Consider the last time you burned some popcorn or overcooked a dish in the oven. The lingering smells lasted for hours, maybe even days. Smoke residue sticks around long after a fire is out.
Removing smoke odor from any space following a fire is difficult and requires more than just some fresh air or scented candles. To guarantee the smoke smells are truly gone, the cleanup procedure must be carried outin steps and “ preferably “ considering eco-friendly solutions.
Professionals use Thermal foggingor steaming to get rid of smoke smells.
You also have several alternatives, depending on the level of smoke and severity of smell. These are very effective, but time consuming and labor intensive, so you may want to consider hiring a professional cleaning service to do it.
To clear the smoke smell out of clothes after a fire – Add one cup of vinegar and one cup of baking soda straight into the washer and wash clothes normally. Before drying, wash clothes again using your regular laundry detergent.
To get rid of smoke smell penetrated on your walls – Make a cleaning solution with one gallon of hot water, three tablespoons of dish soap, and a half cup of baking soda. Use a rag to scrub the walls with this solution. Work in small sections, and dry each area of the wall with a cloth right afterward to prevent the drywall from becoming saturated.
If the smoke left stains on your walls, upholstery, or other hard surfaces – Mix equal parts white vinegar and water and apply directly to any stained area.Let stand for 10 minutes, then rinse away.Repeat the process several times until the odor disappears. If you follow this process for upholstery, you may also want to steam those areas and make sure you air them well.
If you can’t stand the smell of vinegar, try mixing a bit of lavender oil into the bowls to help cut the odor of the vinegar.
Finally, sprinkling either baking soda, or activated charcoal powder, can remove smoke and mildew smells. Place the mix in an open bowl, away from the reach of children or pets, and place them in corners (and center, if possible) of the affected areas. Replace the mix every 4-7 days, until the smell is gone.