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11-19-2012 at 9:44 PM
MBush4
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Neighbor's smoking (sorry if I come across as dumb)

DH and I are in the process of finding a new place to live (state law says that once there are more than two people living there, you need to live in a 2 bedroom). Our budget is tight and we're kind of limited in what we can find in good neighborhoods. We went to a place today that is the perfect size and a great location. The only problem is that while it's a really small complex (4 apartments in total and we're on the top right) ALL of the neighbors in our building smoke. Well, maybe not the little kids, but the adults. 

The carpets smell like smoke and overall, the apartment smells like smoke. I'm sorry if I come across as naive and immature, but what can we do to cover the smell? How would it affect our LO when he comes? Neither DH nor I have ever smoked and we didn't grow up around smokers so we're pretty dumb on the issue. I'm only desperate because time is running out and we haven't had much luck in the past few months finding places that fit our criteria and budget. 
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11-19-2012 at 9:47 PM
RussianMom...
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You can NEVER, EVER cover up smoke smell. You can get USED to it, but it will always be there. It will be on your clothes, your kids clothes. I would stay away from smoked stained places.
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11-19-2012 at 10:21 PM
sofamonkey
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In order to get rid of most of the smoke smell, you will need a carpet deep cleaning (or possibly replacement), and to repaint with Killz first, and then color.  It will be better, but never 100%. Esp. since the other tenants still smoke & it will continue to invade your apt.

It would be in your best interest to find a smoke free apt. 

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11-19-2012 at 10:22 PM
sucrets4
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I wouldn't rent it, sorry.  Especially with a baby crawling around the carpet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third-hand_smoke 
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11-19-2012 at 10:34 PM
wouldntitb...
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Seconding the carpet cleaning/ replacement & painting suggestion, but if you can avoid renting the unit alltogether that would probably be the best option. 

I may get a lot of naysaying for this, but if this IS your only option that's ok -- my mom smoked in the house and we survived without any major issues. Don't feel bad about doing the best you can do. 

Curious, what state do you live in? 
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11-19-2012 at 10:38 PM
RussianMom...
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wouldntitbenice:

Seconding the carpet cleaning/ replacement & painting suggestion, but if you can avoid renting the unit alltogether that would probably be the best option. 

I may get a lot of naysaying for this, but if this IS your only option that's ok -- my mom smoked in the house and we survived without any major issues. Don't feel bad about doing the best you can do. 

Curious, what state do you live in? 

cigarettes are made differently now than back then 

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11-19-2012 at 10:44 PM
MBush4
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wouldntitbenice:

Seconding the carpet cleaning/ replacement & painting suggestion, but if you can avoid renting the unit alltogether that would probably be the best option. 

I may get a lot of naysaying for this, but if this IS your only option that's ok -- my mom smoked in the house and we survived without any major issues. Don't feel bad about doing the best you can do. 

Curious, what state do you live in? 

Louisiana.  For better or worse. Or at least until DH finishes up grad work.
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11-20-2012 at 1:14 AM
adamsabiga...
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Sorry to hear that :( My father is a smoker and SO and his parents are smokers and there's nothing I find more disgusting than the smell of cigarettes but their homes NEVER smelled like cigs. And when SO and I lived with room mates who all smoked our house was smoke free and smelled fresh. We deep cleaned the carpets and kept Febreeze on had at all times I sprayed it on EVERYTHING. If you absolutely have to move into that apartment I do suggest changing the carpet of deep cleaning it with a steamer and try to keep your doors and windows shut if the neighbors smoke outside. And some people do get used to the smell but I never really did. GL!
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11-20-2012 at 4:30 AM
hollowstar
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Smoke smell will always be there, as people have said, even if you get used to it. What's more, it is dangerous. New studies show that "third-hand" smoke is a hazard, especially to children. I made smokers change their clothes and shower before they held my baby. I would try to find a smoke-free apartment complex or the closest thing possible.

That's a crappy state law. My son is 2 and still sleeps in our room. (We have a room for him but could easily do without it.)
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11-20-2012 at 5:42 AM
mrsmcdonal...
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wouldntitbenice:
Seconding the carpet cleaning/ replacement amp; painting suggestion, but if you can avoid renting the unit alltogether that would probably be the best option.nbsp;I may get a lot of naysaying for this, but if this IS your only option that's ok my mom smoked in the house and we survived without any major issues. Don't feel bad about doing the best you can do.nbsp;Curious, what state do you live in?nbsp;


So when I was a baby, my mother didn't have to use a car seat for me, and I turned out without any major issues. So maybe it's okay if I don't use one for DD ? That's crazy logic.

Just as safety testing has proven the necessity of car seats, medical studies have confirmed the real effects of second and third hand smoke. I have chronic asthma thanks to my parents' smoking. Even if someone could negate the smoke in that specific apartment by changing out carpet and repainting, you're still surrounded by current smokers. I wouldn't do it.
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11-20-2012 at 7:07 AM
doribeth85...
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I wouldn't rent it. DH and I lived in an apartment that housed smokers before we moved in, and it was awful. Our clothes smelled like smoke and so did the rest of our things. It was gross. We could not wait to get out of there!
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11-20-2012 at 7:33 AM
kelliejo74
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sucrets4:

I wouldn't rent it, sorry.  Especially with a baby crawling around the carpet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third-hand_smoke 

 This! Plus, the smoke could travel through the walls.

