Cigarette, cigar, and pipe smoke can really do a number on your clothing. Over time, those compounds build up and leave stubborn yellowish or brownish stains that can be tricky to remove. But with some handy homemade stain removal solutions and techniques, you can get your clothes looking fresh and clean again.
What Causes Tobacco Stains
Tobacco smoke contains lots of chemicals like tar, nicotine, and oils that stick to fabric fibers. As the stains set over time, they bond tightly to the fibers and become more difficult to remove. The stains also tend to be a bit yellow or brown since the smoke contains pigments and tars.
Pre-Treating Stains Before Washing
Before just throwing that smoke-stained shirt or dress into the wash, you’ll want to do some pre-treating to help get the stains out more effectively. This loosens up and dissolves the stain compounds so they can rinse away better in the wash.
Some good pre-treatments to try:
- Baking soda paste – Make a paste with baking soda and just enough water to form a spreadable mixture. Apply it to the stain, let sit for 30 minutes, then launder. The alkaline baking soda helps break down staining compounds.
- Vinegar or lemon juice – Apply undiluted white vinegar or lemon juice to the stain. Let it sit for 1 hour before washing. The acid helps dissolve discoloration.
- Hydrogen peroxide – Hydrogen peroxide can act as a bleach to lighten and remove stains. Apply it directly and let bubbles do their work, then rinse and wash.
- Commercial stain removers – Check your grocery or hardware store for commercial tobacco stain pre-treatments. They often contain stain-fighting enzymes and solvents tailored for this purpose.
Washing With Stain-Fighting Detergents
Using a laundry detergent with some extra stain-busting punch can also help get out those stubborn tobacco stains. Look for kinds with active ingredients like oxalates, sodium perborate, or enzymes. These help break down staining compounds and release them from fabric.
You’ll also want to wash using the hottest water recommended for the fabric. The extra heat helps dissolve and loosen stains from the material. Just check clothing tags first before using extremely hot water.
And don’t overcrowd the washing machine! Give stained items some room to move around in the wash water for best results.
When to Treat Stains With Bleach
For smoke stains on white fabrics, bleaching is an effective stain removal method. The oxidizing action of the bleach chemicals helps destroy and lift out discoloration.
However, some fabrics like spandex blends or colored clothing can get damaged by bleach. So always check garment tags first! If bleach is not recommended, opt for a non-chlorine oxygen bleach instead. This can safely brighten and remove stains from more delicate items.
Getting Rid of Set-In Stains
Sometimes if tobacco stains have really set into fabric over a long time, they can be trickier to remove. Don’t worry – more vigorous treatment can help lift even stubborn, set-in stains.
Here are some extra steps for removing bad smoke discoloration:
- Soak the fabric – For especially challenging stains, soak the item for several hours in stain remover, vinegar, or hydrogen peroxide before washing. This gives the chemicals more time to penetrate and break bonds.
- Repeat washing cycles – Launder pre-treated pieces through more than one complete hot wash cycle to thoroughly remove stains.
- Use stain removal booster accessories – Washing machine accessories like stain balls or enzymatic boosters help lift out stubborn stains over repeat washings.
- Spot clean – For isolated stains, rubbing with a stain remover brush helps break bond and lift staining from fabric with some elbow grease!
Preventing Future Tobacco Stains
Once you’ve finally conquered those nasty tobacco stains, you’ll want to keep new ones from taking hold again. Here are some handy tips:
- Store smoke-exposed clothes separately – Keep clothes worn while smoking in a different hamper or closet area. This prevents stains from transferring to other items.
- Wash regularly – Clean smoke-exposed clothing after each wearing to prevent stains from setting in.
- Use stain protecting sprays – Aerosol sprays help fabric resist stains in the first place, making wash out much easier.
- Cover with an apron or smock – When smoking, wear an extra layer to catch residue rather than your clothes.
So don’t put up with dingy smoke stains on your nice shirts and blouses any longer! With some diligent pre-treating and targeted laundry techniques, you can kick those stains to the curb once and for all. And your clothes will be vibrant, fresh, and smoke-stench free.
References
Women’s World Magazine. “6 Ways to Get Smoke Stains Out of Clothes.” https://www.womansworld.com/gallery/home-cleaning-tips/smoke-stains-clothes-remedies-166301
Tide. “How to Get Cigarette Smoke Out of Clothes.” https://tide.com/en-us/how-to-wash-clothes/stain-removal/how-to-get-cigarette-smoke-out-of-clothes
The Spruce. “How to Remove Tobacco and Smoke Stains.” https://www.thespruce.com/remove-tobacco-and-smoke-stains-2146321
Laura has had an enthusiasm for laundry ever since she was a teenager experimenting with wash cycles. She went on study textile science in college before working in product testing.
Soon, Laura found friends and family constantly asking her laundry advice, realizing she had become an unofficial laundry guru. The questions kept coming in, so Laura decided to start sharing laundry tips online to help more people. The enthusiastic response led her start the blog “Laundry How”.
Now in her late thirties, Laura uses Laundry How to tackle all kinds of laundry topics – stains, fabric care, detergents, and more. She provides advice from both her studies and experience testing techniques out firsthand. Laura continues to grow an engaged community of laundry learners, feeling fulfilled empowering people to make laundry an easy, confidence-building ritual rather than a dreaded chore.