How Can I Get Rid of Smoke Odor from My Property?
After a fire, it can be a challenge to remove underlying smoke odors from the carpet, furniture and even walls. It is important to ventilate the area as much as possible, opening doors and windows. Fans directed to exhaust the air outdoors will also help to speed up the process. A deep cleaning of the entire home, including washing the walls, flooring and upholstery will go a long way to removing any lingering smoke odors.
Ventilate the Room to Remove Smoke Odors
Opening all doors and windows can exhaust the stale air that is further exacerbating the lingering odor. Strategically place fans, on a high speed, near an exterior door or window. This will get the odors exhausting quickly. You can also pull in fresh air from outdoors. Leave the fan running for at least fifteen minutes, continuing if the odor persists. While ventilating the property will help to reduce the smell, it is unlikely that it will remove it entirely.
Thoroughly Clean the Property After a Fire to Remove the Smell
The smell of smoke can cling to anything from carpeting and furniture to window coverings and walls long after the fire has been extinguished. The odor will be stronger for a larger fire and one that has burned for an extended time. To completely remove the smoke smell, it is important to thoroughly clean the area and its contents. This includes everything from furniture and curtains to windows and carpeting.
Clean any hard, non-porous surfaces with a mixture of warm water, dish soap and white vinegar. You can use this mixture to wipe down the walls, counters and cabinetry. Any floor that isn’t carpeted can also be cleaned with this same solution.
Upholstery and carpet can be particularly troublesome when it comes to lingering smoke odors. For these and other fabrics, sprinkle baking soda over the area and allow it to sit for several hours. You can then use a vacuum, containing a HEPA filter, to clean the material. The HEPA filter will prevent the smoke particles from being recirculated back into the room.
The DIY methods above may not work in all circumstances. It may be appropriate to call a disaster restoration professional to consult. Some fire and smoke damage is just too severe to deal with on your own.
The restoration team at Soil-Away offers a variety of approaches to remove any lingering smoke smells after a fire, including soft contents cleaning. If a fire damages your property, contact the experts at Soil-Away. Call 603-641-6555.
