Eliminate Smoke Odor Post-Fire Once and For All

5/17/2018 (Permalink)

Burned end table after a home fire.

Odor Remediation in Watertown, NY

Dealing with a house fire may be one of the worst things you have to go through as a homeowner, so when the Watertown, NY, fire damage restoration team has come and gone, it can be like a breath of fresh air. Or is it? Unfortunately, you may notice some residual effects of the fire long after the last technician has packed his or her bags and left your home. One such effect is a smoke odor. The good news is that cleaning up smoke damage doesn’t have to be difficult, especially when you implement a few tried and true smoke cleaning tips:

• Air out your home.
• Replace the air filter.
• Clean the HVAC system.
• Deep clean your home.

Air Out Your Home

The best thing you can do to reduce the risk of a linger smoke smells or to get rid of embedded odors is to air out your home. Open the windows and doors if it’s nice outside and turn on the fans. If it’s cold outside, you may need to face a fan inwards to force air into a single room with an open window or door.

Replace Your Air System’s Filter

You can deep clean your home as thoroughly as possible, but if you turn on an HVAC system that’s filter is contaminated with soot and odors, all your smoke cleaning efforts will have been for naught. Replacing the filter is a quick, affordable and efficient way to reduce the risk of lingering smoke smells.

Clean Your HVAC System

Smoke can permeate duct work and linger in the HVAC system, just waiting for the moment that you turn it on. Make sure that your system blows nothing but clean air by thoroughly cleaning within it.

Deep Clean Your Home

This final step may be the most difficult, but it is the most important. Steam clean your carpets, furniture and draperies. Wipe down any solid surfaces with white vinegar, dish soap and warm water. Finally, wash any windows, screens and shades to ensure that a cool breeze doesn’t turn into an odor-infested one.