A sploof is a simple handheld tube you exhale smoke through to reduce or eliminate the smell. Most often associated with cannabis use, it works by filtering exhaled smoke through a material that traps odor-causing particles before they reach the surrounding air. You can make one in about two minutes from household items, or buy a commercial version with more effective filtration.
How a Sploof Works
The concept is straightforward: instead of exhaling smoke into the room, you blow it through a tube packed with filtering material. The filter catches the oil-based compounds in cannabis smoke that carry its distinctive smell. Whatever passes through comes out the other end significantly less pungent, or in the case of better filters, nearly odorless.
The most common DIY version uses dryer sheets as the filtering material. Dryer sheets are coated in hydrophobic (water-repelling) substances and carry a positive charge, which lets them grab onto the oily cannabinoid particles in smoke. The fibers physically trap some of the smoke particles while the scent of the dryer sheet masks whatever gets through. It’s a two-layer approach: partial filtration plus fragrance cover.
The more effective versions use activated carbon, the same material found in water purifiers and fish tank filters. Activated carbon has a massive surface area at the microscopic level, which lets it adsorb a wide range of volatile organic compounds. Rather than just masking the smell, it chemically captures it. This is the same principle behind the carbon filters used in indoor grow operations, scaled down to fit in your hand.
The Basic Dryer Sheet Version
The classic sploof requires three things: an empty toilet paper or paper towel roll, three to five dryer sheets, and a rubber band. You stuff two or three sheets loosely inside the tube, then stretch one sheet over one end and secure it with the rubber band. You exhale through the open end, and the smoke passes through the sheets before exiting.
This version takes almost no effort and costs essentially nothing, but its effectiveness is limited. The dryer sheets reduce the intensity of the smell and layer their own fragrance on top, but they don’t eliminate the odor entirely. In a small, poorly ventilated room, you’ll still notice a combination of cannabis and laundry scent. Many people find that particular combination is actually more conspicuous than the smoke alone, since it signals that someone is actively trying to cover something up.
The Activated Carbon Version
A more effective DIY sploof uses a plastic bottle and activated carbon pellets, which you can find in the aquarium section of any pet store for a few dollars. You cut the bottom off a 16 to 20 ounce bottle, stuff a dryer sheet near the mouthpiece for comfort, then fill the body of the bottle with activated carbon pellets. Secure another sheet or piece of fabric over the open bottom with a rubber band to keep the pellets in place.
This version performs noticeably better than the dryer sheet approach. The carbon does the heavy lifting of actually neutralizing odor compounds rather than just masking them. The tradeoff is that activated carbon eventually becomes saturated and stops working, so you’ll need to replace the pellets periodically. How often depends on use, but you’ll notice the smell starting to break through when it’s time.
Commercial Sploofs
Several companies sell purpose-built personal air filters that work on the same principle but with higher-grade materials and better engineering. These typically use dense activated carbon cartridges housed in a plastic shell, and they filter more thoroughly than most homemade versions. Prices generally range from $20 to $40, with replacement cartridges available separately.
Some brands have moved toward eco-friendly designs with biodegradable filter housings and zero-plastic cartridges, addressing the fact that a device made from a plastic bottle and synthetic dryer sheets isn’t exactly environmentally conscious. If you’re using a sploof regularly rather than as a one-time solution, a commercial version with replaceable cartridges will outperform and outlast the DIY route.
Health Concerns With Dryer Sheets
There’s a practical health consideration worth knowing about, especially if you’re using a dryer sheet sploof frequently. Dryer sheets emit a cocktail of volatile chemicals, including known irritants like styrene, phenol, and trimethylbenzene. A study published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health tested five commercial fabric softener products and found that their emissions caused sensory irritation in 21 to 58 percent of breaths in test animals, along with measurable reductions in airflow. After just three exposures, researchers observed mild inflammation in lung tissue.
With a sploof, you’re not directly inhaling through the dryer sheet, since you’re exhaling through it. But you’re still in close proximity to those emissions, and any backflow or residual fumes end up in your breathing space. For occasional use, this is probably a minor concern. For daily use, switching to an activated carbon filter without dryer sheets removes this variable entirely.
What a Sploof Can and Can’t Do
A sploof only filters the smoke you exhale through it. It does nothing about smoke that rises directly from a lit bowl, joint, or blunt between puffs, which is called sidestream smoke and accounts for a significant portion of the overall smell. To get the most out of a sploof, pair it with a smoking method that minimizes sidestream smoke: a pipe or one-hitter you can cap after each hit, or a vaporizer, which produces far less odor to begin with.
Even the best sploof won’t make a room completely odor-free if you’re smoking a joint with smoke curling off the tip for minutes at a time. It’s a reduction tool, not an elimination tool. Combined with ventilation, like blowing toward an open window, it can make a significant difference. Used alone in a sealed room with a freely burning source, it’ll help but won’t solve the problem.