Listen, there are a lot of pros to smoking pot—hello, getting high?
Unfortunately, there’s a bit of a downside to anything worth doing in this world—and lighting up is no exception. Ever walked on the bus and had people wrinkle their noses? Had your family sniff the air in your bedroom with that disapproving look on their face? Trying to dress for a cute date but your favorite top smells like burnt herbs?
It’s the great trial of every smoker’s love—the smell. It’s strong, it’s obvious, and it lingers.
That’s why if you’re going to smoke, you need to know how to deal with this worthy foe. Whether you’re a casual, avid, or first-time smoker, here are the must-know methods to deal with the after-scent of weed:
1. Baking Soda: The Odor-Eliminating Powerhouse
Is there any greater and more versatile invention than baking soda? It puffs up your cakes, de-stains your clothes, and, get this—kills the scent of pot.
And not just in one way either. Baking soda tops the list as your number one cover-up friend. Here’s how to use it:
For Clothes: Sprinkle a handful of baking soda in with your laundry, and set it to wash. Alternatively, pre-soak your affected clothes in a bath of warm water and baking soda before throwing them in the machine. Once they’re done, be sure to hang them up outside to dry (if it’s a sunny day), to let all the bad odor steam out for good.
For Furniture: Yes, furniture can soak up the smell of pot just as much as your favorite hoodie and pollute your living room with an air of skunk cabbage. Once again, baking soda is your friend; and you don’t even have to wash! Sprinkle the powder all over your upholstery, leave overnight, then vacuum in the morning. Don’t worry about the material. Leather, wool, linen, cotton—all are safe, just be careful not to wet them or add any alternate cleaning products, unless you’re dealing with wood. Then a wood-safe cleaning product should do just fine.
For Carpet: If you’ve tried dusting your furniture and the smell still hasn’t left, it’s possible it’s stuck in your carpet or rug instead. Smoking in an enclosed room will stink up parts of your house you didn’t even know could carry a scent, and carpet is as big a contender with weed as it is with cat pee. Once again, sprinkle your trusty baking soda over the carpet/rug and leave overnight, or up to 24 hours.
2. Vinegar: Another Household Deodorizer
Much like baking soda, vinegar is a dream household cleaning component for masking strong odors like pot. However, baking soda ranks higher on the list as vinegar’s counter-smell isn’t nearly so pleasant.
For Clothes: Roughly ½ cup or less of vinegar added to your washing machine should help scrub out the smoke scent. Leave out to dry.
For Furniture: You can dilute a solution of vinegar with water and use it to wipe down hard surfaces like wood or countertops; but do not use it on other upholstery unless you want another scent in need of masking.
3. Essential Oils: Masking with Pleasant Scents
Not only do they calm the mind, but they also clear out your space after a smoke session. Essential oils, especially strong ones such as lavender or peppermint, are handy in masking the scent of marijuana with something much more pleasant and, occasionally, stimulating.
For the Room: Getting a good diffuser is essential if you’re an avid smoker—and it’s got great advantages besides! Keep a few of your favorite-smelling oils on hand for the next time you want to light up, and keep the diffuser running during and afterward.
If you don’t have a diffuser or don’t want to spend the cash on one, you can always add some drops of oil to a pot of hot water—but don’t boil or simmer it, or else it’ll lose the scent.
For Clothes: Dab some strong-scented oils onto cotton balls and leave in the pockets of your smoking clothes, for as long as it takes for the weed smell to be replaced. You may even like the result so much that you’ll use it on your regular clothes too!
Tip: A light-up diffuser always adds to the vibe.
4. Candles: A Classic Odor Neutralizer
Much like essential oils, but further cutting the cost of a fancy diffuser. Some prefer the soft, homey scent of burning candles over the sharpness of essential oils anyway, so they may be the better option to mask a lingering smell in your room.
For the Room: Light a candle after you’ve finished smoking, and let it burn until it overpowers the weed scent. Just maybe wait until you’re sober enough to remember to blow it out later.
Another pro of candles is there’s about a hundred million different scents. The downside is that shopping for them can be more addictive than weed. Thanks, Home Sense.
5. Proper Storage: Contain the Smell at the Source
Sometimes, a joint just sitting in your bedroom, car, or purse can perfume the whole thing with that pungent, half-burnt scent—especially after a partial smoke. Nobody wants to be trapped in a car that reeks to the rear-view of weed. Obviously, you should never smoke while driving, but the mere scent of a stored joint may worry your passengers anyway (or a suspicious cop).
Nothing makes you look more like a professional than having a neat place to store your joints. Reusable, well-made tubes are best for fully keeping the scent of weed out from wherever you keep your fresh or half-smoked joints. Plus, they’re cool and personalized as hell. What’s not to love?
Tip: Rather than pre-bought tubes, which aren’t fully scent-proof, it’s best to get a reusable one. Not only do they help the environment, but it's like your own little custom cigarette case!
6. Fresh Air: The Natural Solution
And by that, we just mean open the windows.
Smoke soaks into the surroundings when it’s trapped with nowhere to go. Think of it like dust in an old, shut-up room. Having the windows open (plus double points for a kitchen fan on) lets the smoke trail out, away from your clothes and furniture. If it’s possible, the greatest option is to smoke outside, especially if you’re doing so in a hotel room.
Mingling your smoke session with the fresh air is not just easy and pleasant—it’s also free. Though it can’t guarantee to save your clothes, you at least won’t have to cover your upholstery with baking ingredients.
Bottom Line: Smoke Discreetly with These Tips
So yes, if you were worried, there is always a solution to the “elephant in the room” when it comes to smoking pot. Whether it’s your clothes, bedroom, car, purse, or furniture, with the above tips you can smoke as much as you like and have no one be the wiser.
Remember, if you’re going to stock up on weed, then be sure to also stock up on baking soda and essential oils. You may get funny looks from a cashier, but at least it won’t be because you smell.
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