Erin Napier Says This Is The Secret To Banishing Smoke Smells, But Does It Work?

Living in a house where smoking occurs regularly can have various negative health effects on the occupants and the physical environment. While the smoke harms the smoker, non-smokers are at risk as well because secondhand smoke has been linked to heart disease and other issues. The smoke also stains, discolors, and odorizes surfaces and materials, and the unpleasant smell can be especially difficult to get rid of. Over time, HGTV stars have given us tips for keeping the home smelling fresh, and Erin Napier recommended using an ozone generator for this specific problem. However, this isn't a foolproof method.

Ozone generators are devices designed to produce ozone gas. Ozone gas is made of three atoms of oxygen, one of which can alter the composition of other substances, which is how it can neutralize unpleasant odors in a space. Because of this quality, ozone generators are marketed for home use as air purifiers, but neither the EPA nor any other government agency has approved or recommended such devices as air purifiers. Instead, they warn of the dangers of using it indoors. Familiarize yourself with the details before using this in your home.

While working on a house that had been smoked in for a long time, Erin Napier tweeted about how an ozone generator was right for the job. "A [six-hour] treatment with an ozone generator that cost $99 has completely gotten rid of the smell in the 4000 square-foot house," she said on X, formerly Twitter. It may have worked, but the EPA advises against using ozone generators for this purpose for two reasons. First, ozone doesn't purify the air at all and isn't a reliable method to get rid of indoor air pollutants like formaldehyde, which is created by smoke. The generators are also unreliable when it comes to maintaining safety standards, even when used in the right-sized spaces.

Second, ozone is very toxic to the human body and has the potential to cause a myriad of issues in the circulatory and respiratory systems. It might be better to err on the side of caution with this idea and consider a professional smoke odor removal or deodorization service instead. They know how to approach this problem because they know exactly what tools and equipment are needed, what needs to be cleaned, and what needs to be replaced. There are also eco-friendly methods for removing cigarette smells from your furniture like washing or covering cushion covers with baking soda or steam cleaning.