# Attention smokers: everything in your house is ruined. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 19, 2014, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471 "2014-04-19T04:43:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/21 "2014-04-19T10:04:36Z")
Sometimes when I enter the restroom at work, it’s obvious someone coming back from a smoke break was there before me. I want to hang a sign in there that says “Dear smoker: you literally stink worse than shit.” Full disclosure: I grew up in a smoking household. My mom died of lung cancer a couple of years ago. I find cigarette smoke to be one of the most repugnant smells I’ve encountered. I wouldn’t date a super model if she smoked. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/22 "2014-04-19T10:22:33Z")
> [@Bo\_Pai](#): > > Forgot to ask, what is the item and have you sent it back? An antique marble ashtray, ironically enough. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/23 "2014-04-19T10:26:27Z")
> [@RoboticDreams](#): > > I’m new here and the sarcasm font wasn’t apparent. I’m sure in time I will detect sarcasm much better. I probably should have used a smiley to indicate that no malice was intended. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![RoboticDreams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ba0ec/32.png) [@RoboticDreams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RoboticDreams)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/24 "2014-04-19T10:37:37Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > I probably should have used a smiley to indicate that no malice was intended. Sorry. No worries, man. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/25 "2014-04-19T11:02:58Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > An antique marble ashtray, ironically enough. 🙂 🙂 🙂 I agree with the rant. I think I must be allergic to tobacco, which wouldn’t be surprising, because I’m allergic to a lot of plants. If I’m in a smoker’s home for a while, even if no cigarettes are actually burning, I start to itch, my face starts to burn, my eyes water, and my nose runs. I can’t stand the smell of cigarette smoke, burning, or old and stale. Every single smoker I know thinks that other smokers smell, but they personally don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/26 "2014-04-19T11:11:15Z")
> [@Bo\_Pai](#): > > Annoying, isn’t it? Are you an immunologist? The sheer obviousness of it is seldom this irritating to anyone else. > > Actually, I’ll take that back. I hadn’t considered the effect it might have on health nuts or militant anti-smoker people. > > You can delete it if you want. Your argument is that smoking somehow makes you healthier or stronger? I would love to see you try to defend that position in GQ or GD. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/27 "2014-04-19T11:44:12Z")
> [@RoboticDreams](#): > > The world stop’s for no man. > [@Mangetout](#): > > Attention Apostrophe abusers: everything in your post is ruined. > [@RoboticDreams](#): > > Yes because the thought of an iPhone auto correct never entered the mind. It never does for the simple minded among us. Do you otherwise disagree with my post or is there something more profound you’d like to add? > [@Mangetout](#): > > Sense of humour failure. > > And that was an autocorrect error? Really? You’re right that it never occurred to me. > [@RoboticDreams](#): > > I’m new here and > the sarcasm font wasn’t apparent. I’m sure in time I will detect sarcasm much better. > [@Mangetout](#): > > I probably should have used a smiley to indicate that no malice was intended. Sorry. > [@RoboticDreams](#): > > No worrie, man. I worrie you two need to getaroom. Fuck,fuck,fuckityfuck. Back to the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/28 "2014-04-19T11:47:27Z")
So smoker Granny’s Rembrant and antique heirlooms are ruined then? So it’s okay if we give them to your cousin then? And you’ll raise no protest because, for you, they’re ruined? And you need to gut a house to make it livable after a smoker lived there? Huh, wonder why century homes, in my city, cost a premium? Don’t they know they’re ruined! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/29 "2014-04-19T12:15:09Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I worrie you two need to getaroom. > Fuck,fuck,fuckityfuck. > Back to the Pit. Arse! ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/30 "2014-04-19T12:26:29Z")
> [@RoboticDreams](#): > > Or you could stop being ultra weak and man up. If you are concerned about it to this extent; what you need to do is inquire about it when purchasing something used from an individual. I suspect the issue is about those smokers who take a deep sniff of that antique quilt or ottoman and insist it doesn’t smell like smoke, when it actually does, and merrily post that there aren’t any odors in it. My husband and I rejected one apartment based on a smoker living there and being in the process of moving out after nearly a decade. Even with the fans going and obvious air fresheners everywhere, both he and I (in separate visits) felt like we were having allergy attacks by the end, it was that acrid, and the property manager - without me even saying anything initially - was falling over herself promising that she’d replace the carpet and pad, repaint with Kilz and then whatever color(s) we wanted, etc. This was not a patio-smoking guy, this was an older guy who apparently rarely left the place and smoked like a chimney. Pity because it was a lovely place (though we prefer the town we’re in now), but I just couldn’t stomach the thought of the smoke abatement efforts not working. ---
