This is how I finally got rid of the cigarette smell after 15 years — for less than $60

No renovations, no cleaning company, and no expensive equipment

By Emma | Updated: March 9, 2026

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January 30, 2026 • 3 minutes reading time

My husband has smoked his entire adult life.

He always smokes outside—by the back door or on the balcony. That was the agreement when we moved in together. But no one told me that the smell doesn't stop at the door.

In winter, if the door is even open for a moment, the smell of smoke drifts right in. It settles on the curtains, the sofa cushions, the clothes in the closet. Even the walls have absorbed it.

For 15 years.

I'd learned to live with it, or so I thought.

"Why does it smell so strange at Grandma's?"

It was last summer. The grandchildren came to stay for a week—the first time in a long time.

Six-year-old Sem walked in and immediately asked: "Grandma, why does it smell so strange in here?"

I tried to say something about the ventilation. But I saw his face. He didn't want to play inside.

That came as a hammer blow.

I was so used to the smell that I hadn't smelled it for a long time. But others did. They just didn't say anything about it—until one child said out loud what everyone was thinking.

That same evening a few things fell into place:

❌My sister had already canceled three times in the past year— each time with a different excuse. Now I understood the real reason.

❌Neighbor Annemarie hadn't been over for coffee in months — even though we used to meet every week.

❌Even my own clothes smelled of it — I only noticed this when I came home from Albert Heijn and the smell hit me.

I hadn't just gotten used to the smell. I'd become isolated by it.

Tried everything for two years — and wasted money

I googled “how to get rid of cigarette smoke in your home” and started experimenting.

❌Air freshener sprays ($10-15 per month) masked the smell for an hour. Then the smoke smell returned, now mixed with lavender. Worse than before.

❌Scented candles ($20-30 per month) — Same story. Scent + scent = two scents. Not a solution.

❌"Open the windows at night" — In the summer, it helped a little, but temporarily. And in the winter? Forget it. Heating costs would double.

❌Air purifier with HEPA filter ($180) — I bought an expensive unit. It filtered the dust, but the smoke smell? Zero effect. Plus, I spend $60-$100 a year on filters.

As a last resort, I called a professional cleaning company.

They came by to assess the situation and gave me a quote: ozone treatment + deep cleaning of the entire house.

Price: $750

And the best part? "We can't guarantee that the odor will disappear completely. It may take several treatments."

Seven hundred and fifty dollars without any guarantee.

I was fed up.

Then I found a comment online that changed everything

One evening I was reading a discussion on a housing forum titled: "Help, the house stinks of cigarettes from the previous occupant."

Loads of comments: "Paint the walls", "Throw away all the textiles", "Move". Then one message caught my eye:

@SanneUtrecht: "We had the exact same thing. My husband smoked indoors for 20 years before he quit. I tried everything. Finally, I bought PUREGO™ on the recommendation of someone on this forum. For $59.99, I thought: What have I got to lose? After the first use, the living room smelled COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. Not like perfume — just like nothing. Neutral. I've been using it for three months now, a few times a week. The smell is gone. Completely gone."

$59.99. I'd spent hundreds of dollars on sprays and scented candles. I got a quote for $750. And the solution cost $59.99?

I was skeptical. It sounded too simple.

But what did I have to lose? I ordered that same evening.

What is PUREGO™ anyway?

Before ordering, I researched exactly what the device does. I didn't want to buy another "air freshener."

PUREGO™ is not an air freshener. It does not mask odors.

The device produces active oxygen (O₃) —also called ozone. The ozone binds to the molecules that cause odors and breaks them down completely.

The same process that occurs in nature after a thunderstorm. That's why the air outside smells so fresh after a rain shower. PUREGO™ does the same—but indoors and under control.

This is how it works:

1) Turn on PUREGO™ in the room (one button)

2) Leave the room for 15-30 minutes

3) Ventilate the room for 5 minutes

4) Done — the smell is gone

The First Time — and the Week That Changed Everything

PUREGO™ was delivered within 5 working days.

I fully charged it (USB-C, just like a phone), turned it on in the living room, and went out to do some grocery shopping. Half an hour later, I got home.

I opened the front door and stood in the hallway. Something was different.

The smell was gone.

Not "less"—gone . The living room smelled... neutral. Clean. Of nothing. For the first time in 15 years.

The days after:

Day 2: Used in the bedroom. Same results. The bedding felt fresher.

Day 4: Used it in the car after a long drive. 20 minutes, and the musty smell was gone.

📅 Day 7: I did the real test.

The real test: my sister came over

I called my sister and invited her over for coffee. I didn't say anything about what had changed.

She came. She sat on the couch. She drank her coffee. We chatted for an hour.

She said nothing about the air.

Normally, she'd always open the window or "forgotten something in the car" and leave early. Not this time.

When she left, I asked her point blank, “Did you notice anything different?”

She thought for a moment and said, "Now that you mention it... it's just chilly in here? I didn't smell anything at all."

I didn't smell anything at all.

She. The one who had canceled three times because of the smell.

I cried that night. For the first time in years, my house felt like a real home again.

One device — I use it everywhere

PUREGO™ has become part of my daily life:

🏠 Living room and bedroom — I use it 2-3 times a week. The odor stays away. Visitors don't notice it anymore.

🚗 The car — After a long drive or wet winter coats — 20 minutes and the car smells fresh again. Especially handy if you have a lease car.

🐱 Pet odor — We have two cats. Especially in the summer, you could smell it. Now I use PUREGO™ a few times a week, and the house smells neutral. No perfume, no cat smell—just clean.

🍳 The kitchen — When the smell of fried fish or onions lingers. The extractor hood isn't enough — PUREGO™ takes care of the rest.

One device, one button, no filters, no refills.

I bought one. Now I'm considering getting a second one for the car.

What other people from the US say

James Smith

"I was skeptical — now I'm convinced"

I read the reviews and honestly didn't believe it. A $59 device that removes odors? Yeah, right. But I gave it a try anyway. The first time I used it in the car, which smelled like dog. Half an hour later, the smell was completely gone. Now I use it at home a few times a week. Best purchase in a long time.

Emma K.

"Finally, no more musty air in the holiday home"

Every spring, the same ritual: open the vacation home, air it out all day, and try to get rid of that musty smell. This year, I brought Purego™. I let it run for an hour while I unpacked the car. When I came back inside, the musty smell was gone. I would have easily paid three times as much for it.

Benjamin Brown

"Three cats and finally a fresh house"

I love my cats, but not the smell. Especially in the summer. I've tried everything: air fresheners, windows open, expensive cat litter. PureGo™ is the first one that actually works. I use it a few times a week, and the house smells neutral. No perfume, no cat—just clean.