How to Get Rid of Stale Cigarette Ash Smell
An ashtray and the area around it hold a stale, acrid cigarette or cigar smell because ash and tar residue build up and the smell soaks into the tray and nearby surfaces and fabrics. Empty and clean it, deodorize the area, and it clears.
We make small-batch beeswax candles in Far Rockaway, so a room that truly smells clean is our whole focus, and that always starts at the source rather than the scent. Below is where the smell comes from, how to clear it step by step, and how to keep the space fresh afterward, with the full the MBur beeswax candle collection here as you read.
Why the smell lingers
Cigarette and cigar ash and tar have a strong, clinging smell, and left in the tray it keeps off-gassing. The smell absorbs into the tray, the table, curtains, and upholstery nearby as residue.
Emptying the tray helps, but that residue on surfaces remains. Cleaning the tray and the area is what clears it.
How to clean it, step by step
- Empty and wash the ashtray. Dump the ash once it is fully out, and wash the tray with hot soapy water, using a little baking soda to scrub off tar residue. A layer of baking soda or sand in the bottom absorbs smell and safely snuffs butts.
- Air out the room. Open windows and run a fan or air purifier.
- Wash nearby fabrics. Launder curtains, throws, and washable covers with vinegar in the wash, since smoke residue soaks into soft materials.
- Wipe hard surfaces. Wipe the table, walls, and nearby surfaces with a vinegar-water solution, since tar residue films onto them.
- Deodorize soft furnishings. Sprinkle baking soda on upholstery and carpet, let it sit, and vacuum, steam cleaning heavy cases.
Make sure butts are fully out before emptying. A smoldering butt in the trash is a fire risk, so confirm the ash is cold, and a little sand or baking soda in the tray helps snuff them.
Keep it from coming back
Empty and clean the tray often, and smoke outside or by an open window with the room ventilated.
Wash fabrics and wipe surfaces regularly, and keep baking soda or sand in the tray.
Freshen the whole room once the source is gone
With the stale ash handled, the air itself is the last step. A clean candle is the finishing touch here, best lit once the space is already clean. From there it is the fastest way to make the room read fresh rather than merely neutral.
For your home, People Watching fits well. It is warm and spiced, with orange, clove, cinnamon, and vanilla, and like every MBur candle it is poured from 100% beeswax with a wooden wick and phthalate-free non-toxic fragrance oils, so freshening the air never means adding soot on top.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get rid of stale ashtray smell?
Empty and wash the tray with baking soda, air out the room, and wash nearby fabrics and wipe surfaces, since the residue soaks into them.
How do I keep an ashtray from smelling?
Empty and clean it often, and keep a layer of baking soda or sand in the bottom to absorb odor and snuff butts.
Why does the smell get into everything?
Smoke and tar residue settle onto and soak into fabrics and surfaces nearby, so they hold the smell even after the tray is emptied.
Is it safe to empty an ashtray into the trash?
Only once the ash and butts are fully extinguished and cold, since a smoldering butt is a fire hazard. Sand or baking soda in the tray helps.
Ready to keep your space smelling clean once the source is handled? Explore the MBur beeswax candle collection and find the scent that fits the room.
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