**Author:** ![RoboticDreams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ba0ec/32.png) [@RoboticDreams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RoboticDreams)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/31 "2014-04-19T13:18:05Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I worrie you two need to getaroom. > Fuck,fuck,fuckityfuck. > Back to the Pit. Profound observation. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/32 "2014-04-19T14:27:04Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Attention Apostrophe abusers: everything in your post is ruined. Thats not true – You can simply go through and remove all the unwanted apostrophes. The problem is that you might miss some, or else remove ones that really ARE necessary. ‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’ ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/33 "2014-04-19T14:27:33Z")
> [@Bo\_Pai](#): > > Non-smoking, tofu-eating purists are actually cranking up their own fragility. Exactly. Every morning I drink a little mercury and swallow a few lead paint chips just to be safe. I’ll still be walking around healthy as a ham when all you smokers and tofu-eaters are coughing your lungs out! ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/34 "2014-04-19T14:48:01Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > I think I must be allergic to tobacco Isn’t _everyone_ allergic to tobacco? The stuff is a poison, after all. > [@](#): > > Every single smoker I know thinks that other smokers smell, but they personally don’t. My experience is the same: every smoker I know thinks their stench doesn’t reek. On top of that, they also believe they believe they’re not addicted to the crap. ---
**Author:** ![Bo\_Pai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@Bo\_Pai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bo_Pai)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/35 "2014-04-19T15:23:20Z")
> [@The\_Hamster\_King](#): > > Exactly. Every morning I drink a little mercury and swallow a few lead paint chips just to be safe. I’ll still be walking around healthy as a ham when all you smokers and tofu-eaters are coughing your lungs out! Speaking of lead, did you know that Vitruvius warned of lead poisoning, two thousand years ago? Nobody listened. Naturally. Anyway… It has nothing to do with one’s state of health. It has to do with the body’s ability to respond to toxins. A smoker’s body is in a perpetual state of “toxin-management”. He’ll still die, but he’s not going to die first. If somebody is able to stay on their feet long enough to accomplish an air exchange and save your ass, it’s probably going to be a smoker. Who said anything about “health”? ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/36 "2014-04-19T15:23:29Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Thats not true – You can simply go through and remove all the unwanted apostrophes. The problem is that you might miss some, or else remove ones that really ARE necessary. > > ‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’ Thanks Cal. Now this whole thread is ruined. I tried to clean like 6 times and it still stinks. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/37 "2014-04-19T15:51:12Z")
> [@74westy](#): > > Thanks Cal. Now this whole thread is ruined. I tried to clean like 6 times and it still stinks. Well, _I_ like the smell of apostrophes in the morning. Smells like – punctuation! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/38 "2014-04-19T16:38:24Z")
Re. smoking only on the patio - I suspect that will still make your house smell. Smokers drag that smell in with them after smoking - it doesn’t just stay outside. As for older houses being ruined by decades of smoking, well, they do smell. I don’t think I’ve ever gone into a truly old house (that hasn’t been gutted) that doesn’t have a certain funk to it. This is a very strange thread; I’m not sure how we got to a place where we’re arguing that smoking doesn’t stink, and that smoking is healthy. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/39 "2014-04-19T16:47:23Z")
> [@Bo\_Pai](#): > > It has nothing to do with one’s state of health. It has to do with the body’s ability to respond to toxins. A smoker’s body is in a perpetual state of “toxin-management”. He’ll still die, but he’s not going to die first. If somebody is able to stay on their feet long enough to accomplish an air exchange and save your ass, it’s probably going to be a smoker. This is the Pit, so you don’t need to back up anything you say with citations. But you’re full of shit. You have no idea what you are talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Fool\_in\_the\_Rain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8491ac/32.png) [@Fool\_in\_the\_Rain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fool_in_the_Rain)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/40 "2014-04-19T17:01:38Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Isn’t _everyone_ allergic to tobacco? The stuff is a poison, after all. > > My experience is the same: every smoker I know thinks their stench doesn’t reek. On top of that, they also believe they believe they’re not addicted to the crap. My experience as an ex-smoker, is I had no idea I reeked that bad, and yes I knew I was quite addicted. My experience among other smokers and ex-smokers I know feel the same. Anecdotes for the win and all that jazz… As to the OP - we didn’t (ex-wife) and I didn’t smoke in the house because it ruined everything, walls, curtains, rugs, furnture, etc…so yes we knew it was bad for everything. For the record, after 26 years of smoking, and now an ex smoker I’ve never felt better. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471.md?page=3)