Getting to Know the Problem
One of the hardest and most common smells to get rid of in a home is smoke. Smoke particles are very small and can get deep into fabrics, carpets, walls, and even ductwork. They can come from cigarettes, a kitchen accident, or a fireplace. The smell stays because these tiny particles settle into porous surfaces and keep giving off smell over time. This helps explain why air fresheners alone won’t fix the problem; you need to actually get rid of or neutralize the smoke particles.
Get some air flow right away
Opening all the windows and doors to let in fresh air is the first and most important step in getting rid of the smell of smoke. Fresh air circulation helps spread out smoke particles and keeps them from settling deeper into the surfaces of your home. If the weather is nice, leave the windows open for a few hours or even days. Place fans in windows to push smoky air out and pull in fresh air from other openings. This is where box fans really shine. If you have an HVAC system, change the air filter right away. It probably has smoke particles trapped in it that will keep spreading the smell throughout your home.
Clean All Surfaces Thoroughly
Every surface in your home has smoke residue on it, so you need to clean it well. Use a mix of warm water and vinegar or a store-bought degreaser to clean all hard surfaces first. This includes walls, ceilings, floors, countertops, and furniture. Vinegar works really well because its acidity helps break down smoke particles. Don’t forget to clean places that people often forget, like light fixtures, ceiling fan blades, window sills, and door frames. To keep streaks from forming, start at the top and work your way down. You might have to clean surfaces more than once, and in very bad cases of smoke damage, you might have to repaint the walls with a primer that seals in smells.
Talk about fabrics and textiles
Because they are porous, fabrics attract the smell of smoke. Take down all the curtains, throw pillows, blankets, and removable furniture covers. Then, wash them in hot water with a cup of white vinegar added to the wash cycle. If you can’t wash something in a machine, you might want to steam clean it or take it to a professional cleaner. You should vacuum upholstered furniture very well with an upholstery attachment, then use a fabric refresher or baking soda to clean it, let it sit for a few hours, and vacuum it again. Mattresses often smell like smoke, so they should get the same baking soda treatment. If you can, leave fabrics outside in direct sunlight for a day. UV rays naturally help break down odor molecules.
Get rid of or clean carpets and rugs
Carpets and rugs are hard to deodorize because they trap smoke particles deep in their fibers and padding. First, vacuum the area well, using a vacuum with a HEPA filter if you can. Then, cover the whole carpet with a lot of baking soda and let it sit for at least 24 hours before vacuuming it again. If the smells are still there, rent or hire a professional carpet steam cleaner and use a cleaning solution made just for getting rid of odors. If there is a lot of smoke damage, you might have to replace the carpet padding underneath. This is because it can hold smells even after the carpet surface is clean. Taking area rugs outside, beating them to get rid of dirt, and cleaning them the same way as before can often make them easier to clean.
Use things that naturally soak up smells
Some things around the house naturally absorb smells instead of just covering them up. Putting bowls of white vinegar around the house will help get rid of the smell of smoke over the course of a few days. Just remember to change them every day. Another strong odor absorber is activated charcoal. Put bags or bowls of it in the rooms and closets that smell bad. You can open boxes of baking soda and put them in smaller places like cabinets and drawers. Coffee grounds can absorb smoke smells well while also adding their own smell. To get rid of odors and make your home smell good, simmer a pot of water with lemon slices, cinnamon sticks, and cloves on the stove for an hour or two.
Cleaning the HVAC System and Ductwork
If you don’t deal with it right away, your heating and cooling system can spread the smell of smoke throughout your whole house. Replace all of the air filters with high-quality ones, and if possible, use activated charcoal to help with odor control. If you smoke, think about having your air ducts cleaned by a professional. Smoke particles can build up in ductwork and keep giving off bad smells for months. If you can’t afford to hire someone to clean your vents, at least vacuum out the covers and as far into the ducts as you can reach. If you run the HVAC system on fan-only mode and open the windows, you can help push dirty air out of the ductwork.
Don’t forget about places that are hard to see
You might not think of these places right away, but smoke particles settle there. Look inside cabinets, drawers, and closets and clean them. Clean the inside of your microwave, oven, and refrigerator. Books can even get smoke in them, so think about airing them out or putting them in sealed containers with things that soak up smells. You can also find smoke residue on light bulbs. To clean them, turn off the power and wipe them down with a wet cloth. Check your attic and basement because they often don’t get enough air and can smell like smoke long after you’ve cleaned the main living areas.
Think about getting professional help
If you’ve tried these things and the smell of smoke is still there, it might be time to call in the pros. Ozone generators can get rid of the smell of smoke, but you have to be careful when using them in empty rooms because breathing in ozone can be bad for your health. Companies that do professional restoration have the right tools and know-how to deal with serious smoke damage. They can do thermal fogging, which uses a heated chemical solution that gets into surfaces like smoke does and gets rid of smells at their source. Professional services can be costly, but they might be necessary if your home has a lot of smoke damage or if you’re getting it ready to sell.
Preventing for the Future
After getting rid of the smell of smoke, do what you can to keep it from coming back. If smoking was the cause, make rules that say people can only smoke outside. Even in the winter, you should regularly open a window for a few minutes every day to let air flow through your home. Every one to three months, change the filters in your HVAC system. When cooking foods that make smoke, use exhaust fans. Also, make sure your fireplace has good airflow and is cleaned often. Keeping the air inside your home clean will make it much easier to deal with any smell problems that come up in the future before they get too deep into your home’s surfaces.