Smoke-free Homes
There is no safe amount of exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS)
- A home is smoke-free when...
- Smoke-free homes make a difference
- How to make your home smoke-free
- Make the commitment and keep it!
- Second-hand smoke in apartments, condos, and other multi-unit dwellings (MUDs)
- Smoke-free multi-unit dwelling (MUD) resources
- FREE help to quit smoking
- Smoking is NOT allowed inside the home at any time.
- Every room in the home is 100% smoke-free.
Smoke-free homes make a difference
- Second-hand smoke spreads to every room of a house-even when the doors are closed and windows are open. 2
- Air cleaning systems can’t remove all the small particles and gases in second-hand smoke. . 2
How to make your home smoke-free
- Tell others your reasons for having a smoke-free home
- If a friend or family member doesn't like your decision, be supportive but firm in your commitment to protect yourself, your family and your guests from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke. 2
- Celebrate your decision to protect loved ones from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke. 2
Make the commitment - and keep it!
Creating a smoke-free home takes some time, effort and self-discipline, but it's worth it!
Start by
- Removing all ashtrays from your home.
- Setting up smoking areas outdoors that are away from doors and windows.2
- Setting the day for going smoke-free. Don’t let anyone smoke in your home after this date.
- Telling visitors that smoking is not allowed inside your home by displaying “smoke-free” decals or signs on widows or doors.
Other benefits of a smoke-free home
Second-hand smoke in apartments, condos, and other multi-unit dwellings (MUDs)
A multi-unit dwelling (MUD) is a building that contains more than one living unit 3 such as:
- Hi-rise apartment buildings
- Condominiums
- Townhouses
- Duplexes
- Semi-detached houses
- Houses partitioned into apartment units
- Basement suites
- People that live in a multi-unit dwelling (MUD) are more likely to notice second-hand smoke (SHS) entering their unit. 4
- Second-hand smoke can seep through shared ventilation systems or crevices around doors, windows or electrical outlets into neighbouring units.3
Smoke-free multi-unit dwelling (MUD) resources
- A Resource for Residents of MUDs
(PDF 721kb, 2 pgs) - A Resource for Housing Providers of MUDs
(PDF 558kb, 2 pgs) - Visit Smoke-Free Housing Ontario to learn how you can avoid exposure to SHS in multi-unit residential dwellings (MUDs)
Ready to quit smoking?
Call us at 905-799-7700 for more information.
We can also provide information about the health effects of smoking, second-hand smoke and how to create smoke-free spaces.
1 Government of Ontario. (1994). Smoke-Free Ontario Act, S.O. 1994 c. 10 Accessed February 5, 2010.
2 Health Canada (2006). Make your Home and Car Smoke-Free: A Guide to Protecting your Family from Second-hand Smoke. (PDF). Accessed February 5, 2010.
3 The Non-Smoker's Right's Association (NSRA). (2006). When Neighbours Smoke: Exposure to Drifting Second-hand Smoke in Multi-Unit Dwellings (PDF). Accessed February 5, 2010.
4 The Ontario Tobacco Research Unit (OTRU). (2009). Reports of Tobacco Smoke Entering Ontario Homes (PDF). OTRU Update. March 2009. Accessed February 5, 2010.
