A sploof is a homemade smoke filter: a tube or bottle packed with fabric-softener sheets, or other filtering material, that you exhale through to cut the smell and visible smoke from a puff. You make one from a toilet paper roll or an empty plastic bottle in a few minutes. It reduces odor but does not eliminate it, and you never inhale through it.
People use sploofs in homes, apartments and cars where they want to be considerate of roommates, neighbors or family. This guide explains how to build the two common designs, how to use one safely, what it will and will not do, and what to do when a sploof is not enough. It is for adults 21+ in states where cannabis is legal.
What a Sploof Does and Does Not Do
A sploof works by making your exhaled smoke pass through material that traps some particles and adds a different scent. That is the entire idea. Smoke still lingers in the room, on your clothes and in your hair, and the burning flower itself gives off smoke between puffs. We did not find independent testing that measures how much odor a DIY sploof removes, so treat it as a partial fix, not a guarantee. Ventilation, a closed door and an open window all help more than most people expect. For the full odor routine, see our guide on getting rid of marijuana smell.
Design 1: The Toilet Paper Roll Sploof
Materials
- One empty cardboard toilet paper roll
- Several fabric-softener (dryer) sheets
- A rubber band
Steps
- Stuff the dryer sheets loosely into the tube. Pack them firmly enough to filter, but not so tight you cannot blow through.
- Cover one end with a fresh sheet and hold it on with the rubber band. This is the exhale-out end.
- Take your hit, hold it, then exhale slowly into the open end of the roll and let the smoke come out through the covered end.
Test it without smoke first. If you cannot blow air through it easily, loosen the sheets.
Design 2: The Plastic Bottle Sploof
Materials
- An empty plastic bottle with the cap on, label removed
- Dryer sheets
- A sharp tool to make holes, such as a nail or the point of scissors
Steps
- Poke several holes in the bottom of the bottle, or in the cap, with a nail or scissors. Do this carefully and cut away from your hand. Some guides use a lighter to melt holes. We recommend a sharp tool instead, because melting plastic releases fumes you do not want to breathe.
- Pack the bottle fully with dryer sheets.
- Exhale into the open mouth of the bottle. The smoke passes through the sheets and out of the holes.
Safety: Never Inhale Through a Sploof
This is the one rule that matters. Dryer sheets are made for laundry, not for breathing. Never inhale from the sploof, never use it as a pipe, and do not put any part of the filter material in your mouth. Keep the filter away from your lit bowl, joint or lighter: paper and fabric burn. Throw out the sheets after a few uses.
Also remember that smoke itself carries risks. The CDC says smoked cannabis can harm lung tissue and that its smoke contains many of the same toxins and irritants as tobacco smoke. A sploof protects the people around you from the smell, not you from the smoke.
Comparing Odor Control Options
| Option | What it does | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Toilet paper roll sploof | Filters exhaled smoke through scented sheets | Partial reduction; single use or a few uses |
| Bottle sploof | Same idea, sturdier | Needs holes made safely |
| Open window and fan | Moves smoke out of the room | Depends on weather and building layout |
| Vaporizer instead of smoking | No burning flower, less smoke | Still produces vapor and scent |
| Edibles | No smoke at all | Slower onset; see dosing first |
Getting More Out of a Sploof
- Exhale slowly. A gentle, steady breath gives the filter more time to work than a sharp blow.
- Seal the mouth end. Hold your lips or your hand around the open end so smoke goes through the filter, not around it.
- Use it near a window. Point the filtered end toward an open window and run a fan to push air outside.
- Keep ash and stubs in a closed container. Burned material smells long after the smoke clears.
- Air out afterward. Give the room time to ventilate and wash the fabrics that held the smell.
If you smoke often indoors, a sploof is a stopgap. Consider whether a vaporizer or an edible fits your situation better, and whether you can use somewhere that does not affect other people at all.
Use It Considerately and Legally
A sploof is a courtesy tool, not a way around rules. In Washington, public use is a civil infraction, as our Washington marijuana laws guide explains. Oregon has its own limits, covered in the Oregon guide. Many landlords and employers set their own rules on top of state law, and federal law still treats cannabis as illegal, which matters on federal property. Check your lease and local rules first. Our federal marijuana laws page covers where federal rules still apply.
Never smoke around children, pregnant people or anyone who has asked you not to. If the people in your home do not want smoke at all, an edible or a different location is the better choice. Keep any cannabis stored in a locked, childproof container; the CDC recommends this.
Sploof FAQ
What is a sploof?
A sploof is a homemade tube filled with dryer sheets or similar material. You exhale smoke through it to reduce smell and visible smoke.
Does a sploof really work?
It can reduce odor from your exhale, but not from the burning flower, your clothes or the room. We found no independent testing of DIY sploofs, so expect partial results.
Can you inhale through a sploof?
No. Dryer sheets are made for laundry and are not meant to be breathed. Only exhale into it.
How do you make a sploof without dryer sheets?
Some people use cotton cloth or other fabric in place of dryer sheets. Without a scent, though, the filter only traps particles and does not add fragrance. Do not use anything flammable near a flame.
How many times can you use a sploof?
Replace the filter material every few uses or when it smells like smoke. The cardboard version is cheap enough to make fresh.
Is a sploof legal?
The device is just a tube. What matters is where you use cannabis. Follow your state’s law, your lease and local rules.
For adults 21+ in legal states. General information, not medical advice.
