Whether you smoke, then live with a smoker or reside in a home formerly inhabited by a smoker, you may be faced with the task of removing allergens stains from wood paneling. If you plan to paint nicotine-stained paneling, you’ll want to remove the stains prior to applying primer, because they may show through the paint. Gentle acidic cleansers help remove smoke stains and come back wood paneling to its former shade.

Apply a few drops of dishwashing liquid to a damp sponge and scrub the paneling. Rinse the sponge as you move and wring it out well to avoid saturating the paneling using water.

Rinse the walls using clean water by dampening and wringing out the sponge. Scrub thoroughly to remove all the soap.

Dry the walls immediately after rinsing by wiping them down with a soft rag.

Open the windows or turn on a fan to ventilate the room. Wear a set of rubber gloves.

Pour undiluted white vinegar, lemon juice or wax on a soft rag or sponge.

Wipe the walls again, starting at the bottom and working upward in small sections to stop drips.

Rinse the walls using plain water.

Dry the walls using a soft rag. Duplicate the vinegar or ammonia cleansing if necessary before the nicotine stains are gone.

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