of cigarettes banned in 15 states. However by 1927, Kansas became the last state to repeal it’s ban on the sale of cigarettes. Other than making the crusaders feel good, prohibition had proved an unsuccessful experiment in social engineering leading to many disastrous consequences. Prohibition was eventually lifted in 1933.

1818: USA
Smoking is banned on the streets of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The mayor is fined when he becomes the first man to break the law.
1840: USA
Smoking is banned in Boston
1893: USA
Washington State introduces legislation banning the sale and consumption of cigarettes
1898: USA
Total ban on cigarettes in the state of Tennessee
1900: USA
The sale of cigarettes is now outlawed in the states of Washington, Iowa, Tennessee and North Dakota
1904: USA
A women is sent to jail for 30 days by a New York judge for smoking in front of her children.
1905: USA
Indiana introduces a total cigarette ban
1907: USA
Washington passes legislation banning the manufacture, sale, exchange or giving away cigarettes, cigarette paper or wrappers
1914: USA
Smoking banned in the US Senate
1922: USA
15 States now have laws banning the sale, manufacture, possession and use of cigarettes

Stop Smoking with Hypnotherapy

We have all heard how bad tobacco products are for our health. Smoking is an addiction that is very difficult to quit, but there are proven techniques that help increase your chances of not only quitting smoking, but never smoking a cigarette again. One of the most effective treatments in helping people to finally stop smoking is the alternative method of hypnotherapy.

According to the American Heart Association, 47.1 million people smoke in the United States. Of men in the United States, 23.5% smoke and out of women in the United States, 18.1% smoke. The statistics are even higher when looking at the worldwide statistics of cigarette smokers.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are 4000 chemicals in cigarette smoke, 50 of which are known to cause cancer. According to WHO, half of the world’s population of children (700 million children) are exposed to tobacco smoke. The International Labour Organization estimates that 200,000 people around the world die from second-hand smoke at work. These statistics show that not only is it important for an individual to quit smoking, but it is also important that they quit for the health of those around them as well.

Smoking is a physical and mental addiction. People become used to the feeling they get from a cigarette. They get used to having a cigarette in their hand and it occupies a great deal of time throughout their day; smokers become used to having an oral fixation with cigarettes. These are all physical aspects of their habit. The mental addiction can be more difficult to overcome. The actual addiction is mental and there is very little someone can do physically to help overcome the mental addiction to cigarettes.

Moses (1987) performed research on treating smoking with hypnotherapy. The researcher points out that smoking deals with habit, addiction, and willpower. All three of these aspects are difficult to treat alone, let alone all together, but hypnosis has shown to be effective in treating the habit, addiction, and one’s willpower to quit. The suggestions used in this study were to get smokers to change the way they viewed smoking and also to become more aware of the negative health effects smoking was doing to their body and overall health. Hypnosis was used to target the smokers’ habit, addiction, and willpower to effectively help them quit smoking. Results of the study showed that using hypnosis suggestions was very beneficial in helping people abstain from smoking tobacco.

Smoking has many negative effects on ones physical and mental health as well as the health of those around smokers. Quitting smoking has so many positive influences on one’s health and a positive economic impact. It is important for people to look into alternative methods of quitting smoking. Hypnosis generally requires only a few sessions to help people quit smoking in the long-term having a huge positive impact on a person’s life.

Tips and strategies to give up smoking (Part III)

If you have read Part I and II of this article, you are already aware of several reasons that keep people lighting up and strategies to give up smoking. Finally, we have reached the last part of the article and today we are going to discuss the most difficult situations when smokers think that giving up is almost impossible. However, we have elaborated some strategies for these reasons. So, let’s discuss the following reasons:

5. I am hooked on cigarettes. I feel nicotine cravings.

Extra question: Do you light up due to at least one of the following reasons?

• When I haven’t lighted up during a couple of hours I become agitated and nervous and feel a need for a strong for a cigarette.
• When I lack cigarettes I can not bear cravings until I finally manage to buy smokes.
• I have a headache when I can not reach a cigarette.

In case your answer is “yes”, “frequently”, “from time to time” to these questions, that is your reason to puff.

The majority of long-time regular smokers become chain-smokers after just several years of puffing, since they get addicted to cigarettes and namely to one ingredient – nicotine. And, when these group of smokers hooked on cigarettes decide to give up, many find it impossible since they are not able to overcome nicotine withdrawal period. The withdrawal symptoms range from headaches, tiredness, nervousness, irritation to a strong desire to have at least one drag. Many former smokers compare their cigarette cravings with lost love or missing somebody.

Well, scientists admit that it is very difficult to overcome nicotine addiction and many smokers do no manage to get rid of it on the first try, however, those people who have a strong wish to quit, usually succeed in giving up on third or fourth try. However, once you finally overcome the withdrawal period you would not have any cravings. That is a great source of motivation for many potential quitters. Psychologists have elaborated several strategies that could help get through the cravings and get rid of smoking for the rest of your life. These are most commonly cited tips by ex-smokers.

