Guide · Safety and emergencies
A Smoke-Free Home
A friendly, practical guide to smoke-free living, from secondhand smoke drifting between homes to kind conversations, vaping and fire safety.
Where to start
- Smoke drifting in?
Follow the steps in if smoke drifts into your home, starting with a kind word.
- You smoke?
The cleaner air checklist keeps neighbors, children and pets in mind.
- Own or run the building?
Listen to both neighbors with empathy, and remind everyone of the policy in writing, kindly.
The short version
Clean air matters to everyone, and smoke-free living works best when it is handled with kindness and respect on all sides.
The CDC says there is no safe level of secondhand smoke, and in shared buildings it can drift through hallways, vents and gaps.
Know your home’s smoking rules, smoke only where allowed, and never smoke in bed, when drowsy or near medical oxygen.
If smoke drifts in, talk to your neighbor kindly first, keep a simple log, and share it with the owner or manager.
Smoking rules differ from place to place and lease to lease, so we’d gently encourage a quick look at the rules where your home is. If you ever have questions, we would love to help.
Four simple rules
- 1No safe level
The CDC says there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
- 2Smoke travels
In shared buildings, smoke can drift through hallways, stairwells, vents and gaps between homes.
- 3Follow the lease
Many homes and buildings are smoke-free. Know the rules where you live and where smoking is allowed.
- 4Kindness first
A calm, friendly conversation solves more smoke concerns than a complaint ever will.
Your cleaner air checklist
From the guide’s own checklist. Tick each one as you go. These are examples; your home and lease may add others.
All done. Cleaner air for everyone who shares the building.
If smoke drifts into your home
- Notice when the smoke drifts in and where it seems to come from.
- Open windows, run fans and close gaps you can safely reach to clear the air.
- If you feel comfortable, talk to your neighbor kindly.
- Keep a simple log of dates, times and where you noticed the smoke.
- Share it in writing with the owner or manager, along with any health concerns.
- If you smell smoke and suspect a fire, get out and call 911 from outside.
A calm, friendly conversation solves more smoke concerns than a complaint ever will.
Guides that go well with this one
Like it on paper?
The printable checklist for this guide is fillable, with a screen version and an ink saver print version. Keep it on your phone or pin it to the fridge.
How much do you remember?
4 quick questions from this guide, with a one line why for each. Totally optional, no sign in, and your answers are never saved.
Go deeper with The Perfect Series
When you want more than a guide, the books in The Perfect Series go room by room and step by step, in the same calm, plain words.
Keep the full guide handy
The PDF has everything: everyday habits, what to do when something goes wrong, common myths, helpful resources and plenty of real-world tips. Print it, save it or share it with anyone who could use it.
Download the PDFTake it with you
- Healthy Home Checklist PackThe Healthy Home checklists in one pack, fillable on screen or printable.See it in the shop
More guides
This guide shares general information to help you, and is not legal or medical advice. For help quitting or health questions, please talk with a doctor. Bunklow does not inspect properties or decide disputes.