Smoking weed is all fun and games… until your mom calls to say she’s coming over and you realize that your house smells strongly of the devil’s lettuce. Or you invite your boss for dinner. Or you realize you should have taken that ‘no smoking’ policy in your hotel room more seriously.
While you frantically google ‘how to get rid of weed smell in house’ and light every candle you can find, you’re wondering if there are better solutions.
We’ve got good news. There are much better ways to get rid of the funky smell of weed, and we’ll dive into all of them.
Just keep rolling through to learn the best ways to tackle weed smells in your space.
Table of Contents
- How You’ll Get Rid of the Weed Smell in a House Depends on the Source of the Odor
- 7 Ways To Rid Your Home of Weed Smell
- Possible Reasons You May Need To Bring in Professionals To Get Rid of the Weed Smell in a House
- Pure Environmental Can Make Your Home a Sanitized, Odor-Free Environment
How You’ll Get Rid of the Weed Smell in a House Depends on the Source of the Odor
The best method for ridding your home of weed smell is reliant on how the smell got there in the first place. The two most likely methods are smoking it or growing it, and each needs a different approach.
The scent given off by smoking weed is very different from that of growing it. Often, the first is much easier to remove than the second.
If the Smell Is Caused by Smoking Weed
Weed can have a powerful aroma. That signature scent is thanks to two key components:
- Sulfur compounds and;
- Terpenoids
Both of these have pungent odors and, together, they create the signature earthy, skunk-like scent of that special grass.
The good news is that the odor caused by smoking weed is typically much easier to remove than that of other smoke, such as cigarettes. This is mostly because weed smokers tend to smoke less weed than cigarette smokers smoke cigarettes — meaning the scent isn’t as intense.
If the Smell Is Caused by Growing Weed
As laws around the US change, more and more people are choosing to grow their own marijuana. For instance, in both Oregon and Washington, growing weed is legal (with certain limitations).
If you’re a ganja-growing gal or guy, you’re likely to have some extra issues when it comes to weed odor. Grow operations typically have more smell-related complaints, but it isn’t just the plant. The root of the issue tends to lie in a combination of both the plant’s natural scent and the moisture it needs to grow.
Too much moisture in a space — unless it is carefully dealt with — often leads to mold. And mold leads to many other issues, such as damage to your home and health.
If you don’t have mold growing, you’re in luck. The cleanup and deodorizing process just got much simpler.
7 Ways To Rid Your Home of Weed Smell
#1: Clean Walls and Surfaces
The first step to getting rid of the weed smell is to clean off the walls and surfaces. You can use a mild detergent to remove the residue by simply wiping them down.
If needed, you can also use a vinegar solution for tougher, stronger scents. Just mix:
- 1 part distilled white vinegar
- 3 parts water
You can shake this up in a spray bottle and spray it onto whatever surfaces need to be cleaned. Then, use a nice clean rag or sponge to wipe down the walls.
#2: Provide Proper Ventilation/Air Exchange
If you want to serve Mary Jane’s perfume an eviction notice, a great place to start is your ventilation game.
Pop open your windows and let the fresh air in. Use vent fans or an air purifier to help reduce the odor and bring in some clean air. With proper ventilation, you can get rid of that funky scent much faster.
To step up your game, crack a window before you light up to ensure the scent dissipates faster. This decreases the amount of odor that will hang around and adhere to your space’s surfaces. But, of course, your best bet when planning ahead is to take it outdoors and remove the possibility of a lingering scent in your home.
#3: Clean Your HVAC System
If your HVAC hasn’t had any TLC in a while, you’re likely missing out on some great odor-reducing benefits.
Check your filter and see if it’s still able to do its job. Here’s a hint: that filter is supposed to be white. If it’s not and you can’t tell that it used to be, it is way past time to change it. A dirty filter will struggle to clean your air.
Another option is to take a whole box or bowl of baking soda and place it in your air duct. Remember when your grandma taught you that placing a box of baking soda in the refrigerator helped keep everything fresh and odor-free? She was right.
Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, your HVAC just needs the touch of a professional and it might be time to hunt down an HVAC cleaner.
#4: Burn Candles or Use Essential Oil Diffusers
If you need a quick fix to cover the smell, pull out that candle you got from your office’s white elephant exchange last year and light it. Candles don’t eliminate the scent of weed — or any other scent, for that matter — but they can help cover it until you can find a more long-term solution.
Another great way to handle an unwanted ‘grassy’ scent in your space is diffusing essential oils. If you run the diffuser for a little while, you may find your home’s smell pleasantly transformed into more of a ‘hippie health food store’ vibe, which won’t raise eyebrows quite as quickly. Remember, essential oil diffusers won’t remove the odor, they’ll just cover it.