TIPS AND STRATEGIES TO GIVE UP

• Visit you physician and get some nicotine replacement therapies that would help you overcome nicotine cravings.
• Discuss your decision to give up smoking with your relatives, ask them to help you. Throw away the ashtrays and reserve of cigarettes. Avoid meeting smokers and visiting places were people smoke.
• Another advice is to smoke twice as more as you usually do each day since the overdose may ruin your taste for smokes.
• Consider yourself a non-smoker. Place “No Smoking” signs at home and workplace.
• Invent several activities that will distract you from missing smoking.
• Drink much water to wash nicotine from your body.

Remember that nicotine withdrawal lasts during 14-20 days. Be strong and hang on!

6. I am used to smoking, it is a habit.

Extra question: Do you light up due to at least one of the following reasons?

• I reach for a cigarette automatically each time when I read a newspaper or drink my coffee.
• I start smoking without looking on my ashtray where I already have a burning cigarette.
• I realize that I am smoking without remembering when I lighted the cigarette up.

In case your answer is “yes”, “frequently”, “from time to time” to these questions, that is your reason to puff.

If you belong to this group, it means you no longer gain much pleasure from your cigarettes. In contrast to those smokers who puff for pleasure or to get relieved from stress, you would not miss your habit much in case you gave up. The most important part is breaking the smoking habit. So make use of the following strategies that can help you quit.

TIPS AND STRATEGIES TO GIVE UP

• Reduce the number of cigarettes step-by-step. Light up fewer smokes every day or smoke only a half of each cigarette. Try to inhale more seldom and less deeply. Within several weeks it would be much easier for you to give up smoking altogether.
• Change the habits that accompany smoking. Put your cigarettes to another place. Hold your cigarette with another hand. Stop doing anything else when you light up a cigarette.
• Smoke only in a particular place, in one room, or even outside your house.
• When you feel a desire to smoke, stop for a moment and think about other things you can do instead of puffing.
• Each time you want a cigarette, ask yourself: Do I need this cig? Do I want it to make me cough? It would definitely help you avoid smoking so much.
• Establish a deadline for quitting smoking completely and keep to it.

Tips and strategies to give up smoking (Part II)

So, in the first part of this article we discussed the most common reasons for smoking and proposed corresponding ideas to help giving up the habit cold turkey. However, there are the other important reasons that we want to share with you. Here are some of them:

3. I light up when I am irritated, angry or upset in order to get relaxed.

Extra question: Do you light up due to at least one of the following reasons?

• I reach cigarette whenever I am in a bad temper.
• Cigarettes help me relax when I am stressed.
• I smoke when I need to get distracted from something that upsets me.

In case your answer is “yes”, “frequently”, “from time to time” to these questions, that is your reason to puff.

Many smokers particularly nowadays light up a cigarette to forget about the problems in their lives and get through them. In case you have been accustomed to smoking as a sedative, you should seek for other means of calming your nerves or, you would become addicted to getting rid of anger or stress by smoking and get used to lighting up each time problems appear. Try the following strategies to overcome difficulties without cigarettes:

TIPS AND STRATEGIES TO GIVE UP

• Try several relaxation techniques to regain temper and settle nerves when you feel irritated or depressed. Efficient relaxation techniques include breathing exercises, shutting eyes for several minutes, washing your face with cold water or imagining yourself in special place like seaside or luxury hotel. One of these methods should certainly help you calm down.
• Do physical exercises. Researches found out that jogging, swimming or simple physical exercise remove stress and strengthen body and mind.
• Bear in mind that cigarettes are not a solution to any problem. Try to find a more effective solution and implement your ideas to reality.
• Have a rest. Get a vacation if you feel that you can not resist stress anymore. And don’t forget to calm nerves every day using relaxation techniques, at least within 10 minutes.
• Take a day out and enjoy yourself by having a massage, or haircut, painting a picture or listening to relaxing music, taking a long both with foam or do other things that would make you feel happy and relaxed. Simply, enjoy the beauty of the world around you.

4. I enjoy touching and holding cigarettes in my hands.

Extra question: Do you light up due to at least one of the following reasons?

• I like holding a cigarette between my fingers.
• I enjoy the process of lighting up my cigarette.
• I enjoy looking at the smoke while exhaling.

In case your answer is “yes”, “frequently”, “from time to time” to these questions, that is your reason to puff.

If you belong to this group of smokers, you are used to obtaining a pleasure from habits and rituals related to smoking as well as from holding cigarettes in your hands. You always feel yourself more confident or cool with a cigarette between your fingers. Or you simply are accustomed to hold something in your hands and don’t know what to do with them when they are empty. However, you can easily get rid of this physical pleasure by following our tips and strategies below:

TIPS AND STRATEGIES TO GIVE UP

• Use beads, a coin, a ball, a ring or other object that would keep your hands busy but would be less harmful than cigarettes.
• Hold a pen or marker between your fingers when you feel you want to have a cigarette.
• Pick up a plastic cig to hold when you feel you loose confidence.
• Handle a real traditional cigarette in case you only need to touch it, but if holding a cigarette raises the desire to smoke it, disregard this strategy.
• Eat regularly. Don’t be hungry, since you can confuse hunger and desire to chew something with a wish to light up a cigarette.
• Invent yourself a hobby or activity that would make your hands busy all the time. You can try embroidering, knitting, painting, baking or other activities.

Check the “Tips and strategies to give up smoking” Part III for getting to know the final reasons and strategies to successfully getting rid of your habit.