How can you tackle the smell of tobacco in an ashtray?

An ashtray is a useful accessory for avoiding cigarette ends all over the garden or the pavement, but it still gives off a smell if it is not cleaned often. Here are a few tips to keep the smell of stale tobacco out of the ashtray.

Cleaning an ashtray: how to go about it

You have probably found this out already: it takes a little more than a sponge and some washing-up liquid to get rid of the smell of tobacco in an ashtray. A few specific chemical products exist, but there are also several traditional remedies that work.

Bicarbonate of soda

Once you have emptied and cleaned your ashtray with washing-up liquid, dry it thoroughly, then put a layer of bicarbonate of soda in the bottom. Leave it to work for several hours. Bicarbonate is absorbent and will capture the particles that carry the smell.

White vinegar

Known for its cleaning and disinfecting properties, white vinegar is a powerful natural odour remover. Boil as much as you need, then let it cool. Add a few cloves to taste, then leave the mixture to steep for at least ten days or so. You can then use this valuable cleaner to remove the smell of tobacco from your ashtrays.

Essential oil

Not every essential oil is effective against the smell of tobacco. Lemon oil will mask the harsher notes, but if you want to be rid of them, a few drops of may chang essential oil will do a better job. This essential oil has a reputation for absorbing bad smells.

How can you stop the ashtray from smelling of stale tobacco?

Here again, several tips are within reach to limit the smell of stale tobacco in the ashtray itself.

Sand

Natural, scented or coloured, sand at the bottom of the ashtray smothers the embers and holds back the smoke. It is an excellent way of avoiding the smell of stale tobacco in the house, on a terrace or simply in your ashtray.

Water

There is nothing better than a little water in your ashtray to put a cigarette end out quickly, and above all to avoid the unwelcome fumes of stale tobacco. On the other hand, you will need to clean your ashtray more regularly.

The dedicated odour-control ashtray

The odour-control ashtray draws the smoke in so that it does not spread through the room or the surrounding area.

The mini table extractor hood

Widely used in Asia to draw off the smell of barbecued meat, these small table extractor hoods work very well at pulling in and capturing smells. Simply place one near the ashtray and you can talk or eat in peace.

Anti-tobacco candles

To neutralise the smell of tobacco effectively, you can also use anti-tobacco candles. These candles are designed specifically to clear the smell of smoke by releasing pleasant fragrances as they burn. As well as freshening the air, they create a warm and welcoming atmosphere in your home.