Hi Susan Smith 

Yes, I was skeptical when I walked in a condominium and the smell of cigarette was bad. I aked around and someone recommended this Ozone Generator.  It was left on for 24 hours inside the unit and when I walked in two days later, the smell was gone.  I was blown away.

Bio3Blaster Home Odor Removal Kit (20000mg/h) $373.00 

An Ionizer and new paint.

This is really hard as the odor will permeate the walls, carpet, even the floor. Can the carpet be replaced at all?  That will help a lot.

The odor gets into fabric...carpet and drapes...and you cannot get it out. Must remove the items and replace them with new, fresh product.

I'm surprised to hear you say painting was apparently the wrong thing to do. I purchsed a home that had a room rented out to a 3 pack a day smoker who lived there for years. The walls were really yellow and it was easy to see where pictures were hung. I washed the walls and I painted them and the ceiling. Then I painted with Kilz and you would ever know a cigeratte was smoked in that room Susan Smith .

Clean the air ducts, repaint the surfaces, seal the floors, or do a studs out remodel.

Locally, I've had to use a place called COIT Cleaning & Restoration - I think they're based out of CA. They clean ductwork, carpets, etc. and you won't believe how well their systems work.

(And, no, I don't own a franchise but, have had several clients use them with great results!)

I've used a Deionizer in the past and that has worked wonders ... also worked well for cat urine odors (the worst!) -- from 7 cats!  A good cleaning job and repainting all surfaces and it should be handled nicely.  Be sure to get rid of all fabrics ... they hold odors terribly.

Sorry I can't add to this question but interested in the answers.

I never heard that painting was wrong, just comes back though. Have to get rid of all soft surfaces.

Try two 1 lb coffee cans open and put in one room at a time

You have some good suggestions. Painting is only part of the cure.

Susan,

Check out Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTACONDOS.COM suggestion.  Also it can be done.  Some of the homes that were damaged in the recent fires had hired cleaners who specialize in removing smoke odor.  It works, and also a new coat of paint helps.  A

I have heard "success"  stories but have yet to experience one firsthand.  Yet. 

There are some good answers below. I have nothing to add - good luck.

Aside from those heavy scent candles that burn for hours applying TSP on the walls may help. Steam-clean the carpets and air it out combo of all three

http://www.odoban.com/.

You have some good suggestions here.  I'd be removing the drapes, carpet, and anything that will absorb the smoke.  The walls need to be treated first before painting. I wish you all the best. 

I've used the ozone system and it's worked.... but before doing so, we replaced carpet and flooring and painted, cleaned air ducts, cleaned out the HVAC system, removed blinds and curtain... and you can't keep the old furniture in the home. Painting alone won't do it. Walls needs to be cleaned first.

Fabric surfaces need to be replaced (i.e. carpet, drapes)

All surfaces must be washed of nicotine. Those who do the work will very likely feel ill from expose to the nicotine and tar.

Seal and Paint.

Do not go the duct-work route until all other work is completed. Duct and ventilation system contribute less the 3% after the filters are replaced.

Unfortunately there are no shortcuts like ozone treatments.

It took 27 works of effort to get to this stage, it won't be solved quickly. After the described mediation the house will still need a extended ventilation period.  

New carpeting including pads. Before laying the new pads, you may need to Kiltz the underlayment. And new ceiling and wall paint. Discard all draperies and window blinds. Just a start.  Then again, you could smoke a cigar?

      Whatever you apply or use, get a signed disclosure that the house was smoked in (if your Board doesn't have a standard form, get your lawyer to write the disclosure for you).    There are lawsuits being filed over "third hand smoke".

New carpet, paint, deionize, remove any furnishings, clothing, etc and start fresh.  

Clean carpets and paint!

That's a tough one. Thank God hardly anyone smokes anymore, if it does that to your house imagine what it does to your insides!

ServPro or another similar company...

No.

 The odour permeates everything, furniture, carpeting, draperies... other than shampooing rugs, furniture and washing walls and repainting .. I had never heard of the Ozone Generator... but that sound like the solution!

The paint without first a coat of Kilz was a mistake. Keep the ozone machine going. Had a house where the owner smoked cigars for 40 years. Took a long time to get rid of the smell and then hit the walls and ceiling with Kilz, removed all carpeting and hit the floors with bleach! Good luck. Not easy or quick

I've heard that a professional ozone system can work after the carpets are removed and the walls are painted.

I always tear out all carpet, have all surfaces washed and painted with new flooring

Parked and reading

Had a client use Pure Environmental Solutions and they said thier method worked great!

Paint is good, but you need to use something like Killz.  Also clean out the air ducts and the vent registers.  Change the filters, replace the flooring, etc.

Susan Smith - fortunately no homes listed with that smell - yet.

I have never been able to abolish it completely Susan...

It is quite difficult.  The smell is in places people don't think of such as carpet, drapes, walls and worst of all the ducts.  It is incredibly diffcult and could be expensive.

Remove all drapes and carpet, re-paint, or it comes back.

Wash everything in bleach solution and hang in the sunshine.

Big pot of water bunch of rosemary and lemons - simmer for a day in the house.

Steam clean carpets three times with 2 days in between to dry. Last cleaning of carpets use mild bleach and hot water, no soap. 

Throw away curtains. Scrub walls with Tide with febreeze detergent. Clean inside vents. Change air filters. 

Sell to a smoker?

We've hired companies to come in with a giant ionizer and then repaint. 

Very interesting answers.  I just read how harmful THIRD hand smoke is and this home would fit into that category.  Intersting how your experience with ozone did not work and some others had success.

I had a condo where the Seller smoked INSIDE, was just gross.  BUT, another smoker bought it.

short of burning it down after 27 years I'd say no