How to Get Smoke Smell Out of a House Fast After a Wildfire or House Fire
Breathe easier with these smoke smell removal tips
If you live in an area with significant wildfire risk or have experienced a home fire before, you may know how overpowering the smell of smoke can be—especially when it gets into your home. Unfortunately, getting rid of that unwanted smoky scent isn’t always easy, but there are ways to do it. In this guide, we’ll explain how to get the smoke smell out of a house so you can breathe easily once again.
Why You Should Remove the Smell of Smoke From Your House
Whether it’s from a house fire or wildfire, the smell of smoke is often difficult to remove from your house. Not only is the scent unpleasant and irritating, but it might also impact your health, giving you headaches and making you feel nauseous.
Even if the smell doesn’t bother you, it might be a deal-breaker for a prospective homebuyer if you ever put your house up for sale. Getting rid of it will help you avoid potentially awkward conversations and make your home more attractive on the market.
How to Get Smoke Odor Out of Your Home
If the smell of smoke is lingering in your home, these strategies may help you get it out. Keep in mind, though, that smoky scents can be tough to remove, and you may need to try a couple of different tactics to get rid of them for good.
Air Out Your House
Before you start cleaning your belongings, open up your doors and windows to let some fresh air circulate throughout your home. To speed up the process, you can also set up fans in front of your windows with the blades pointed outward to push the smoke smell outside.
Deep Clean Upholstered Furniture
After a fire, fabric is notorious for trapping odors because it absorbs the tiny particles in smoke. Begin the cleaning process by vacuuming your upholstered couches and chairs thoroughly, using the upholstery attachment on your vacuum. Then, sprinkle baking soda onto them and let it sit for 24 hours. After a day has passed, vacuum again. Repeat these steps one more time.
If your furniture has removable covers, check the label’s cleaning instructions. If it’s safe to do so, wash them in cold water with a cup of white vinegar. Let them dry completely (ideally outside) before misting them with a smell-eliminating spray that contains cyclodextrin, which pulls odor molecules out of your fabric.
Clean the Floors
Like upholstery, carpets and rugs also collect smoke smells easily. To get rid of the odor, add a layer of baking soda on top of them, then leave it for at least a couple of hours (or, if possible, overnight). Afterward, clear away the baking soda with your vacuum’s upholstery attachment.
If you have wood floors, you may be able to remove the smoke smell by mopping them with a mixture of warm water and mild soap.
Wipe Down Hard Surfaces
Smoke particles don’t just get into fabric and carpets; they stick to hard surfaces as well. But when it comes to cleaning your walls, ceilings, and cabinets, you’ll need a slightly different strategy to remove the smoke smell.
For these types of surfaces, cleaning with white vinegar will be your best bet. Not only does vinegar’s acidity neutralize smoke particles, but it’s also a cost-effective and all-natural way to clean your home. Put on some rubber cleaning gloves and a face mask. Start by combining one part white vinegar and three parts water, then use the mixture to wipe down the firm surfaces around your home. You can also use this mixture on leather furniture, windows, and blinds.
Steam Clean
If these methods don’t get the smell of smoke out of your soft or hard surfaces, you can try steaming them. Steam breaks down the tar and resin that come from smoke, helping lift the scent out of your carpets, furnishings, walls, and floors.
You can rent a steam cleaner and tackle this project on your own, or you can hire a pro to do it for you. If you want to handle it yourself, read the steamer’s guidelines carefully to prevent damaging your home and personal items. You should also avoid steaming delicate fabrics, drywall, and unsealed wood or stone.
Swap Out Your HVAC Filters
In addition to cleaning your surfaces and belongings, it’s a good idea to change the filters in your home’s heating and cooling system. After a fire, these filters can trap smoke particles, so swapping them out will help clean air move more easily through your house.
If your unit is compatible, choose a high-efficiency particulate (HEPA) air filter. These advanced filters are better at trapping particles and can improve your overall indoor air quality.
More Tips for Dealing With the Smell of Smoke in Your House
Aside from these tactics, there are a few other things to try to make your house smell less smoky. Here are a few ideas.
Use activated charcoal to soak up smoke smells: Activated charcoal naturally absorbs odor, and you can use it around your house to reduce the scent of smoke. It often comes in small bags, which you can hang in different rooms of your home. Otherwise, you can pick up loose activated charcoal and pour it into bowls to place around your house.
Add a new coat of paint: Sometimes, cleaning your walls just isn’t enough because smoke can get into the paint. If this happens, you may need to repaint your walls. Just make sure that they’re completely dry first. Then, you can prime and paint.
For unrelenting scents, call in a pro: If you aren’t having much luck removing smoke smells on your own, reach out to a local smoke restoration company. As experts in the field, they know how to get stubborn scents out of your home and have access to professional equipment and supplies that you may not be able to get.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
The cost of smoke removal varies quite a bit, depending on how heavy the scent is and which methods you choose. You’ll save money by doing it yourself, but just be aware that DIY solutions aren’t always effective. In some cases, you may need to hire an expert who understands how to get smoke smell out of the house professionally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Washing your walls isn’t guaranteed to get rid of a smoke smell in your home, but it can help. The best way to do it is by using a homemade white vinegar solution and wiping down the walls with a clean sponge or rag, working your way down from the top.
Yes, a bowl of vinegar can absorb smoke. If you want to use this method to reduce the smoke smell in your house, all you have to do is leave a bowl (or multiple bowls) of white vinegar out overnight. Alternatively, you can use bowls of baking soda, coffee grounds, or activated charcoal.