Smoke smell in the house is tough to eliminate if it has been there for a long time. It may come from a fresh fire, cigarette smoke, or even from cooking, and can become absorbed very deeply by furniture, carpets, fabrics, and even the air. The smoke particles are microscopic, which makes it challenging to eliminate them. However, through the correct methods and hard work, it can restore the fresh clean scent of your house. Eradication of smoke odor through cleaning, purification of air, and neutralization as different surfaces and materials absorb the smell. Therefore, through these methods, you will effectively remove the smoke odors in your home for a healthier and pleasanter living place.
13 Ways to get rid of smoke smell
01. Ventilate the area
Open the airways of your house to improve air circulation in the whole area. Place fans in an outward direction to remove the smell faster. Cross ventilation will help a lot to remove the smell in a quick way. It also gives exposure to fresh air in the anterior of the house.
02. Clean walls
Clean walls with the help of wet cloth. Add some shampoo or soap in it, this technique will help you a lot to remove the smell in a faster way. Or you can add 1 tablespoon of baking soda to the water and rub the walls with this mixture. After that rinse your wall with simple tap water.
03. Clean windows
Add vinegar to water and clean windows with the help of a sponge through this mixture. Remove the extra dirt from the windows. After that, just rub it off with a dry sponge to remove any watermarks.
04. Clean rugs
Sprinkle some baking soda on the rugs. Let it set for an hour. Clean off the rug with the help of a vacuum cleaner. Do not remove all the baking soda in one go. Wait for at least 8 hours and after that clean that rug deeply. It will remove all the smell from the floor.
05. Clean furniture
Wipe out all the furniture with a small amount of baking soda. Do not use a lot of water. Just use dry baking soda. And wipe it off with a damp sponge.
06. Use active charcoal
Activated charcoals are great at absorbing odors—place bowls of active charcoals at each corner of houses. You can also use odorban for this purpose.
07. Air purifiers
Opt for a good air purifier. They are used to remove smoke and dust particles from the air. Air purifiers can work hours to days without any harm. Instead of harm, they will remove the smell of smoke or any hazardous particles from the air.
08. Opt for ammonia
Ammonia works as a cleaning agent. Use ammonia with preventive measures. Wear gloves and glasses while using it and also open your windows. Wipe ammonia on your hard furniture. It will help a lot to remove excessive smell.
09. Use fabric steamer
A fabric steamer will work fantastically to remove odor from the furniture or ceiling. It can be used on the fabric that can not be washed. It can do its work without harming the surface. It releases smoke and dust particles from the fabric.
10. Use coffee and scented candles
Put some coffee beans in the jar and place it on the sides of the furniture. Also, place some scented candles near windows or near your furniture. It will give off a cozy and cool environment to your house.
11. Clean off the smoking materials
Remove or clean off the ashtrays from the room. Dispose of the smoking material to avoid the extra smell.
12. Wash the floor
Remove the rugs from the floor. Wash the floor thoroughly with the mixture of water, vinegar, and lime. It will help a lot to remove the excessive smoke from the house.
13. Deep clean the HVAC system
The air filters might capture some smoke particles and it is hard to remove them without any professional help. The smoke can circulate in the HVAC system. Clean or wash them properly so that you will not face any difficulty in the future.
How to Not Allow Smoke Odors Into Your Home
To avoid ever letting smoke smells become a problem in the first place, take the following precautions:
- Always check out whether the damper of the fireplace is open, then make it a habit of cleaning out the ashes following every use to keep it fresh.
- Regular Fireplace Maintenance should have the fireplace and its chimney flue cleaned and examined once a year to avert smoke accumulation and proper venting.
- Do not leave Unattended Cooking unattended. Avoid letting things cook without being around such as stoves or over ovens. Burn can cause smoke.
- No Smoking inside. Because smoke from cigarettes or even cigars could penetrate through to walls, fabrics, as well as air inside.
- If smoking indoors cannot be avoided, designate a room for smoking. Ensure that the doors to the rest of the house are closed to keep the smoke in the room.
- Shut off the HVAC return vent in rooms where smoking occurs so that smoke is not pulled into the house’s air system and distributed throughout the house.
- Candles, wax warmers, and chafing dishes are common sources of open flames. Never leave them unattended to prevent fire hazards and minimize smoke damage.
- Place small heating appliances like space heaters at a safe distance from the curtains and upholstered furniture to avoid accidents that lead to fire or smoke damage.
- Install an air purifier with a good filtration system, and replace the filters regularly to ensure cleaner air is free of lingering smoke particles.
- Ensure that your stove’s exhaust hood is properly venting to the outside to prevent cooking smoke from circulating within your home.
Basic Supplies:
- Baking soda
- White distilled vinegar
- Tubs
- Sponges
- Lint-free towels
- Fabric freshener spray
- Step stool or ladder
- Borax
- Multi-surface cleaner
- Soft brush
- Vacuum cleaner
- Washing machine
- Carpet cleaner
- Microfiber duster
- Mop
Conclusion
It is quite a tough job to remove smoke smells in the house, but with proper techniques and persistence, it’s possible to get a fresh environment. The main concept for eliminating smoke odors is cleaning and purifying the air along with neutralizing scents from various surfaces and fabrics. From ventilating the house to employing natural deodorizers such as baking soda or activated charcoal, there are several ways to effectively combat the smoke smell.
Cleaning furniture, carpet, walls, and floors using air purifiers and enlisting professional services whenever necessary should help you to have your smoke-free home. Similarly, you can prevent those smoke odors from repeatedly appearing by ensuring proper ventilation, maintaining your fireplace well, and avoiding smoking within your home.
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