How to Get Rid of Smoke and Pet Smells Before Selling a House

 Smoke and pet smells can make selling a house more difficult. Even when a home looks clean, strong odours can make buyers worry about hidden damage, poor indoor air quality, or expensive repairs.

The problem is that smoke and pet odours are not always surface level. They can settle into carpet, underlay, drywall, paint, trim, curtains, furniture, ductwork, subfloors, and other porous materials. A quick cleaning or air freshener may help for a short time, but it usually does not solve the real issue.

This article explains what causes smoke and pet smells to linger, what steps may help remove them, what repairs may be needed, and when it may make more sense to sell the house as-is instead of spending thousands of dollars trying to fix the problem.

This is general information only. If there are health concerns, mould concerns, heavy contamination, or uncertainty about safe cleaning products, homeowners should speak with qualified professionals.

Helpful resources include Health Canada’s information on second hand smoke, the EPA guide to indoor air quality, the EPA guide to air cleaners in the home, and the Thirdhand Smoke Resource Center.

Why Smells Matter So Much When Selling a House

Smell is one of the first things people notice when they walk into a house. A buyer may forget small cosmetic issues, but a strong smoke or pet smell can stay in their mind after they leave.

Odours can create several concerns for buyers.

They may wonder whether the smell will come back after they move in. They may worry that carpet, flooring, drywall, paint, or ductwork needs to be replaced. They may also assume the home has not been well maintained, even if the rest of the property is in good condition.

This can affect the selling process in three ways.

First, it can reduce interest. Some buyers will not consider a house with strong odours.

Second, it can reduce confidence. Buyers may assume there are hidden problems.

Third, it can reduce the amount they are willing to pay. Even if the smell can be fixed, buyers may price in the risk and inconvenience.

For homeowners, the question becomes simple. Is it worth spending the money to remove the odour before selling, or is it better to sell the property as-is and let the buyer deal with it?

The right answer depends on the severity of the smell, the condition of the property, the homeowner’s budget, and how quickly they need to sell.

Why Smoke Smell Is So Hard to Remove

Smoke smell is difficult because smoke does not stay in the air. It settles on surfaces and can soak into porous materials.

Tobacco smoke residue is often called third hand smoke. It can attach to walls, ceilings, floors, cabinets, fabrics, and dust. Over time, the smell may become part of the house rather than something that can be removed with simple cleaning.

Common places smoke odour hides include:

• walls

• ceilings

• carpet

• carpet underlay

• curtains and blinds

• furniture

• closets

• cabinets

• doors and trim

• light fixtures

• HVAC ducts

• furnace filters

• attic insulation in severe cases

Smoke smell can also be worse in colder weather when windows are closed and air circulation is lower. In Alberta, many homes are closed up for long stretches during winter, which can make stale odours more noticeable.

If smoking happened inside the home for years, basic cleaning may not be enough. In more serious cases, the home may need washing, sealing, painting, flooring replacement, duct cleaning, and removal of contaminated materials.

Why Pet Smells Can Be Difficult to Remove

Pet smells can come from hair, dander, litter boxes, accidents, urine, feces, wet dog smell, and oils from a pet’s coat.

Pet urine is often the biggest problem. It can soak through carpet into the underlay and subfloor. Once it reaches those deeper layers, cleaning the top of the carpet may not remove the smell.

In some homes, pet urine can also affect baseboards, drywall, heat registers, closets, stair edges, and concrete floors.

Common places pet smells hide include:

• carpet

• carpet underlay

• subfloor

• baseboards

• lower drywall

• floor vents

• stairs

• closets

• laundry rooms

• unfinished basement areas

• furniture and fabric

• areas around litter boxes

The challenge is that pet odour can seem better after cleaning, then return later. Humidity, heat, and closed windows can bring the smell back. This is one reason buyers may be cautious if they notice pet smells during a showing or walkthrough.

Step 1: Find the Source of the Odour

Before spending money on cleaning, find out where the smell is coming from.

Walk through the home after being outside for at least 10 to 15 minutes. Your nose can get used to smells when you are inside the house for too long. Leaving and coming back in can make the odour easier to detect.

Check each room carefully. Pay attention to corners, carpet edges, closets, vents, lower walls, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and bedrooms.

For pet urine, a black light may help identify some affected areas, although it is not perfect. Some stains may not glow and some glowing spots may not be urine.

For smoke, look for yellowing on walls, ceilings, trim, blinds, and light fixtures. Also check inside cabinets and closets. Smoke residue can collect in areas that are not cleaned often.

The goal is to identify whether the odour is light, moderate, or severe.

A light odour may only need deep cleaning and ventilation. A moderate odour may need carpet cleaning, washing, priming, painting, and filter replacement. A severe odour may require removing carpet, underlay, drywall sections, insulation, or other affected materials.

Step 2: Remove Soft Materials That Hold Smells

Soft materials hold odours more than hard surfaces.

