Tips for Smoking in a Hotel Room
Smoking in a hotel room can cost you big, but if you must …
Best Option: Hotel smoke detectors use photoelectric and ionization technology to detect smoke particles like tar, nicotine, THC, PM2.5, and VOCs. To avoid triggering alarms, exhale smoke through a carbon + HEPA filter, which traps these particles and prevents them from rising into the air and setting off detectors.
Also, did you know? Second-hand smoke is harmful and lingers for days. Using a carbon filter not only bypasses detectors but also reduces the toxins you breathe in, protecting your lungs.
More options:
- Carbon + HEPA smoke filters are the best option
- Homemade sploofs will work but are risky
- Vape pens won’t trigger most hotel detectors
- Use a Carbon, HEPA, or UV-C air filters
- Run the shower water (steam traps smoke particles)
How to smoke in a hotel room
To smoke in a hotel room exhale smoke through a carbon + HEPA smoke filter trapping airborne particles that would trigger smoke detectors. A homemade sploof can also work but is less efficient. Vaping is the safest option as it produces no smoke that could set off the detector.
Smoking in the hotel bathroom with the shower running creates steam that captures smoke particles, making them heavier and causing them to fall, reducing their chance of triggering smoke detectors. The bathroom's isolated exhaust system provides better ventilation compared to the main room.
Pro-tip: For lingering smoke odors make sure to use a smoke odor eliminator.
1. Use a smoke filter
Ever heard of carbon-activated smoke filters?
Exhale into these devices to trap smoke, cutting airborne smoke particles by 40% and keeping smoke detectors silent.
For the best results use filters that combine HEPA and activated carbon. This dual-action system traps fine smoke particles and eliminates odors, giving you the best defense against smoke detectors and staff.
Pro-tip: The SmokeFiend filter is one of the few options that combines both HEPA and activated carbon filters. It absorbs all secondhand smoke and includes Drytech particles to manage moisture. Each filter offers up to 300 uses, making it an efficient and eco-friendly choice.
2. Make a DIY filter (sploof)
Want a quick and easy way to make your own carbon-activated Sploof?
What You’ll Need:
- A plastic bottle,
- carbon filter sheet,
- HEPA filter sheet,
- scissors
- rubber band or tape.
Step 1: Cut off the bottom of the plastic bottle.
Step 2: Fit the HEPA and carbon sheets inside the bottle. Start with the HEPA sheet, placing it inside the bottle first, followed by the carbon sheet. This order lets the HEPA filter catch fine smoke particles before the carbon traps odors.
Step 3: Cover the open bottom with another HEPA sheet and secure it with a rubber band or tape. Test to make sure there are no airflow leaks at the bottom, so all smoke must pass through the filters.
When you’re ready to smoke, exhale through the bottle’s mouthpiece. The filters will trap smoke particles and odors, helping you stay under the radar.
Important: This method is riskier compared to a real smoke filter, so definitely get some extra support by running a hot shower and exhaling into a steam-filled bathroom (more on this below).
3. Use a vaporizer
Vaporizers are your best bet for smoking in hotels.
Here’s why: Vapor particles are smaller, disappear faster, and don’t cling to surfaces like smoke does, making them less likely to trigger smoke alarms. Smoke detectors are designed to detect larger particles from combustion, so vapor is always safer than smoke.
To reduce risks, choose a vaporizer with adjustable heat settings. Lowering the temperature reduces vapor production, which prevents activating smoke detectors.
Pro-tip: Keep your vapor clouds small and exhale in a hot steaming shower. For smaller vapor clouds always go for a disposable vape pen. The vapors are less dense and dissipate in the air much faster.
4. Shower steam
Shower steam reduces smoke detector sensitivity in hotel rooms.
Hot showers create steam, filling the air with water droplets. These droplets mix with smoke, weighing it down. The humid air also makes smoke particles swell and drop faster. All this means less smoke floating around to trigger alarms.
Hot steam creates airflow that spreads smoke around the room, diluting it. This makes it harder for hotel smoke detectors to sense. Steam also interferes with photoelectric detector light beams, reducing their sensitivity to smoke particles.
Mix it up: Pair shower steam with a carbon filter, sploof, or vape. Harnessing the power of steam plus any of the other methods is the safest way to smoke in a hotel room.
Don’t forget about slipstream smoke
Think exhaled smoke is the only problem? Meet slipstream smoke.
Slipstream smoke rises directly from the burning end of your cigarette, joint, or bowl. It's denser and more potent than exhaled smoke, packing higher concentrations of combustion byproducts.
To minimize slipstream smoke, ditch papers for smaller devices like steamrollers, weed pipes, or one hitters. When lighting, only ignite a small portion - this is called "cornering". Once you've got a cherry going, you'll produce far less slipstream smoke.
Avoid smoking devices that produce heavy amounts of smokes like bongs and recyclers. While you can't eliminate it entirely, the hot shower method helps weigh down these dense particles, keeping them from rising to smoke detectors.
Can I use an air purifier?
