A. While vinegar certainly reduces cigarette smell, it’s unlikely to completely eliminate it. Vinegar works on smoke because it has a low pH value that helps counteract the high pH level of cigarette smoke, reducing its offensiveness. If you’re on a tight budget, vinegar is worth a shot. However, modern chemistry has produced low-cost compounds that are more effective at neutralizing smoke odors than vinegar, so it makes sense to spend a few dollars for a much more effective deodorization treatment.