Removing odors is one of the most common problems for people around the world, but if you need to remove smoke smell after a fire, then you need to first understand that smoke isn’t just a scent, but a dynamic mixture of thousands of gases and particles that physically bond or get stuck in your home. When household materials burn, they release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and toxic metals.

Once released, these chemicals don’t just float away, as they undergo a gas-surface partitioning, meaning that your walls, floors, and furniture will act as a surface reservoir that absorbs these pollutants. So, if you are currently dealing with a room with an old campfire smell, and you are looking forward to clearing the air, you must start with a strategy that targets these physical reservoirs rather than focusing on cleaning the air itself.

Expert protocols to remove smoke smell after a fire

A recent study indicated that opening windows is typically insufficient to permanently remove smoke smell after a fire, as a good breeze might clear the air temporarily, but without a deep clean of surfaces, you won’t go anywhere. Cleaning surfaces thoroughly is essential as after closing the windows, reservoirs will start releasing trapped gases back into the room.

For this reason, to properly remove smoke smell after a fire you need to focus specifically in dusting, vacuuming, and mopping, rather than using portable air cleaners. This is highly efficient as you are physically removing the chemical reservoirs that would otherwise be re-emitted for days or even years.

Why are your surfaces acting like sponges?

Surfaces act like sponges because smoke chemicals follow a predictable pattern based on their vapor pressure and the absorbing capacity of the material. For example, lighter and more volatile molecules can penetrate deeper into porous materials like wood and paint, while dense molecules can stick closer to the surface.

To prevent this, it is recommended to use multipurpose cleaners to wash walls and floors, which can diminish interior smoke reservoirs, rather than simply wiping off popular surfaces. By making a deep cleaning and targeting these deep reservoirs instead of only focusing on filtering the air you can remove smoke smell after a fire permanently.

What about deep reservoirs like carpets and upholstery?

Carpets and upholstery are perhaps the most difficult materials to clean because they provide a massive surface for smoke to hide in. Something to consider is that depending on the type of fabric smoke behavior will change. For instance, fabrics such as cotton and terry cloth will have higher concentrations of smoke chemicals than polyester due to their absorbent nature. However, while cotton releases these chemicals easily during a standard wash, polyester will bind them tightly.

Thus, to remove smoke smell after a fire from polyester fabrics, a standard wash will be inefficient unless heated to 60°C or maintained in high humidity. According to smoke research, deep reservoirs like wall-to-wall carpets may need to use HEPA-filter vacuuming combined with dry steam cleaning to reach hidden molecules in the fibers.

Can technology help remove smoke smell after a fire?

Calling for professional cleaning and ozone generators might be an option, but be aware that ozone could irritate lungs and releases a reactive gas that can deplete fabric-bound nicotine and PAHs on surfaces. Since ozonation creates tiny, irritating particles than hand in the air, if you choose this route to remove smoke smell after a fire, please stay out of the house for at least 3 hours after the treatment ends to let these byproducts settle.

If you want to avoid irritating particles that could compromise your health, we recommend you focusing on the deep cleaning and also include some plants like the Photos plant, which has shown to effectively absorbs CO2, formaldehyde and other pollutants from smoke. While placing plants alone won’t help you remove permanently the indoor smoke they can significantly improve the air quality as part of a larger and strategic cleanup plan.

Is it worth using activated charcoal and baking soda?

Simple household remedies like activated charcoal and baking soda shouldn’t be overlooked for localized smells. Activated charcoal is extremely porous, concentrating gases and vapors within its pores, making it an effective deodorizer. Similarly, baking soda can neutralize certain volatile compounds. By combining these two simple remedies, previous studies have shown a significant reduction on the intensity of smells.

Moreover, they can also aid you to remove smoke smell after a fire from a specific room or furniture item, by placing bowls of activated charcoal and boxes of baking soda to absorb the off-gassing molecules. Lastly, always remember to trust your nose—if you can still smell it, there is still cleaning to be done.