How to Get Rid of Smoke Smell in a House After a Fire

Smoke smell lingers because smoke isn't just a smell. It's fine soot and residue that coats walls, ceilings, carpet, furniture and the inside of air ducts, and it keeps giving off odor until it's cleaned away. That's why candles and air fresheners never seem to work. If the fire left soot through several rooms or water damage from firefighting, ReestorianPros can connect you with a local provider for fire and smoke damage restoration in Littleton.

This is general information. Don't re-enter a fire-damaged home until officials say it's safe.

Why does smoke smell linger after a fire?

• Soot is oily and fine. It settles into textured walls, popcorn ceilings, grout and wood grain.
• Fabrics absorb it. Carpet, curtains, upholstery, mattresses and clothing hold odor deep in their fibers.
• Air ducts spread it. If the HVAC ran during or after the fire, it carried smoke through the whole house.
• Porous materials hold it. Drywall, insulation and unfinished wood absorb odor, especially once they've been soaked by firefighting water.
• Different fires leave different residue. Fast, hot fires leave dry, powdery soot. Smoldering fires, and many kitchen fires, leave greasy residue that smears.

How to get smoke smell out of a house: step by step

• Make sure it's safe. Wait until the fire department or building officials clear the home, and check that gas and electrical service are safe.
• Ventilate. Open windows and run fans to push air out when the weather is dry.
• Remove burned debris. Los Angeles County Public Health advises removing burned debris to reduce odor.
• Protect yourself. Wear gloves, long sleeves and pants, and an N95 mask if you can, as the same guidance recommends.
• Clean surfaces from the floor up. The Red Cross advises washing walls one small area at a time, working from the floor up to avoid streaks, and doing ceilings last.
• Clean or remove fabrics. Wash what's washable, send dry-clean items to a cleaner, and discard items that can't be cleaned.
• Deal with the HVAC. Change the filters and have the ducts cleaned if smoke went through them.
• Dry everything. Use dehumidifiers where firefighting water soaked materials.
• Repaint last. The Red Cross says not to repaint until everything is completely dry.

How to clean soot from walls and ceilings

The right method depends on what kind of soot you have. Los Angeles County Public Health explains:

The Red Cross adds that a mild soap or detergent, or a mixture of tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) and household cleaner, can remove soot from walls, furniture and floors. TSP is caustic, so wear rubber gloves, follow the label and keep it away from children and pets.

Don't touch soot during your first walk-through, since your hands spread it to clean surfaces.

How do you get smoke smell out of furniture, carpet and clothes?

Upholstery and curtains

Vacuum with a strong vacuum, holding the nozzle just above the surface. Los Angeles County Public Health says to avoid upright vacuums and attachments with brushes or beater bars, which can push soot deeper. Don't machine wash drapes or fabrics that need dry cleaning.

Clothes and bedding

The same guidance suggests soaking clothes and bedding overnight with detergent, then washing them as usual, with laundry bleach for items that can take it. The Red Cross notes that products with TSP can reduce odors in fabrics, and that washing in cold water with detergent and a tablespoon of pure vanilla extract has also been used for smoke odor.

Carpet and pad

Light smoke odor in carpet may come out with professional cleaning. Carpet that was soaked by firefighting water, or that smells strongly after cleaning, often has to be replaced, along with the pad.

What shouldn't you use to remove smoke smell?

• Don't use deodorizer sprays to cover the smell. Los Angeles County Public Health says deodorants only mask odors.
• Don't run an ozone generator in an occupied home. The EPA says ozone can damage the lungs and, at levels safe for people, has little ability to remove indoor air pollutants. High ozone levels are sometimes used in unoccupied spaces during fire restoration, with controls so no person or pet is exposed.
• Don't mix cleaning chemicals. The Red Cross warns that some combinations create toxic fumes.
• Don't turn on electrical appliances that were near the fire, or ceiling fixtures if the ceiling is wet, until they've been checked.
• Don't run the HVAC with old filters still in it.

When does smoke damage need a professional?

Odor that remains after cleaning usually means soot or smoke is still in a place you can't reach: inside walls, in insulation, in ductwork or deep in porous materials. Professional fire damage providers use methods such as:

• HEPA vacuuming and specialized soot sponges on ceilings and walls
• Cleaning and deodorizing ductwork
• Removing and replacing smoke-saturated drywall, insulation and carpet
• Sealing cleaned surfaces with an odor-blocking primer before repainting
• Thermal fogging or hydroxyl treatments, and ozone only in empty, controlled spaces
• Contents cleaning, also called pack-out, for furniture, clothing and belongings

Fires also leave water damage. The Red Cross advises having a professional assess drywall and insulation soaked by fire hoses, since they may not dry out safely.

Insurance and smoke damage

Smoke damage from a covered fire is usually handled as part of the fire claim, but policies differ. The Red Cross advises contacting your insurance agent, photographing the damage and not throwing away damaged items until an inventory has been taken. Keep receipts for cleaning supplies, lodging and temporary repairs.

How to keep smoke odor from coming back

Smoke smell that returns weeks later usually means some residue was missed. To keep it from coming back:

• Change HVAC filters again after cleaning is done, and keep checking them for the first few months.
• Have the ductwork inspected if the system ran during or after the fire.
• Clean from the top down and the floor up, including inside closets, cabinets and light fixtures, so no soot is left to give off odor.
• Don't paint over residue. Clean surfaces first, then use a stain- and odor-blocking primer if a provider recommends it.
• Keep windows closed and filters fresh on heavy wildfire smoke days, so outside smoke doesn't add new odor.

Smoke odor in Colorado homes

Littleton-area homes deal with two kinds of smoke. The first is from a fire inside the home, often in the kitchen, that leaves greasy residue in one area and odor through the ductwork. The second is wildfire smoke drifting into the metro area, which can leave a lighter film and odor, especially in homes with open windows or older filters. The cleaning steps are similar: remove the residue, change filters and clean what absorbed the smell.

Related reading: Firefighting water is still water damage, so see Category 1, 2 and 3 water for how it's classified, and the signs of hidden water damage to look for once the smoke is gone.

When should you call a fire damage professional?

Call a professional when:

• Soot covers more than one room, or the HVAC ran during the fire
• The smell comes back after you've cleaned
• Firefighting water soaked drywall, insulation or carpet
• Anyone in the home has asthma or other breathing problems
• You need documentation and a scope of work for an insurance claim

Smoke smell after a fire in Littleton? Call (303) 879-0950 to reach a local fire damage provider.