Whether your home is experiencing lingering smoke odors after a recent fire or from a nearby wildfire, it's a difficult problem you need to address.If your home has suffered smoke damage and has a lingering odor, you might need professional smoke odor removal services. Before you call in the pros, here are three tips to decrease the smell.

How to Remove Smoke Odor

1. Air Out Your Home

The first step in smoke odor removal is to air out your home. Open all of your windows and doors, removing whatever screens you can, to create as much airflow as possible. Strategically placing fans throughout your house will also bring in as much fresh air as possible.

For a boost in freshness, place odor absorbing materials such as vinegar, kitty litter, and baking soda around your home. This will help to absorb the smoky air as it circulates through your house.

2. Clean All Surfaces

Cleaning all of the surfaces in your home is necessary to get rid of the smoke odor in your home. Use a mild soap to clean hard surfaces like your walls, countertops, and cabinets. For materials that can’t get wet, you will need to use a soot sponge to remove the smell of smoke.

If you have carpeting throughout your house, you’ll need to do a deep carpet cleaning to help remove the odor. You can rent a carpet shampooer or hire a company for carpet cleaning services to penetrate your carpet’s fibers and remove the smoke particles.

3. Steam Clean Your Furniture

If the smoke was severe enough, it will have gotten into your furniture as well. One way to remove the smell from items like your couch or curtains is to use a steam cleaner. Steam cleaning with a deodorizing shampoo is excellent for smoke odor removal as it absorbs whatever odors have gotten into your furniture.  

 

Even if you follow all of these steps, the smell of smoke could still permeate your home. For professional smoke odor removal, call the experts at A-1 Cleaning & Restoration in Red Wing, MN. Their fire damage restoration team has over 30 years of combined experience, and they specialize in smoke odor elimination. Learn more by calling (651) 385-8442 or by visiting them online.