How to Clear the Lingering Smell of Weed Smoke Before Selling a House

Cigarette smoke is known for leaving yellow stains on walls and tanking a home’s resale value. But as marijuana becomes legal in more states (24 and counting), it begs the question: Can weed smells also leave a mark on homes and dissuade potential homebuyers?  And if weed smells do dissuade potential buyers, how do you get rid of the weed smell to entice people to buy (or rent) your home?

“Whenever a home has a smell, marijuana or otherwise, it can hurt the resale,” says Rick Albert, a broker associate with Lamerica Real Estate in Sherman Oaks, California. “The reason being is not every homebuyer knows how to get rid of the smell. Even though it may be easy, their perception is their reality.” So, if a buyer is touring your home and gets a waft of cannabis, it could be an “ick” and suddenly turn them off.

For that reason, Albert always recommends airing out the home and getting rid of any signs you’ve smoked in the property. (In other words, put the rolling papers away). 

If you’re smoking indoors, there’s a very clear reason why the smell of weed is lingering so much in your home.

Researchers from San Diego State University say that smoke residue — whether it’s from nicotine or cannabis — accumulates over time and clings to carpet, walls, cupboards, and other places in a household, sticking around years after smokers leave. The phenomenon is known as thirdhand smoke, and residue can have some harmful health effects.

As far as clearing away marijuana residue when you’re moving out or listing your home, it actually tends to stick to walls more than cigarettes, explains Chris Willatt, the owner of Alpine Maids in Denver, Colorado, one of the first states in the country to legalize marijuana. However it’s not usually as problematic, as most people tend to smoke less weed than cigarettes, he explains.

Willatt suggests using an enzyme cleaner on your surfaces to help neutralize any lingering weed smells. Air purifiers can also help decrease the smell if they’re used while smoking (but again, experts recommend only smoking outdoors). 

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) doesn’t tend to leave visible stains like nicotine, but it can still permeate various surfaces like walls, upholstery, and carpets, which can cause persistent odors, explains Karina Toner, the operations manager at Spekless Cleaning in Washington, DC.

Here are a few more tips for getting weed smells out of your home, according to Toner.

Walls: Use a mild detergent solution to remove any residue and odor when you’re wiping down walls. For more stubborn odors, try a vinegar and water solution with one part distilled white vinegar and three parts water. Mix the solution in a spray bottle and apply it to the walls with a clean cloth or sponge.

Floors: Vacuum carpets thoroughly and consider steam cleaning them to remove any embedded odors. For hard surfaces like wood or tile, mopping with a floor cleaner should do the trick. 

Furniture: Upholstered furniture can absorb the smell of marijuana smoke. Vacuum the upholstery and use a fabric cleaner or upholstery shampoo to deep clean and deodorize the fabric. For leather furniture, use a leather cleaner and conditioner to eliminate odors.

Fabrics: Curtains, drapes, and bedding should be laundered following the care instructions using odor-eliminating detergents and fabric softeners. Pay attention to pillows and cushions, as they can harbor odors and may need to be cleaned or replaced.

Sometimes you might not have all day to clean your fabrics, furniture, floors and walls in order to get rid of the lingering smell of weed. If, for example, a last-minute showing got scheduled at your house or you have guests coming by unexpectedly, you may need to skip past scrubbing walls and move right into emergency de-smelling territory. This is when you may be wondering: how do you get rid of the weed smell?

One virtual plant care platform, PlantIn, recommends you open your windows and kick on some fans — this will get fresh air moving into your space as quickly as possible, and is perhaps the most important thing you can do. 

Consider spraying air freshener or lighting a candle as well to cover the aroma of any lingering weed smell. As mentioned above, odor-neutralizers like a disinfecting mist may help. If you can, essential oil diffusers may also work. 

And, in an absolute last dash, consider firing up your microwave or your kitchen for an early dinner or a quick, smelly snack. The Washington Post recommends popping popcorn, but you could also bake cookies, or even grill a steak if you’re so inclined — any intense cooking aroma that may fill up a room (and cover up the smell of weed) could be a last-ditch effort that makes a difference.