How to Get Rid of Nicotine Stains on Walls

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If you have yellow or brown stains on your walls, it's possible that they're from nicotine. There are several ways you can begin to remove the stains, such as mixing white vinegar with warm water and baking soda, or by using a dry cleaning sponge. If it's necessary to repaint your walls, make sure you try to wash the nicotine stains off first. An odor-blocking primer will help prevent the stains from creeping back in, and you'll have beautiful walls again in no time.

Part 1
Part 1 of 2:

Washing the Walls

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  1. Mix 1 cup (240 ml) of white vinegar with 2 cups (470 ml) of warm water and 0.5 cups (120 ml) of baking soda. Dip a clean cotton cloth into the mixture and apply the cloth to the nicotine stains, rubbing them in a circular pattern. Wipe the wall with a clean cloth or sponge after applying the mixture. [1]
    • You may have to repeat this process 2-3 times, so don’t give up if all of the stains don’t come off after the first try.
  2. If you’d prefer a dry method for cleaning the nicotine off your walls, purchase a dry cleaning sponge. These sponges don’t need water and can clean off the walls by soaking in the stain. Wipe the wall using single strokes, making sure not to rub the sponge around in circles on the wall. Once you see the stain on the sponge, use a razor blade to remove the top layer, making the sponge clean again.
    • 1 dry cleaning sponge usually costs around $5.
    • Don’t try to rinse out the sponge using water — this will cause it to no longer work.
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  3. There are many products on the market that are designed to help lift stubborn stains. Whether you choose a degreaser or lean towards a product with bleach in it, try to pick a product that is odorless and more environmentally-friendly. [2]
    • Mr. Clean Magic Erasers are a popular choice for removing nicotine stains off of walls.
  4. TSP, or Trisodium Phosphate, is a powder that works to clean off heavy stains. Mix TSP with warm water, reading the instructions on the box to determine how much water you’ll need. Scrub the mixture onto the wall using a soft sponge, moving your hand in a circular motion.
    • If you can’t find TSP, look for TSP-PF, which is the product without the phosphate.
    • Wear clothes that you don’t mind getting ruined, as well as protective gloves.
  5. Create a mixture of 1 part ammonia and 1 part vinegar, adding in a couple squirts of dish detergent. You can mix it all together in a bucket, and then use a sponge or scrub brush to clean the walls with it. Use circular strokes and make sure the room is well-ventilated — ammonia has a very strong smell. [3]
    • Wear gloves and goggles when working with ammonia, and put on old clothes in case they get messed up.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 2:

Painting the Walls

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  1. If you've already moved all the furniture out of the way and put down plastic before washing the walls, great! If not, move your furniture out of the way so that it won't get paint on it during the painting process. Put plastic or a drop cloth down on the floor to catch any paint drips, making sure it goes all the way to the wall's edge. [4]
    • If necessary, put painter's tape on any edges that you don't wish to be painted.
  2. Paint fumes can be very over-powering and aren't super healthy to breathe in, so make sure your room has access to fresh air. Turn on a fan, open a door, or push open the windows to make sure the room is ventilated and air isn't stagnant. [5]
  3. If you want to paint your walls after removing the nicotine stains, you’ll want to make sure the wall is free of any dust or dirt. Use a slightly damp cloth — or a clean, dry cloth, if you don’t want to use water on the wall — and wipe the wall down thoroughly. [6]
  4. Take down any wallpaper on your walls, if necessary. If the nicotine stains are on wallpaper, you’ll need to remove the wallpaper before painting. Use a scoring tool to create holes in the wallpaper before spraying the wallpaper with a spray bottle full of water to dampen the paper. Then you’ll be able to scrape the wallpaper off using a plastic putty knife. [7]
  5. After you've opened your primer or final paint color, use a mixing tool, such as a wooden mixing stick, to mix up the paint. Swirl the paint around carefully and slowly so that nothing splatters. If you're using a roller, set up the tray that the roller will go in, pouring in just enough paint to cover your roller completely. If you're using regular paint brushes, set up a clean cup or container that you can set the brush in.
  6. To make sure your walls remain stain-free, it’s best to apply an odor-blocking primer before painting your walls the desired color. The primer will help prevent stains from leaking through, as well as any bad smells. You can find an odor-blocking primer at a home improvement store or online, and 1 gallon (3.8 L) typically costs $15-40. [8]
    • Try to avoid using a primer that’s water-based. The water lets stains soak through more easily.
  7. Once the primer is dry, you can start painting using your desired interior paint color. If your stains didn’t come off the wall very well due to being so soaked through, you may have to paint several layers of normal paint. It’s recommended that you paint at least 2 coats, letting each coat dry first before continuing. [9]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do you get yellow stains off walls?
    Bridgett Price
    House Cleaning Professional
    Bridgett Price is a House Cleaning Professional based in Phoenix, Arizona. She has over 8 years of experience in the industry and is the Co-Owner of Maid Easy, a maid service company servicing the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area witih over 17k professional cleanings under its belt. Maid Easy was featured on CNBC's 'Made It!' program and was voted as The Best of The Desert - Residential Cleaning Service by AZCentral. She holds a Master of Management from the University of Phoenix, specializing in digital and traditional marketing.
    Bridgett Price
    House Cleaning Professional
    Expert Answer
    Use a soft sponge instead of an abrasive brush or scrubber so you don't strip color off of the walls.
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      References

      1. ↑ http://pen.do/blog/complete-guide-cigarette-odor-removal/
      2. ↑ https://cleaning.tips.net/T004223_Removing_Nicotine_Stains.html
      3. ↑ https://cleaning.tips.net/T004223_Removing_Nicotine_Stains.html
      4. ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-wash-your-walls-apartment-therapy-tutorials-215094
      5. ↑ https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/painting.pdf
      6. ↑ http://www.homepainterstoronto.com/blog/2013/10/31/painting-smoke-stains-wall-water-damaged-ceiling/
      7. ↑ http://www.homepainterstoronto.com/blog/2013/10/31/painting-smoke-stains-wall-water-damaged-ceiling/
      8. ↑ http://pen.do/blog/complete-guide-cigarette-odor-removal/
      9. ↑ http://pen.do/blog/complete-guide-cigarette-odor-removal/

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