 
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11-20-2012 at 10:05 AM
Kari Merks
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wouldntitbenice:

Seconding the carpet cleaning/ replacement & painting suggestion, but if you can avoid renting the unit alltogether that would probably be the best option. 

I may get a lot of naysaying for this, but if this IS your only option that's ok -- my mom smoked in the house and we survived without any major issues. Don't feel bad about doing the best you can do. 

Curious, what state do you live in? 

My mom and her brothers grew up in a home with their parents smoking (then became smokers themselves) and three of them died of lung cancer by the time they were 50. My mom and dad smoked in the house while I grew up and now I'm at a higher risk to get lung cancer. It's never okay IMO.  
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11-20-2012 at 10:26 AM
chgibeau
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I second all the PP's. If at all possible, don't rent it. You might be able to barely smell it in your apartment but you won't be able to open a window in the summer b/c the smoke will come in. Opening your door to the hall will let smoke in. Walking through the hallway to get to your door, your clothes will smell like smoke.
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11-20-2012 at 10:34 AM
courtrapp8...
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I agree with PPs, Killz the walls and deep clean the carpet OR get replacement. Also, invest in some high quality air purifiers. Sometimes you have to take what you can get. We lost our home a couple years ago and had to downgrade to a tiny apartment and it was smoky all the time b/c of the neighbors as well. No matter what, we still smelled it a lot of the time, but we worked with it. After a year, I was elated to move. Good luck! Just create as clean of an environment as you can.
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11-20-2012 at 11:12 AM
steph620
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Don't rent! We lived in an apartment surrounded by smokers and it came through the vents and holes where the oven and microwave was hooked up, etc. Even if you did clean the carpet the smoke with still be coming in.
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11-20-2012 at 12:26 PM
ggatlanta
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RussianMommy:

cigarettes are made differently now than back then 

Do you have actual proof that it was actually safer for our parents to smoke around us back then? Or that it's actually more dangerous now? Just because I am curious...
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11-20-2012 at 12:59 PM
ba23ba02
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I would stay away from a building where you have smokers.  You could go through the expense of having your carpets cleaned professionally but the smell and the chemicals never really go away.  I do not want my boys near anyone who smokes.  Their grandfather smokes and when he comes to my house he smokes outside and so far he has even gone upstairs to gargle in the bathroom because I can still smell it on his breath and clothes but at least his breath smell better.   He is really the only one I let go near my boys and he has been smoking less since he knows that the baby is coming soon in April and hopefully he will have quit by then.  No do not rent in that building keep looking for a smoke free building.   
 
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11-20-2012 at 1:59 PM
Chocodoxie...
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I don't know about Louisiana, however in California the apartment complexes try and pull that "three people must have a 2 bedroom apartment" law often. They did this to my niece who was a newlywed with a 3 month old. The reality of the law is that 3 grown ADULTS can not reside in an apartment complex with less than two bedrooms. I would check into that really thoroughly before I was even considering packing up all of my belongings during a pregnancy and moving to a complex that was smoke infested. 
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11-20-2012 at 7:50 PM
moonbearma...
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We checked into this also. They tried to make it sound like 3 people must have 2 or more bedrooms, but really the law was-

3 people must have a 2 or more bedroom apartment, if they are all adults, but 3 people can live in a 1BR apt if the third person is a child under age 2.

 Hope you can find something smoke-free. I wouldn't move to the complex with that much smoking/smoke damage. 

 

 
 
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11-20-2012 at 9:12 PM
JennyShoo
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I would find another place to live. That one is NOT good for you and the baby. Stay away.
 
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11-21-2012 at 6:39 PM
wouldntitb...
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RussianMommy:
wouldntitbenice:

Seconding the carpet cleaning/ replacement & painting suggestion, but if you can avoid renting the unit alltogether that would probably be the best option. 

I may get a lot of naysaying for this, but if this IS your only option that's ok -- my mom smoked in the house and we survived without any major issues. Don't feel bad about doing the best you can do. 

Curious, what state do you live in? 

cigarettes are made differently now than back then 

I don't know how old you think I am.. but regardless I'd like to read more about that...
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11-23-2012 at 9:19 AM
pinottopar...
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I would keep searching. There's nothing you can do to get rid of the smell, and being around second hand smoke throughout childhood can lead to asthma and other health issues. I understand your frustration, and I sympathize with your situation... but you want to find a healthy place to raise your new baby, and I think it's worth searching some more.
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01-21-2013 at 1:54 PM
hoopduck
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Definitely keep looking for a place, OP. The years of third and second hand smoke building up carcinogens and other toxic chemicals would be impossible to get rid of and will affect your families health. You could mention to the landlord that the third hand smoke is a health hazard and that's the reason you've decided to pass on the apartment. Maybe he will wise up and ban smoking in his properties :)
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