Traces of nicotine as well as cigarette burns sometimes leave unsightly stains. These stains, usually red or black, are quite difficult to remove. However, by adopting the right techniques, they can still disappear. Here are some tips on how to remove cigarette burns from wood and nicotine burn stains.
About cigarette burns
A cigarette burn occurs when hot ash touches a surface. Thus, it is not a stain per say, but a physical damage to the surface itself. It is possible to mitigate a cigarette burn mark. However, if the damage is not fully repaired, it will still be visible and present.
For example, while some pieces of fabric burned by cigarettes can be easily replaced by specialists, others such as leather or imitation leather are quite difficult to repair. In fact, if a seat cover is badly burned, for example, the best, cheapest and easiest solution is to replace it with a new one.
How to remove cigaratte burns from wood: our top Tips
Here are some practical and effective tips usually used to get rid of nicotine marks as well as marks left by a cigarette burn:
– Use hydrogen peroxide
To do this:
1. Soak a cloth with hydrogen peroxide;
2. Dab the cloth on the surface to be treated;
3. Rinse with warm water.
– Use lemon
To do this:
1. Extract the juice of a lemon;
2. Soak a cloth with the lemon juice;
3. Rub the cloth directly on the surface to be treated;
4. Rinse with clean water.
– Use an onion
To do this:
1. Cut a raw onion in half;
2. Rub the onion directly on the surface to be treated;
3. Wash with soapy water;
4. Rinse with clean water.
– Use baking soda and vinegar
To do this:
1. Sprinkle the area to be treated with baking soda;
2. 2. Pour white vinegar directly on the baking soda;
3. 3. Wipe the surface with a cloth when the mixture starts to bubble;
4. Rinse with clean water.
– Using Baking Soda and Bleach
To do this:
1. Mix baking soda with a little bleach;
2. Soak a cloth with the mixture;
3. Rub the cloth on the surface to be treated;
4. Rinse immediately with clean water.
– Use soda crystals
To do this:
1. Dilute soda crystals in a little hot water;
2. Soak a sponge with the solution;
3. Rub the sponge on the surface to be treated;
4. Let the solution work for a few minutes;
5. Rinse with clean water.
– Use Marseille soap for delicate materials
To do this:
1. Lightly moisten a Marseille soap;
2. Rub the soap directly on the surface to be treated;
3. Let it work for a few hours;
4. Wash and rinse with clean water.
How to fix cigarette burns on furniture (wood)
Here are the solutions to treat the wood:
– On white or untreated wood
To do this:
1. Pour a little methylated spirits on the area to be treated;
2. Let the product dry;
3. Stain the area using a wood stain pencil;
4. If necessary, sand the surface or apply wood filler to fill any holes.
– On painted wood
To do this:
1. Lightly sand the stain using fine sandpaper;
2. Apply a fresh coat of paint.
Rubbing alcohol is also effective for this operation.
– On waxed wood
To do this:
1. Gently rub the surface with fine sandpaper;
2. Then apply a transparent wax to the treated area to restore its shine.
Removing a cigarette or nicotine burn stain from fabric
For a more effective result, cigarette or nicotine burn stains can be treated according to the materials they have damaged.
Fabrics obviously come in many varieties:
– Cotton
To do this:
1. Dab the area to be treated with a cloth impregnated with hydrogen peroxide;
2. Then apply a cloth moistened with bleach;
3. Rinse with clean water.
– Leather
To do this:
1. Dab the stain with a cloth dipped in rubbing alcohol until it disappears;
2. Rinse with a slightly dampened sponge;
3. Dry with paper towels.
– Synthetic fabric
To do this:
1. Dilute Marseille soap in warm water;
2. Soak the fabric in the solution;
3. Rub lightly;
4. Rinse with clean water.
– On denim (jeans)
To do this:
1. Prepare a solution of water and Marseille soap;
2. Soak the fabric in the solution overnight;
3. Rub lightly;
4. Rinse with clean water.
– On silk
To do this, simply rub the Marseille soap directly on the damaged part of the fabric and rinse with clear water.
– On velvet
To do this, the best way is to lightly sand the affected area with a piece of fine sandpaper.
– On linen
If it is a white linen :
1. Dab the stain with cotton impregnated with hydrogen peroxide;
2. Dab a second time with cotton impregnated with bleach;
3. Rinse with clean water.
If it is a colored linen:
1. Rub the fabric with a cloth on which liquid Marseille soap has been impregnated;
2. Rinse with clear water.
– On wool
To do this:
1. Rub Marseille soap directly on the fabric;
2. Let the soap work for a few hours;
3. Rinse with a cloth dipped in clear water to remove the soap.
– On waxed cloth
To do this:
1. Cut a lemon in half;
2. Rub the lemon on the cloth;
3. Wash with soapy water;
4. Rinse with clean water.
– On fur
If it is a natural fur, only a specialist will be qualified for the operation. On the other hand, if it is a synthetic fur, here are the steps to follow:
1. Rub Marseille soap directly on the stain;
2. Let the soap act for several hours;
3. Scrub lightly with a toothbrush soaked in clear water to remove the soap.
Removing a cigarette or nicotine burn stain from other surfaces
Here are some tips for removing cigarette or nicotine burn stains from surfaces that are likely to be their victims:
– On a carpet:
1. Soak a cotton ball in hydrogen peroxide;
2. Apply the cotton directly on the part to be treated.
If it is an embedded stain, it may not disappear. The affected area will need to be replaced. To do this:
1. Remove the stained hair with scissors;
2. 2. Apply strong enough glue to the area;
3. Gather additional hair from an inconspicuous area of the carpet;
4. Place these on top of the glue;
5. Wait for the glue to dry.
– On wallpaper
If the wallpaper is washable :
1. Make a solution with water and Marseille soap;
2. Soak a sponge with the solution;
3. Wash the wallpaper with the sponge.
If the wallpaper is not washable, it will be necessary to replace it.
– On concrete or cement
For this operation, rub the stain with a cloth soaked in a liquid solution of scouring powder.
– On brick or terra cotta
To do this:
1. Mix black soap with bleach;
2. Soak a cloth or rag in the solution;
3. 3. Rub the cloth over the affected area;
4. Rinse with clean water;
5. Dry with a clean cloth.
– On plastic
To do this:
1. Soak a rag in white spirit;
2. Dab the affected surface with the cloth.
If the stain persists, it will be permanent.
– On stone
To do this:
1. Wipe the affected area with a damp sponge;
2. 2. Mix methylated spirits and Spanish white;
3. Soak a cloth with the solution;
4. Dab the cloth on the area to be treated.
If it is marble, simply rub half a lemon on the affected area until the stain disappears.
– On glass or porcelain
This tip also works on glass, crystal, earthenware, ceramics, enamel and any other smooth surface: simply wipe the affected area with a damp cloth or sponge.
– On metal
If a burn stain can be removed with non-abrasive cream on stainless steel, on copper it will be necessary to apply a cloth soaked in heated vinegar. For brass, a steel wool soaked in washing soda will do the trick.
Removing nicotine traces from the skin
This tip is probably the one that smokers should remember, since nicotine has surely stained their fingertips. For this operation, hydrogen peroxide is more appropriate, since it is gentler on the skin compared to bleach. To do this:
1. Soak a cotton ball in hydrogen peroxide;
2. Rub the nicotine stain vigorously;
3. Continue as long as necessary.
