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John asked: How do I remove tobacco stains from the walls?
Removing 
tobacco stains can be a real nuisance. It can be time consuming if the stains are present throughout the entire home. Here are some effective cleaning products that will help get the job done quickly.
You Will Need:
- A cleaning solution (choose one):
- Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
- Simple Green
- Rubbing alcohol
- 1 part white vinegar in 2 parts water
- Windex
- Spray bottle
- Bucket
- Soft cloths or sponges
Steps to Remove the Stains:
- Choosing the right cleaner will largely depend on the amount of space you are trying to clean. For larger areas, choose a cleaner that can be sprayed onto the walls and wiped off. For smaller areas, products like the Magic Eraser will work quickly and effortlessly.
- Once you have chosen your cleaner and gathered your materials, you are ready to tackle the cleaning job.
- Moisten a soft cloth or towel with the cleaning solution, or spray it directly onto the wall. Work in small sections no wider than 4 feet. It is also best to work from the top to the bottom to avoid dripping on the sections of wall that have already been cleaned.
- Use a circular motion to scrub the area with a sponge or soft cloth to remove the stain.
- Rinse with a clean cloth moistened with clean water.
- Dry with a soft cloth.
- Move to the next section and repeat. Continue until all of the wall areas have been cleaned.
Additional Tips and Ideas
- If the stain cannot be removed, it may be easiest to paint over it with a primer and then the original color.
- Be aware that even though the stains may appear to be in one area only, once you start cleaning the walls, you may find that you are committed to cleaning them all to keep from the untouched ones appearing darker or dirty.
- Avoid applying too much pressure while scrubbing because it can damage the surface and remove some of the paint.
I have found that diluted sugar soap in a spray bottle works wonders. It can be used to clean just about every surface except wood.
I use it in my wash – gets stains out of whites wonderfully. Soak baking dishes in solution – grease just dissolves. It is a marvel in a bottle!
Works for me.
Use a sponge mop (used on floors) and use liquid soap; wash the walls the same way you wash your floors (use damp, not wet). I washed a 8 ft. x 20 ft. wall in less than 5 minutes, the entire room in less than 20 minutes. Change the water often; it gets dirty fast.
To clean the tub/shower walls: stop water from draining out of tub, put in soap and water – about 4 inches of water, (I use dishwasher soap) and use a sponge mop to clean the walls and sides with the water in the bottom of the tub (the soap in the tub water will clean the bottom while you’re cleaning the walls with the same water. Rinse and let dry. Takes about 5 minutes.
I used Oxiclean and Nillium (an odor neutralizer available at janitorial supply stores). Wipe with a large car wash type sponge, then rinse with a clean cloth from another bucket of plain water. Use two buckets and change water often.
White vinegar also works (I do about half and half with water). Just be careful when opening the microwave, since a face full of vinegar steam is not pleasant. It doesn’t smell as nice as the lemon, but it really cuts through some serious crud. I always have gallon jugs on hand for cleaning!
Always work from the bottom to the top of a wall or you will get stains from the run off and theses are very difficult to remove. Wiping over the run off on a wet wall is a lot easier and does not leave difficult stains.
I’ve been trying to clean the nicotine stain off our bathroom wall, but every time we shower, the steam brings more out. The walls were painted before we moved in since the previous owner smoked, but the stain streaks are still coming back. Any ideas?
Kathryn,
Unfortunately there isn’t a simple solution to your problem. Here are your options:
1) Keep cleaning it as needed until it has all bled through. Hopefully if you’ve been dealing with this problem for a while, it should be almost over. I’d suggest going to a Dollar Tree and getting a sponge mop. You can keep it behind the door in the bathroom, keep a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle under the bathroom sink, and quickly wipe down the walls after each shower as needed. (Spray on the vinegar, wipe with the sponge mop, then wash the sponge mop in the sink.) You can use a stronger vinegar solution, even full strength, if needed – be sure to test it first on a small hidden area of the wall to look for any adverse reaction though. Not the most delightful solution, but definitely the cheapest and easiest.
2) You can repaint and this time cover the walls with a stain-proofing primer first – maybe even two coats of it. Not easy or cheap, and there’s no guarantee that it would work, but it is an option you can try if you want.
3) You can have the walls properly scraped/stripped to remove the paint, then thoroughly cleaned to remove the nicotine, then repaint. Not even close to easy or cheap, but that’s the professional way to deal with this problem.
Source: SF Gate – How to Remove Paint from a Heavy Smoker’s Walls
Source: Today – Removing Paint from Walls
I had water stains around a sky light. I painted over them many times, but it kept bleeding through. A contractor had the best idea for me. Spray over the stains with clear varnish. I repainted over where the stain was. Problem solved. It’s been 4 years now, with no bleed through. Good Luck.