If the home has strong smoke or pet smells, start by removing or cleaning items that trap odours. This may include curtains, fabric blinds, rugs, dog beds, cat trees, cushions, upholstered furniture, bedding, and stored clothing.

If these items are staying with the homeowner, remove them from the property before trying to judge whether the house still smells. If they stay in the home, they can keep releasing odour into the air.

Wash what can be washed. Dispose of items that are badly affected.

This step is especially important before painting. If odour sources remain in the home, new paint may help for a short time, but the smell can still come from carpet, furniture, curtains, and other materials.

Step 3: Deep Clean Hard Surfaces

Smoke and pet residue can sit on hard surfaces, even when those surfaces look clean.

Wash walls, ceilings, doors, trim, cabinets, shelves, window frames, light switches, outlet covers, baseboards, and hard flooring.

For smoke smell, cleaning should usually happen before painting. Painting over smoke residue without proper cleaning and sealing can allow stains and odours to come back.

For pet smells, focus on lower walls, baseboards, flooring edges, and corners. These are common areas for urine marking or accidents.

Always follow product labels and avoid mixing cleaners. Mixing certain cleaning products can create dangerous fumes.

Good cleaning can make a major difference when odours are light or moderate. However, if the smell has penetrated deep into materials, cleaning alone may not fully solve the problem.

Step 4: Replace Furnace Filters and Improve Airflow

A dirty furnace filter can hold dust, dander, and smoke particles. Replacing the filter is a simple step that may help improve indoor air quality.

If the home has central heating, replace the filter after the main cleaning is complete. If the filter is replaced before cleaning, it may collect dust and debris from the cleaning process.

Ventilation can also help reduce stale indoor air. Open windows when weather allows. Run bathroom fans and kitchen exhaust fans if they vent outdoors.

The EPA recommends frequent cleaning and ventilation as ways to reduce dust and indoor pollutants. The EPA also notes that air cleaners with activated carbon may help with gases and odours when the filter is designed for that purpose and contains enough carbon.

Air cleaners can help, but they should not be treated as a full solution. They may reduce odours in the air, but they will not remove urine from subfloors or smoke residue from walls.

Step 5: Clean or Replace Carpet and Underlay

Carpet is one of the biggest odour traps in a house.

For light pet smells or general odour, professional carpet cleaning may help. For more serious pet urine problems, cleaning the carpet may not be enough because the urine may have reached the underlay or subfloor.

If the smell returns after cleaning, the underlay may need to be removed. In some cases, the subfloor may need to be cleaned, sealed, or repaired.

For smoke smell, carpet and underlay can absorb years of odour. If the home has been smoked in heavily, replacing carpet and underlay may be more effective than cleaning.

Before spending money, homeowners should consider the value of the home, the severity of the smell, and whether the cost will be recovered when selling.

Step 6: Seal and Paint Walls and Ceilings

If smoke smell is coming from walls or ceilings, regular paint may not be enough.

The proper process is usually:

1. clean the surfaces

2. allow them to dry

3. apply an odour blocking primer

4. repaint with quality paint

For heavy smoke staining, ceilings are often one of the worst areas. Smoke rises and can leave residue on ceiling paint, textured ceilings, crown moulding, and upper walls.

Pet odours may also require sealing in some areas, especially if urine has affected baseboards, lower drywall, or subfloors.

This step can be labour intensive. It may also become expensive if the whole home needs cleaning, priming, and repainting.

Step 7: Check Vents, Ducts, and Hidden Areas

If a home still smells after cleaning and painting, the odour may be hiding in less obvious places.

Check:

• heat registers

• cold air returns

• furnace room

• closets

• cabinets

• basement storage areas

• attic access points

• crawl spaces

• behind appliances

• under stairs

Duct cleaning may help if there is heavy dust, pet hair, or smoke residue in the duct system. However, duct cleaning should not be viewed as a magic fix. If the main smell source is carpet, underlay, drywall, or subfloor, cleaning the ducts will not solve the problem by itself.

Hidden sources are common in homes with long term pets or years of indoor smoking. This is why a quick surface cleaning often fails.

Step 8: Avoid Covering Smells With Air Fresheners

Air fresheners, candles, plug ins, sprays, and heavy scented cleaners usually do not solve odour problems. They may make the house smell better for a few hours, but buyers can often tell when a smell is being covered up.

Strong fragrance can also make buyers suspicious. Some people may wonder what the scent is hiding.

A clean house should smell neutral, not heavily perfumed.

The best approach is to remove the source of the odour, clean affected surfaces, replace materials that cannot be saved, and improve airflow.

What If the Smell Still Will Not Go Away?

Sometimes smoke or pet smell cannot be removed without major repairs.

This may happen when:

• people smoked inside for many years

• pet urine reached the subfloor

• carpet and underlay are badly contaminated

• drywall absorbed odour

• the home has poor ventilation

• odours are trapped in cabinets, closets, or insulation

• the house has been vacant and closed up for a long time

At this point, the homeowner has to decide whether the repairs are worth it.

