You might try tying them up in a bag with activated charcoal or baking soda for a week and see if that helps.

That is a wonderful idea! Thanks so much. I'm afraid of using liquid and rubbing/scrubbing in any way, but good old baking soda shouldn't harm them at all. I'm going to give that a try.

I've taken scents out of old furniture and trunks by crumpling a BUNCH of newspaper and stuffing it into the smelly piece. I would try doing that by placing the lamps in a garbage bag full of the crumpled newspapers. Leave for a week, replace the newspaper, keep doing it until the scent is gone.

So if the charcoal doesn't work, or the baking soda, give it a try.

The problem is the smell is from the oils and tar in the nicotine and until that is removed, the smell will remain. I suppose you could try to spray it with febreeze.

Call a reputable antique store and ask them. They'll know.

I know for antique furniture with a musty smell, that a coat of shellac seals it, however, that (or something similar) may not be an option with these pretty lamps.

Oh boy. I looked at your photo and said to myself, "She'll never get the smell out." (Ask me how I know.)

My only advice is to find someone who is handy with small electrical appliances and have them TOTALLY dismantle the lamps. Replace the cords, the plugs and the sockets, because those are porous materials and will hold the smoke smell. Everything else... soak in vinegar, scrub with baking soda, reassemble the lamps and hope for the best.

Good luck to you. They are very pretty,

Uh oh, mclarke, why do I suspect you've had your own similar experience? We were already planning to rewire because I'm rather paranoid about electricity and fire (buying a house where the electricians screwed up, causing two scary incidents, will do that to you). I don't think the bases will hold up to much scrubbing, but maybe if I replace the rest and put them in baking soda and newspaper isolation for a while, it will at least make things tolerable if they get a daily spritz of Febreeze. I know enough to ask about smoking for most items I buy online, but it never crossed my mind for lamps.

Maybe try washing them with a little diluted dishwashing soap like Dawn and then leaving them out in the open air on a covered porch or patio for a few days would do it.

You could always repaint the bases if the finish gets a little damaged during the cleaning process. I metallic spray paint followed by a dark glaze would work well I think.

I'm a vintage dealer, primarily 30s-early 60s clothing (when smoking was considered glamorous,) so I deal with this all the time. White vinegar is your best bet but start with Dawn, well diluted first. Get your qtips out and get in all those nooks and crannies. Test a tiny hidden spot first, of course. Dilute if necessary and repeat as necessary. Options are sunlight (for the ozone,) or actual ozone treatments (often offered by furriers.)

Do NOT use febreeze (which only makes it smell like smoke and febreeze.) Newspaper, baking soda and kitty litter really aren't all that effective (as someone mentioned, until you break down that sticky nicotine coating the smell will always return.)

Best of luck!

This post was edited by VedaBeeps on Thu, Aug 7, 14 at 14:25

How about rubbing alcohol with q-tips? That's what I use to get remote controls cleaned up of gunk. And since it's alcohol, it dries very quickly so can't do damage. I think.

Rubbing alcohol is a pretty strong solvent. You would have to spot test in an inconspicuous place for sure.

Delete duplicate post.

This post was edited by WMA89 on Thu, Aug 7, 14 at 22:10

Another option, but not cheap, is to take them somewhere for an ozone treatment. I called about a pickup we just bought, and an hour with the machine is $150. That guy will come here though.

Are you sure they don't have smoke damage from a house fire?

We had a house fire in 2003. You can't get that smell out of plastics. Even with a good cleaning and "ozone".

The lamps are great.

Big difference between fire smoke and cigarette smoke. I hate to give up the light but I'm going to have to put shade of the lamp just bought in the sun...