How to Get the Smoke Smell Out of Your House

Smoke, whether it comes from flames in your home, cigarettes, an appliance malfunction, an electrical problem, or wildfire, can leave behind odors that are hard to get rid of. For most people, these smells are very unpleasant. They can cause irritation and leave one with a headache or nausea. All the while, microscopic smoke particles can cling to walls, floors, furniture, clothing, books, and just about any other surface. But here we’ll discuss how to get the smoke smell out of your house for good.

 General Cleaning Tips

At the onset of smoke odors, open all windows and doors to air out your house. This will let smoke particles escape and can help kill bacteria and other germs. Turn on any fan you have. This includes exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom; if you have box fans in windows, face them outward to allow cross-ventilation from outside.

Now comes the fun part—physically cleaning out your house. This can be a tedious, time-consuming process, but well worth it in the long run. These are some important steps to take:

• Vacuum: Start with the carpet and move on to rugs, curtains, floors, and mattresses. When vacuuming furniture, make sure to get under cushions and underneath the furniture itself. Also, sweep and mop wherever odors are coming from or where you find soot and dust. If vacuuming doesn’t remove smoke smells from carpets, hire a steam cleaning service.
• Wash/Disinfect Interior Walls and Hard Surfaces: Mild soap is recommended, but depending on the item and material, follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for cleaning products and solutions to use. Thoroughly clean the inside of closets as well as cabinets and drawers. Be sure to wash and dust household items, no matter how small.
• Wash and Scrub Exterior Surfaces: Smoke particles stick to outside surfaces just as easily, and can migrate inside. Thoroughly wash all exterior walls, walks, decks, windows, deck screens, and walking surfaces.
• Use Deodorizers: Deodorizing sprays can be used for upholstery and window treatments made of fabric. However, avoid using odor-masking sprays as they won’t neutralize the particles.
• Clean Up Aerial Fire Retardant/Firefighting Foam: Use a mild detergent to scrub any residue present on your house or vehicle. The detergent should dilute dried residue so you can rinse it away; rinse with clean water and, if necessary, follow up with pressure washing.
• Schedule Professional HVAC Cleaning: Smoke residue, soot, and ash can easily travel through ductwork and into heating and cooling equipment. Contact an HVAC professional to change the filters and use the right tools and machinery to decontaminate the system.

Effective Smoke Odor Cleaning Solutions

There are a few readily available options for eliminating smoke odors, including:

Baking Soda

Sodium bicarbonate absorbs odors effectively, despite being odorless itself. To use baking soda, sprinkle it on the affected surface and let it sit for 20 minutes or more. For rugs, carpets, sofas, chairs, and other upholstery-covered furniture, wait at least two hours or let it sit overnight. In a car, let the baking soda sit for at least 24 hours.

Baking soda will also work for clothing, books, and decorative items. You wouldn’t put these in a washing machine or use other washing methods. Rather, place them in a large plastic trash bag and pour in a ½ cup of baking soda; then tie the bag closed. Wait about 8 hours and then take out each item, shaking off the powder as you go.

Vinegar

For walls, ceilings, and kitchen countertops and cabinets, just spread the vinegar around and let it dry. Vinegar and baking soda can be combined to spray onto fabrics, such as carpets and curtains. To deodorize bedding, slipcovers, towels, linens, etc., add some apple cider vinegar to laundry detergent. White vinegar is effective for washable walls, floors, and other surfaces.

Another option is to place bowls of vinegar around smoke-damaged rooms for a few days. For some, the vinegar odor is too much. Mixing some lavender oil with vinegar can reduce the intensity. For faster deodorizing, place some vinegar in a saucepan and let it simmer on the stove for a couple of hours.

Activated Charcoal

The charcoal you use to barbeque can absorb smoky odors. Place it in bowls around the house. The carbon molecules and porosity of activated charcoal allow it to absorb odors. Better yet, activated charcoal products are readily available at most home improvement stores.

Ozone Generators

Although not the cheapest option, an ozone generator can eliminate smoke odor so long as the particles haven’t permeated carpets and furnishings. But even then, it can be reduced somewhat.

Air Purifiers

An air purifier, especially one with activated carbon and a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, can eliminate odors from heavy smoke, such as that from wildfires. Air purifiers are designed to remove particulate matter. However, they’re not as effective with gaseous pollutants as those in cigarette smoke.