The cost may include carpet removal, new flooring, primer, paint, drywall repairs, subfloor sealing, professional cleaning, ozone or hydroxyl treatment, duct cleaning, and disposal costs.

For some homeowners, that may be worth doing. For others, it may not make sense, especially if they need to sell quickly, do not have money for repairs, or are already dealing with financial pressure.

Should You Fix the Smells Before Selling?

Fixing smoke and pet smells before selling can help if the problem is manageable and the cost is reasonable.

It may be worth fixing when:

• the odour is light

• the home only needs cleaning and paint

• carpet is in good condition

• there is no major urine damage

• the homeowner has time and money

• the repairs are likely to improve the final result

However, it may not be worth fixing when:

• the odour is severe

• pet urine has reached the subfloor

• smoke damage is throughout the home

• carpet and underlay need to be removed

• the home needs major repairs already

• the homeowner needs a fast sale

• the cost of repairs may not be recovered

Many homeowners spend money trying to remove odours, then find out the smell is still there. This can be frustrating and expensive.

Before starting a large project, it helps to get realistic quotes and compare the cost of repairs with the option of selling the house as-is.

Selling a House As-Is With Smoke or Pet Smells

A house with smoke or pet smells can still be sold.

The main question is whether the homeowner wants to spend the time and money fixing the issue before selling, or sell the property as-is and let the buyer take on the work.

Selling as-is may make sense when the homeowner wants to avoid:

• cleaning costs

• flooring replacement

• painting

• repairs

• odour treatment

• repeated contractor visits

• uncertainty about whether the smell will return

This can be especially useful if the house has other issues too, such as dated finishes, water damage, tenant damage, deferred maintenance, or financial pressure.

An as-is sale does not mean the smell does not matter. It means the buyer understands the condition and prices the property accordingly.

For some homeowners, that can be a better option than spending thousands of dollars trying to make the home smell perfect.

How Solution Home Buyers May Be Able to Help

Solution Home Buyers buys houses directly from homeowners in Alberta. We buy properties as-is, including homes with smoke smell, pet odours, pet damage, old carpet, dated interiors, and needed repairs.

You do not need to remove smells, replace flooring, paint the walls, clean out the house, or pay for contractors before speaking with us.

If selling as-is is the best option, we can review the property and make a private offer. There is no obligation to accept. The goal is to give homeowners a clear option so they can decide whether it makes more sense to repair the home or sell it in its current condition.

For some sellers, doing the work first may be the right choice. For others, avoiding the cost, stress, and uncertainty of odour removal may be the better decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can smoke smell be completely removed from a house?

Sometimes, yes. Light smoke smell may be removed with deep cleaning, ventilation, filter replacement, primer, and paint. Heavy long term smoke smell may require replacing carpet, underlay, window coverings, and other porous materials. In severe cases, more extensive repairs may be needed.

Does painting remove smoke smell?

Paint alone may not remove smoke smell. Walls and ceilings usually need to be cleaned first. Then an odour blocking primer may be needed before repainting. If smoke residue is still trapped in carpet, ducts, cabinets, or other materials, painting will not solve the entire problem.

Can pet urine smell be removed from carpet?

Light pet odour may improve with professional cleaning. If urine has soaked into the underlay or subfloor, the carpet may need to be removed. The subfloor may also need cleaning, sealing, or repair.

Will air fresheners help sell a house with odours?

Air fresheners may cover smells for a short time, but they do not remove the source. Strong scents can also make buyers suspicious. A neutral clean smell is usually better than heavy fragrance.

Should I replace carpet before selling a house with pet smells?

It depends on the severity of the smell and the value of the home. If the carpet and underlay are the main source of odour, replacement may help. However, if the subfloor or walls are affected, replacing carpet alone may not be enough.

Can I sell my house if it smells like smoke or pets?

Yes. Homes with smoke and pet smells can be sold. The homeowner can either try to fix the odour before selling or sell the property as-is. Selling as-is may be better when the smell is severe, repairs are expensive, or the homeowner needs a simpler option.

Does Solution Home Buyers buy houses with smoke or pet smells?

Yes. Solution Home Buyers buys houses as-is, including homes with smoke smell, pet odours, pet urine damage, old carpet, and other repair issues. Sellers do not need to remove the smell before contacting us.

When Selling As-Is Makes More Sense

Smoke and pet smells can make selling a house more difficult, but homeowners still have options.

For light odours, deep cleaning, ventilation, carpet cleaning, filter replacement, primer, and paint may be enough. For severe odours, the problem may be deeper and more expensive to fix.

Before spending money, look at the full picture. Consider the cost of repairs, the time involved, the chance the smell may return, and whether the work will actually improve the outcome.

If the cost and stress of removing smoke or pet smells does not make sense, selling the house as-is may be the better option. It allows the homeowner to move forward without taking on repairs that may be expensive, uncertain, and difficult to manage.