Using an air purifier will work but is bulkier and more expensive so we recommend using a carbon filter like a Smokefiend, creating a DIY sploof, using vape pens or trapping smoke particles in the air with steam from a hot shower. These methods help minimize smoke particles and odors, reducing the risk of triggering smoke alarms.
If you can’t get access to any of the above recommendations, then run to your local Home Depot or Walmart to pick up any of the following air purifiers. Make sure to exhale directly into the intake valve (the part of the purifier that sucks air in).
1. HEPA air purifiers
HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters can capture 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. That's small enough to catch most smoke particles. When selecting a HEPA filter for smoke removal, choose a model labeled "True HEPA" that can filter particles as small as 0.3 microns or less.
For best results, place the air purifier in the bathroom. Run a hot shower to build steam to trap any smoke particles that escape into the air. Exhale the smoke into the intake of the HEPA air purifier. Make sure that slipstream smoke is also sucked into the filter as well.
The HEPA filter will exhaust clean air, and whatever smoke particles pass through the hot shower’s steam will trap it before it reaches the smoke detector.
2. Electrostatic precipitators
Electrostatic precipitators work by charging smoke particles as they pass through the filter and then capturing them on oppositely charged plates. This option is amazing at removing fine particulate matter from the air, including those found in secondhand smoke.
One advantage? They don't require regular filter replacements making them a great long-term solution if you plan on traveling and smoking. Remember to keep the slipstream smoke near the intake valve and exhale all of the smoke there as well.
3. Air purifiers with UV-C lights
Want to tackle smoke and germs at the same time? Consider a UV-C air purifier.
Air purifiers with UV-C lights use ultraviolet light to kill bacteria and viruses in the air. When combined with HEPA and activated carbon filters, these devices can effectively reduce smoke particles, odors, and potential pathogens in the air.
It's like a triple threat against secondhand smoke, and smoke detectors, and is good for your lungs. Make sure to keep the slipstream smoke near the intake valve and exhale completely into it as well.
4. Will a fan work?
Managing airflow is crucial when smoking in a hotel room.
Use a room fan or a mini-fan to direct smoke towards an open window or the bathroom exhaust fan. If it’s possible try creating negative pressure in the room by slightly opening a window or building up steam in a hot shower and keeping the bathroom door open.
While this does a terrible job of masking odors, it can keep smoke away from detectors. If you have trouble with eliminating the odors of smoke, try the next option.
5. Eliminating odors: Chlorine dioxide bomb
Air fresheners suck. They just add a nice smell over smoke odors but do not eliminate smoke odors which can raise some red flags with hotel staff.
A great alternative to air fresheners, sprays, and incenses that work directly to eliminate smoke odors is a chlorine dioxide vapor bomb. This eco-friendly and safe option requires no mask helps to break down volatile molecules and eliminate odors.
Chlorine dioxide actively seeks out smoke odor molecules even in the tightest spaces of the hotel room and works in as little as 2 hours and up to 250 square feet, which is perfect for most hotel bathrooms.
Understanding hotel smoke detectors
Curious about what you're up against? Let's break down how hotel smoke detectors work.
Hotel smoke detectors typically use one of two technologies: photoelectric or ionization. Photoelectric detectors use a light source and sensor to detect larger smoke particles, while ionization detectors are more sensitive to smaller particles from flaming fires.
Both smoke detectors are highly sensitive to cigarette and marijuana smoke, so you'll need to be extra cautious.
Why hotels don’t want you to smoke
Think second-hand smoke is no big deal? Think again.
Recent studies have shown that exposure to second-hand smoke can lead to serious health issues. Secondhand smoke from cigarettes and cannabis contains many harmful byproducts that usually linger in the air for days.
Using a carbon filter or other smoke-reduction methods isn't just about avoiding detection – it's about protecting your health and the health of others.
Why carbon filters work so well
Ever wondered how those little carbon filters work their magic?
The science behind activated carbon filters involves adsorption, where organic molecules like smoke particles are trapped in the filter's porous surface. These filters can significantly reduce the harmful particles and gases present in second-hand smoke.
Summary
If you must smoke in a hotel room, follow these key steps to avoid setting off alarms and minimize second-hand smoke:
- Use a Carbon + HEPA Filter: Exhale through a filter like SmokeFiend to trap smoke particles and odors, keeping detectors silent and your lungs healthier.
- Pros: Traps 99.97% of particles, and reduces odors.
- Cons: Does not stop slip-stream smoke
- Create Steam: Smoke in the bathroom with a hot shower running to weigh down smoke particles and use the bathroom exhaust fan.
- Pros: Reduces smoke detector sensitivity, and improves ventilation.
- Cons: Limited to bathroom use.
- Vape Instead of Smoke: Vaporizers produce smaller, less detectable particles, making them the safest option.
- Pros: Less likely to trigger alarms, more discreet.
- Cons: Initial cost of a quality vaporizer.
These steps help you smoke discreetly and responsibly, protecting both you and others from the risks of second-hand smoke.
Related: Guide to Smoking in the Shower
