How to Remove the Smoke Smell after a Fire
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Smoke can be an invisible yet powerful reminder that a fire has occurred within a structure. Most people don't realize that thick smoke won't just go away over time. Once it absorbs into the walls, floors, decor, and furniture, it can stay for decades and leave behind an unpleasant odor that cannot be covered by aerosol sprays or basic cleaning. To truly remove smoke, it's crucial to do an in-depth clean that eliminates the smell from the fibers of the material. While this can be meticulous, it's a crucial part of the cleaning process after a fire.
Factors that Affect Smoke Odor Removal
Removing smoke from the inside of a home after a fire is a process that normally doesn't change. However, there are a few exceptions that can impact what it takes to complete the removal process. By taking these into account you can better understand what cleaning may be like and why prices vary for each home and business.
Materials Burned
All materials throughout your home will behave differently when smoke and soot reach them. For harder materials, including wood and paint, this can mean discoloration and impossible-to-remove stains. For soft furniture, this can cause staining, hardening, and a bad odor. When it comes to materials such as metal tables or decor, they can rust and deteriorate due to the acidic nature of soot.
Size of the Room
Smaller rooms are typically less time-consuming to clean because there's less square footage involved. The cleaning procedures for larger rooms will take more time when there are multiple rooms or large spaces to cover.
Time Elapse Since Fire
It's important to begin cleaning up smoke after a fire as soon as it is possible and safe to do so. Waiting can result in discoloration, rust, and increased damage as the smoke and soot particles seep into the impacted materials.
Fire Size
Larger fires release more soot and smoke into the air, which means increased cleaning procedures will be necessary.
The factors listed above can impact the time and effort it takes to clean smoke damage after a fire. In turn, this can increase the cost of services to remove the smoke and damaged areas. At Action 1 Restoration, we want you to know we are here to help. We connect you with the best professionals in the area who you can trust charge you fair prices for quality work done right.
You may be wondering if there is anything you can do about the smoke smell. There are a few things that you can do but I'm going to focus on the first one first.
Wood Vinegar
There is a wood vinegar that you can put on the area where the fire is in an attempt to cover up the smell. You don't want to go overboard with this though. Make sure that you don't use too much so that you don't get a burning smell.
You can also try to put some lemon or orange juice in an attempt to cover up the smoke odor. You can usually find a good amount of them in the kitchen, so it should be easy to make up a cup or two.
Aerosol
If you're using an aerosol, you can try using a spray bottle that contains either baking soda or white vinegar. These will work well. You may want to try using some paper towels as well to help soak up the smells and prevent them from coming back.
Baking Soda
If you really want to get rid of the smell for good, you may want to use baking soda. This is one of the simplest ways to get rid of the smell as it will just coat up the area. You want to use a sponge and a cloth to help remove as much of the smell as possible.
If you don't have the space for a large area, you can take a small piece of paper and use it as a mask. Just make sure that it's waterproof. You can use anything to put on the paper including a towel or a paper bag.
Hopefully you've learned something today about how to remove the smoke smell after a fire. No matter what you do, you don't want to be without the proper protection. You can find many products that will make it much easier to deal with your fire and keep the smoke and odors away.
Important things to know
Once the smoke smell has been removed, it will be important to make sure that there are no leaks in your home. You may have to hire an electrician if you have electrical damage in the area. You'll need to make sure that there are no dryer vents where the smoke can go out and come back into your home.
Make sure that there are no cracks where the wood has fallen or broken. This will allow the smoke to escape. make sure that the areas around the house are completely safe.
Make sure that you check on the heating system and make sure that everything is working properly. If you find that it's not, you may have to replace some of the ductwork or run pipes. There are different types of fires and different things that can cause a problem with these so make sure you check on your fire safety plan.
Make sure you keep any firewood stored away from your home. It can sometimes be difficult to keep up with all the firewood that needs to be put out. You also want to make sure that you have enough water for the entire house and a way to keep the flue from blowing out.
If you still have the fireplace open, make sure you have some type of way to protect yourself from the fire pit. You don't want to risk being burned by the smoke.
How Our 6 Step Fire Restoration Process Works
Getting the Smoke Smell Out
If you recently experienced a fire in your home or business, you may want to get started on odor removal right away. This is understandable, as the smell can be unbearable after the flames have been doused. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to get started. By doing so, you will be one step closer to restoring your space and making it safe to live in once again.
Step 1. Clean by Area
Smoke can infiltrate every area of your home or business, including those that were not touched by the flames. To make cleanup easier on yourself, it's recommended to go room-by-room. By marking off each room as you finish it, you'll know how much work you have left. While it's best to leave the work to professionals, cleaning in the meantime may help to minimize damage.
Step 2. Remove Clothing and Furniture
In each room, you should anticipate deep cleaning with attention to detail. Begin by removing all clothing, curtains, rugs, soft furniture, and upholstery that will need to be washed. If you don't have the tools to clean larger pieces of furniture or area rugs, ask professionals for help. Carpet may need special care by professionals as well, especially if there are areas with heavy soot and smoke discoloration.
Tip: Inspect any pieces you put in your washing machine at home. If you notice soot or oily materials, you may want to throw these away so they don't damage your washer and dryer.
Step 3. Clean Hard Surfaces
Although hard surfaces may not look like they absorb smoke, they certainly can. Tackle baseboards, painted surfaces, doors, cabinets, hard furniture, and countertops with baking soda and water. You can also leave bowls of baking soda around the room to help absorb smoke as you clean these surfaces.
Step 4. Sweep Debris
Debris on the ground should be swept away rather than vacuumed since the oils in soot can cause damage to the filter and suction in the vacuum. Large debris should be thrown away as soon as possible because they can release smoke into the air as long as they are in the space.
Step 5. Repair and Repaint
Once the room has been cleaned and deodorized, you must repair and repaint damaged areas. Paint colors can be matched at most home improvement stores, although a fresh coat of a different paint color may help bring new life to a room.
Cleaning up odor after a fire has occurred can be stressful and difficult if you don't have the right tools. Don't go through this alone. You can rely on Action 1 Restoration to help you when you need it the most. We'll connect you with our local fire damage restoration experts who will treat your property with care and do every step of the odor removal process the right way. Our priority is to help make your life easier as you navigate what can be a stressful experience.
