Tripod member SuddenImpact asks:
I'm about to redecorate my spare bedroom but I have one small problem, it seems that the previous owners were both smokers because there is still a noticeable smell of stale tobacco (yuk!) in the room. I'm planning on removing the existing paper and replacing it with lining paper before painting it. Is there anything I can do to the walls etc., to get rid of the smell?

Handy Girl Candi suggests:
You're already on the right track here. Most of the smoke is probably deposited on the wallpaper, and when the paper is gone, most of the smell will go, too. There are two more things you can do to minimize that smoky aroma. After you take off the paper, give the room a very thorough washdown with trisodium phosphate, following package directions, giving the room plenty of time to air out and dry out afterwards. Then, prime the walls with a "stain-block primer" product. This stuff is formulated to seal off ugly sights like water stains, but it should also serve to seal off whatever traces of smoke still cling to your walls.

More Handy Girls Answers | Ask the Handy Girls