The Cause

Cigarette smoke is insidious. "Depending on how bad the smoke is in a room, sometimes we have to change the curtains, the bedspreads, everything," says Vera Harris, executive housekeeper for the Radisson Plaza Hotel, in Minneapolis.

The Cure

No one should smoke in your home if you dislike the smell or the habit. When hosting an incorrigible guest, rely on cross-ventilation: Place a fan in a window, facing out. Ventilation is the best solution for ridding clothes and furniture of the noxious smell, and for immediate relief spritz Arm & Hammer Deodorizing Air Freshener (about $1 at supermarkets). Citrus sprays work well, too.