Odors are a part of everyday life. From cooking to cleaning to simply being outside in nature, people encounter various smells on a daily basis. Not all smells are pleasing to come across, though.
Smoke, for example, is not only unsightly, but it also produces a strong odor. When smoke is present, its particles will become absorbed by porous building materials, furnishings, and surfaces. Examples of such include clothing, carpeting, and even walls. This allows the smoke odor to linger well after the smoke has left the area, so you may be dealing with the stubborn smell for a while.
In some situations, you may simply deal with the smell by spraying some air freshener. While this can help ease smoke odors, it is not enough to remove them. The odor needs to be treated below the surface of affected materials because the smoke odor particles were absorbed.
If you have lingering smoke odors at home, then use the following information as a guide to help with your smoke odor removal efforts.
Products that Help with Smoke Odor Removal
- Activated Charcoal
Activated charcoal naturally absorbs odors, so you can use it to help remove smoke odors in your property. Just place bowls of activated charcoal throughout the affected area and it will help absorb some of the lingering odor particles.
- Baking Soda
Similar to activated charcoal, baking soda is also a natural odor absorbent. Place bowls of baking soda around the affected areas to cut down on the smoke odors. Additionally, you can sprinkle the baking soda directly onto affected materials, such as furniture and carpeting.
- Vinegar
White vinegar can also help eliminate odors naturally. You can use it to wipe down affected walls, furniture, flooring, and more. Filling bowls with white vinegar and leaving them out can also help, but it might be an option some people prefer to avoid due to its own smell. You can add a bit of lavender oil to the bowls of vinegar to combat its strong smell.
Wash and Clean Affected Items
Fabrics and Soft Furnishings
Fabrics and upholstery tend to suffer more harm from smoke than hard surfaces because they absorb the smoke odors more easily. Because of this, you may want to start the cleaning efforts with these items. Gather clothing, curtains, blankets, bed sheets, tapestries, and other affected fabrics. Thoroughly launder them in the washing machine or using the manufacturer’s recommended method.
Carpet Cleaning
Your carpet will also need to be cleaned to rid it of smoke odors. However, you cannot simply throw it in the washing machine like you can with clothes, curtains, and even area rugs. What you can do is shampoo it and use a steam cleaner to wash the carpet. If you are unwilling or unable to access a steam cleaner and wash the carpet yourself, then you can also reach out to a professional to address your carpet deodorization and cleaning needs.
Glass and Mirrors
When smoke affects mirrors and other glass objects, it can leave behind soot and tar. Clean them off by washing with a standard window cleaner or a mixture of 1-part warm water and 1-part vinegar.
If you are going to use a cleaner, make sure to follow the provided instructions and test it on a small section first to determine its effectiveness. Afterwards, rinse the surface down with clean water.
Ceilings and Walls
Cleaning affected ceilings and walls will help with smoke odor removal and deodorization efforts. Use mild soap and water or another appropriate cleaner to wash the walls, cutting down on the amount of smoke particles present.
Air Out the Property
If weather permits, open windows and exterior doors. This airs out your property, allowing fresh air to circulate the area and replace the smoke odors. Set up and turn on electric fans to improve the air circulation and speed up the process.
Get Professional Smoke Odor Removal and Deodorization Help
No one wants to have smoke odors overtake their home or property, but it can be a lot of work to conduct proper deodorization to eliminate the smells. Whether you are unequipped or unable to do smoke odor removal on your own, there are professional services available to help you out during your time of need.
Smoke odor removal and deodorization professionals have the necessary knowledge and equipment to effectively remove smoke odors from your residential or commercial property.
Professional Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration Services
If your home or business is the site of a fire, then you need to seek immediate help. The flames themselves will cause severe damage, but the harm from the smoke cannot be overlooked. In fact, the damage from smoke, soot, and other aftereffects is often worse than the initial damage from the fire itself. Knowing this, do not hesitate to get help for the smoke odors lingering in your property.
With help from professional fire and smoke damage restoration services, technicians will assess the fire and smoke damage, clean the smoke and soot damage, conduct smoke odor removal, and restore/repair the damage. You can trust that the smoke odors will be thoroughly eliminated from your property.
