Creating a Smoke-Free Environment

Creating a smoke-free environment will help you stop smoking, and will reduce the amount of secondhand smoke that your family, friends and even pets are exposed to.

1. Spring clean for tobacco. Go through every room in your house, garage, car, office, pockets, purses and secret hiding places. Look for cigarettes, cigarette butts, ashtrays, lighters and any form of tobacco. Do not forget to look outside for butts and ashtrays. Take all of these items and do not throw them away, rather destroy them. Wet the tobacco, pour it in with grass clippings and break the ashtrays so you will not be tempted to take any of it back.
2. If you live with a smoker, ask them to only smoke outside of the house and designate an area far away from windows or seating areas for them to use. You do not want to be tempted by the smell.
3. Get rid of the smell. Wash your clothes, towels and sheets to remove the smell of tobacco. You may have to do this several times. Invest in a nicely fragranced fabric softener. Vacuum your carpets in your home and car. Wash or clean your curtains, walls and furniture. A few strategically placed air fresheners in your home, office and car will help get rid of the smell as well.
4. Do not let anyone smoke in your house. Avoid going to places where other people smoke. Let the people in your life know you are quitting. Friends will want to help you, so explain to them that they can help by not smoking in your presence. For the first few weeks after you quit smoking, try to avoid places where people are smoking or where you used to smoke.
5. Change your routines in the home which make you want to smoke. Do you smoke at the table after dinner? Get up and do the dishes instead. Do you smoke when you first get up? Go brush your teeth instead. If you smoke when you drive, bring some celery sticks to munch on. By changing your routine, you will be less tempted to smoke.

Updated on September 9, 2019

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Adapted from Smokefree.gov