Finally Giving Up Drugs, but My Home Still Smells Like Old Habits

You’ve taken a big step in your life and given up drugs, but your home still smells like the very thing you’re trying to avoid. It’s essential to rid your environment of lingering odors that not only smell bad but can tempt you away from the progress you’ve made.  Here are some tips to get rid of the smell and decontaminate your home.

Fabrics

Scents love to cling to fabric, but there are methods to eliminate and release those pesky odors.

Start by vacuuming all your carpets and rugs thoroughly, which will take care of any physical ash, resin, or crumbs that fell onto the floor. After you’ve removed the physical matter from the carpet, apply baking soda or powdered odor absorber to the rug. Let it sit for anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple of hours; This will allow the baking soda or powder to absorb the remaining odors. Then, vacuum again.

If your carpets are particularly dirty from or stained from the drugs or the water and associated materials involved with drugs, consider renting a professional carpet cleaner. Grocery and hardware stores often rent these machines for inexpensive daily rates. Pair with a quality carpet shampoo, and you’ll notice a significant difference in appearance and odor. Couches and fabric chairs will benefit from the same drug clean up techniques; most carpet cleaning machines include a handheld attachment for upholstery.

Hard surfaces

Your counters, tabletops, and other hard surfaces can also harbor annoying odors. The first step in ridding yourself of these reminders of your past drug use is doing a thorough, disinfecting wipe-down. Tile surfaces, or any other surfaces with tiny crevices and porous areas, can attract crumbs, resin, and ash which can be hard to see or remove with a simple brush of your hand. Tar can be particularly sticky and hard to remove once it has set in. To combat this, first wet the surface with very hot, soapy water. Allow to soak and then wipe up. Then, use a strong disinfectant cleaner like Lysol and let it soak into your surfaces before using a dry cloth or paper towel to wipe clean.

Air

After you’ve thoroughly cleaned all your surfaces, furniture, and carpet, you may still detect a lingering odor that is both unpleasant and reminds you of your past drug use. Did you know you can clean and deodorize the very air you breathe?

Begin by purchasing an air purifier. Air purifiers come with specialized air filters that catch and remove particles from the air. Look for purifiers that include smoke and odor filters, or offer them as separate replacements for purchase.

After you have filtered your air, use an air freshening spray like Febreze to add a pleasant smell to your surroundings. Some of these freshening sprays can also be sprayed directly on carpet and fabric. Note the difference between air-freshening sprays and air deodorizers. There are sprays, gels, and even pillows that can attract and neutralize odors without adding an artificial scent. After you’ve done your best to remove any actual odors from the air, consider using scented candles and incense.

Quitting drugs is a great thing! Do yourself a favor by taking the time to renew and refresh your home by surrounding yourself with a clean-looking and smelling environment that does not evoke negative associations or memories of past drug use. Good luck!