If you have pets (that you can still see even when you aren’t smoking), be sure to double-check the oils you diffuse to make sure everything is safe for your furry friend. Essential oils used in diffusers may not be safe for some pets, so you’ll want to ensure yours will be okay. It’s also important to remember, that oils are not a solution for eliminating odors but rather a temporary covering agent.
#5: Use Accessories Made Specifically for Marijuana Smoking
While there might be something pleasantly nostalgic about rolling your own blunt, there is a good deal to be said for using accessories made specifically for smoking weed.
There are several tools you can acquire that will help remove weed smells from your space. For instance, you might want to look into:
- Smell-proof bags
- Containers
- Smoke/odor-trapping devices
- Odor-neutralizing sprays
- Air filters
There are tons of options out there, so make sure you do your research. Or, if you’re looking to make it easier, you can always consider smoking outside or in a separate space from your home.
#6: Make Sure Your Grow Room Is Properly Set Up
If you’re more of a DIY type and enjoy growing your own stash, it is vital to ensure your grow room is set up as it should be.
Weed odor related to grow operations is typically the toughest to remove. This is usually due to a combination of the plant’s natural earthy scent and the moisture levels needed for your plants to thrive and ‘grow like a weed.’
It’s essential to make sure your room is properly ventilated and that the air handling system has a proper exhaust system. Another important step is cleaning off walls and surfaces to help prevent buildup.
Due to the high moisture content in grow rooms, mold is common. Mold has a whole host of unpleasantries, ranging from health concerns to staining and beyond. If you aren’t careful, you’re likely to find yourself dealing with mold in your grow room.
If mold has decided it wants to crash the party, your best bet is to call the professionals.
At Pure Environmental, we specialize in mold removal. Our effective processes can eliminate your mold problem and get your space back to smelling fresh as a daisy.
#7: Call the Pros
Sometimes, it’s just best to seek professional assistance. This is especially true in more extreme situations.
If your weed smell problem is too big, or you simply don’t feel you can adequately address the issue, you should consider hiring a professional to handle it.
Our team here at Pure Environmental knows a thing or two about odor removal, and we have the experience and tools to get your space back to being a wonderful place to be.
Possible Reasons You May Need To Bring in Professionals To Get Rid of the Weed Smell in a House
To be blunt, you can’t always tackle your weed odor issues alone. There are multiple reasons you might need to bring in experts to address the situation.
1: There Is a Potential for Liability
It’s the last night of vacation. and you and the crew had fun — maybe too much fun. Checkout morning isn’t the only thing dawning on you as you finish packing. You just noticed how strongly your rental smells of weed.
You’ve already thrown open the windows and powered on the fans but, it simply isn’t enough. The loss of your security deposit — and other potential issues — is looming.
It’s time to call odor management specialists. When you could end up liable for that scent, you don’t want to fool around with DIY solutions.
If this hypothetical rental property happens to be in the Portland or Tacoma area, Pure Environmental may be able to help. We have an excellent odor removal team and can often leave that rental smelling better than when you walked in.
2: You Are a Heavy Smoker or Are Sensitive to Smells
We don’t judge, but your air quality might. If you’re a heavy smoker, there is a strong chance that on-your-own solutions just won’t cut it. When you consistently re-introduce an odor to a space, it can be hard for it to dissipate.
Also, if you find the scent is really bothering you or upsetting your life, it’s a good idea to have professionals come in and take care of it.
Here at Pure Environmental, we use a special technology called PurAyr™ to remove odors effectively and quickly.
3: You Don’t Have the Skills or Equipment to Adequately Get Rid of the Weed Smell
Especially if mold is present or you plan on using some form of chemicals to wipe out the odor, it may be wiser to call the pros.
Odor specialists are extensively trained and have access to tools and technology that most people don’t. Attempting to rid your home of weed smell without the proper materials and personal protective gear can lead to accidents and issues.
Pure Environmental Can Make Your Home a Disinfected, Odor-Free Environment
Weed can be a tough smell to eliminate, depending on the cause of the odor. But it is far from impossible.
With the right tools and team, your space can go from smelling like 3 a.m. at a music festival to delighting your nostrils with the fresh scent of clean air.
At Pure Environmental, we are proud to offer a variety of odor-elimination methods. Our crew is highly trained and fully insured. We use 100% green, chemical-free methods to improve your air quality.
From homes to businesses and beyond, we’re ready to help you get rid of weed smell and reclaim your space. Request a free estimate today and see what Pure Environmental can do for your space.