Need advice re: smoke smell

[steves1bear]

I'm needing some help and hoping someone here has some experience they can share.

My In-laws are visiting right now and will be here for at least 12 days. The problem is, my mother-in-law smokes. She isn't a heavy smoker, but they have been here less than 12 hours and the room they are staying in already smells really bad. Unfortunately, it's my 2 boy's room. How do we deal with the smell and make sure it doesn't ruin the items we had to leave in the room? We've opened windows and doors (lucky we live in Hawaii right now) and she is not allowed to smoke in or anywhere near the house since the wind carries the smell inside.

Any advice?

Thanks.

 

[scrapquitler]

I'm needing some help and hoping someone here has some experience they can share.

My In-laws are visiting right now and will be here for at least 12 days. The problem is, my mother-in-law smokes. She isn't a heavy smoker, but they have been here less than 12 hours and the room they are staying in already smells really bad. Unfortunately, it's my 2 boy's room. How do we deal with the smell and make sure it doesn't ruin the items we had to leave in the room? We've opened windows and doors (lucky we live in Hawaii right now) and she is not allowed to smoke in or anywhere near the house since the wind carries the smell inside.

Any advice?

Thanks.

Why does the room smell so bad so quickly if you aren't allowing her to smoke in the room?? Is it just the smell of smoke on the items in her suitcases? If so, most of it should GO when she goes (but don't have her put her stuff in the closets, etc). I'd suggest an ion air cleaner, probably, both for while they are using the room and for a while after they leave.

That doesn't sound like fun to me I'd probably encourage them to stay in a hotel next time.

 

[Janepod]

I think she's sneaking cigarettes!

 

[Rabscuttle]

I'm needing some help and hoping someone here has some experience they can share.

My In-laws are visiting right now and will be here for at least 12 days. The problem is, my mother-in-law smokes. She isn't a heavy smoker, but they have been here less than 12 hours and the room they are staying in already smells really bad. Unfortunately, it's my 2 boy's room. How do we deal with the smell and make sure it doesn't ruin the items we had to leave in the room? We've opened windows and doors (lucky we live in Hawaii right now) and she is not allowed to smoke in or anywhere near the house since the wind carries the smell inside.

Any advice?

Thanks.

I am guessing the smoke that sticks to her and her clothing is what the problem is. Actually, Home Depot carries odor eliminating bags that look like small white lava rocks, (I know, lava isn't white but I wanted to stick with the Hawaii theme. ) They are about $4 a piece and they absorb all kinds of odors from the air. They do "fill up" but they are recharged in sun. This will be a good option because it doesn't cover up the odors, it eliminates it. I have used this in my basement after a dead mouse so it does work. I would put them in now, while she is there. Buy a couple and rotate them. Tell her that you are using them to eliminate the smoke odors. I hate cigarette smoke so I know how you feel.

 

[Jex]

What the above poster said, or a bowl of activated charcoal.

 

[stsomewhere]

I think she's sneaking cigarettes!

this!

 

[dngnb8]

She may be sneaking a smoke, but that isnt necessarily true. People do not realize that the nicotine of smoking is on your skin, your clothes etc.

The smell is from their suit case and clothes most likely. It will be gone over time. You will have to wash the sheets etc. Also remember, the chairs/couches they sit in etc.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I'm needing some help and hoping someone here has some experience they can share.

My In-laws are visiting right now and will be here for at least 12 days. The problem is, my mother-in-law smokes. She isn't a heavy smoker, but they have been here less than 12 hours and the room they are staying in already smells really bad. Unfortunately, it's my 2 boy's room. How do we deal with the smell and make sure it doesn't ruin the items we had to leave in the room? We've opened windows and doors (lucky we live in Hawaii right now) and she is not allowed to smoke in or anywhere near the house since the wind carries the smell inside.

Any advice?

Thanks.

Tell her to stop smoking in the house.

I am around chain smokers that smoke in the garage and it is not that bad in their house.

No way would a room smell that bad unless someone is smoking in it.

 

[NotUrsula]

Two days and you would get it from the clothing and their persons, but 12 hours? She's smoking in there, probably sitting by the open window. (Give it another day or two and go in there and run your fingernail down the glass; bet you any money it comes away with some yellowish residue, which would be nicotine film. Or just go outside at night right after they go to bed, and look for the glowing tip of the cigarette through the window.)

If they are there for 12 days, I suggest that you resign yourself to repainting the room after they leave. With any luck there is no carpet in the room, because carpet is the very most difficult thing to eliminate that odor from. Are there covers on the mattresses?

 

[TDC Nala]

All you can do is lay down the law and tell her to smoke outside. If she still violates that then I don't think you have any method of enforcement but to ask her to leave. Maybe get them a hotel room, although 12 days in Hawaii can get expensive.

From what you have written, you have asked her to only smoke outside but she smokes in the children's room anyway. Either that or you think she is smoking outside but standing too close to the window (that can be remedied by closing the windows). Or you think she smells so strongly of smoke herself that the smell is imparted to everything in the room, in which case there isn't really anything you can do about that - maybe provide her with a robe to wear in the room or get some device that filters the air.

Make sure all the kids' belongings are removed from the room, at any rate.

 

[kt_mom]

If she smokes in her house at home then it could be the smell from her things that are in the room. Most of that smell will leave with them.

 

[Squirlz]

A distinguished lady and I arrived simultaneously at the drug store checkout last night. I allowed her ahead of me and as she passed I could smell the cigarette smoke. She bought a carton of smokes, about 5 packs of breath mints and Nicorette. I'm thinking she isn't fooling anybody.

 

[SaraJayne]

A distinguished lady and I arrived simultaneously at the drug store checkout last night. I allowed her ahead of me and as she passed I could smell the cigarette smoke. She bought a carton of smokes, about 5 packs of breath mints and Nicorette. I'm thinking she isn't fooling anybody.

LOL Smokers think no one knows they smoke. Trust me, you stink and everyone around you that doesn't smoke, knows you do.

 

[RunningGirl]

It may be coming from the suitcases and items they brought with them if she smokes in their own home. I'd wash all the clothes and put the suitcases in the garage.

Bless you, I would have trouble putting up with the smell and with someone staying with me for 12 days, displacing my family. Definitely sounds like a hotel room is in order next time.

 

[mickeyboat]

My mother smokes and when she visits I can strongly smell smoke on her clothes, jackets and suitcases. She does not smoke in my home. Heck, when she sends Christmas gifts through the mail I can smell the smoke when they arrive.

And when she leaves and I clean the room she was in, wash the sheets, etc., the smoke smell leaves with her.

I wouldn't go accusing her of smoking in the room and wouldn't chase her around with a bowl of charcoal.

 

[malibuconlee]

Tell her to stop smoking in the house.

I am around chain smokers that smoke in the garage and it is not that bad in their house.

No way would a room smell that bad unless someone is smoking in it.

I think it could be coming from their suitcases. I grew up with smoking parents. Had NO idea what I smelled like until I moved out. WOW! I remember opening up presents, say a sweatshirt that was in the house and the smell could be overpowering!

I think once their things are cleared out it will be OK.

Too bad you are in Hawaii, I was going to suggest after they leave opening the windows to that room, somehow cold air will take cigarette smell out of fabric. It works! My SIL used to wait tables in a bar/restaurant. One of the other waitresses taught her the trick. You hang your coat out in the cold (an enclosed front porch works great!) and after a few hours the smell is gone!

 

[bumbershoot]

No way would a room smell that bad unless someone is smoking in it.

Oh, not necessarily.

I had to sun a small quilt for WEEKS, to get the smell out of it, when the mother of a boyfriend sent it to me. She's a non-stop chain smoker, and I almost had to throw it away when I got it. Despite it being shipped across the country.

One of the biggest things I don't miss about college and working outside the home is having smokers sitting near me, especially on a rainy day. It just fills up my nose and doesn't fade.



I don't know what to tell you, OP... Maybe take everything possible out of that room. Or at least everything not washable. It's hard for me to tell what to do, as they wouldn't have even been invited to stay in my house, that's how bad my nose and body react to it.

 

[steves1bear]

Oh, thank you so much for the replies. We are going to look into the ion air cleaner and odor eliminating bags.

We made sure to clear out the room as much as we possibly could. We really only left a few clothes and books. We also covered the mattresses and put on old sheets we are going to get rid of anyway.

I really think she brought a lot of the smell with her because they have three suitcases and she does smoke in their house and everything was closed up for numerous hours on the airplane. It also didn't help that they brought in the suitcases, she went outside smoked, came in and shut the door and windows to the room. She also was smoking too close to the house and the smell came in because she didn't shut the front door. The same thing happened early in the morning, went out, smoked, came in, room was completely closed up when she shut the door. Like others have said, even packages they send in the mail we have to air out for awhile since they smell so bad.

Trust me when I say I would give anything, anything to have them at a hotel!! Since we live up on the North Shore, there are only two options for hotels - one really expensive resort and the other are some beach bungalow kind of places. They are going to stay at the beach place because that was the compromise for having them in the same state for so long. I have no desire to have them in my house for so long (well at all really), but we could only afford to put them up for a few nights (their Christmas present) and they can't afford to pay the rest of the nights.

I've decided if my marriage can survive this, we can survive anything because so far it's been a nightmare and it hasn't even been 24 hours yet!

 

[scrapquitler]

Trust me when I say I would give anything, anything to have them at a hotel!! Since we live up on the North Shore, there are only two options for hotels - one really expensive resort and the other are some beach bungalow kind of places. They are going to stay at the beach place because that was the compromise for having them in the same state for so long. I have no desire to have them in my house for so long (well at all really), but we could only afford to put them up for a few nights (their Christmas present) and they can't afford to pay the rest of the nights.

I've decided if my marriage can survive this, we can survive anything because so far it's been a nightmare and it hasn't even been 24 hours yet!

Pitch a tent in the yard Hopefully the smell won't linger too long after they leave.

 

[I Love Pluto]

You definitely need this!!

I am so sorry that you have to deal with this. Your stress level must be in the outer limits by now!

Do yourself a favor - Secretly count the minutes until they leave, but DON'T say anything about the smoke smell. (If you catch her smoking in your house, then you should.)
Some battles are not worth it, some compromises keep peace within the family.

I know it's hard - but hang in there!