The lingering smells of smoke from cigarettes and cigars are irritating for many. Candles, kitchen stoves, toasters, fireplaces, and the dreaded unintentional fires also emit smoke odors that waft through a home, leaving homeowners scratching their heads for effective methods to cleanse the inside air.
Problems with Smoke Odor
The smell of smoke is far from welcoming. In fact, small smoke particles from wood smoke can trigger respiratory reactions. People with asthma, a lung condition or a heart condition will experience wheezing and chest tightness when they breathe in the wood smoke particles. Other ill-effects of breathing in smoke particles include an exacerbation of asthma or bronchitis sufferers’ symptoms.
Older people especially must preserve their health against smoke fumes, since seniors are more likely than young people to have chronic lung or heart ailments. Children, too, are vulnerable to the ill effects of secondhand smoke. Reports indicate 7,500 to 15,000 children are hospitalized with respiratory tract infections caused by secondhand smoke.
Inhaling smoke can be deadly. In the United States, approximately 3,000 people die annually as the main result of smoke inhalation caused by residential fires.
Tips for Removing Smoke Odor
Smoke particles cause the unpleasant smell of smoke. When left unchecked, the smoke particles remain in place, continuously unleashing the smoke odors. To effectively remove the smell of smoke, the smoke particles must be dislodged. Simply masking the odors with scented products does little to resolve the underlying odor issue.
When homeowners spend 90 percent of their time indoors, improving the air quality is an important task. An ozone generator is a homeowner’s most effective tool, as it removes the actual smoke particles that cause the smoke odors. Ozone generators can be rented, which leads to hefty expenses.
Here is how to remove smoke odor from your home using a variety of methods:
Vinegar
Vinegar is a common household product with many functional uses. Place bowls of white vinegar throughout the home. The vinegar will absorb odors over the span of several days, leaving the rooms with a fresh scent. Homeowners also have the option of wiping down the walls, floors, and other areas affected by smoke with white vinegar.
Baking Soda
Another product frequently found within the home is baking soda, and homeowners have easy access to the powerful cleansing effects of this natural odor reducer. Similar to the odor absorption powers of white vinegar, baking soda can be placed in bowls around the home. The baking soda will absorb the smoke odors. Homeowners can also sprinkle generous amounts of baking soda along carpets and furniture, leaving the baking soda to sit for a few hours, then vacuuming.
Ventilation
Bust open the doors and windows on a fine summer day. The gusts of clean outside air will gradually thin out the smoky odors. Smoke smells will blow away in the wind, leaving your home with improved air quality.
Charcoal
The charcoal grillers use on their grill is an effective odor absorber. An air purifier that features a charcoal filter is an excellent way to combat smoke odors. Homeowners can also place bowls of charcoal around the home to eliminate smoke smells. The charcoal absorbs smoke odors, in the same vein as vinegar and baking soda.
Smokers who smoke inside the home can put a bowl of charcoal close to the ashtray to instantly absorb the smoke. Prevent recurring smoke odors by not permitting smoking indoors.
Newspapers
When you’re done reading the comics, scrunch up the newspaper into a ball. Leave the newspaper around the home and experience its gradual, odor-eating abilities. Newspapers are excellent odor absorbers, though the effects may take 48 hours to materialize.
Borax
Grab a rag and wash down the walls with Borax. The Borax works to remove the actual smoke particles stuck to the walls or flooring, so it is a far better method than absorption. Wipe down your walls with 2 gallons of water combined with a half cup of Borax and a half teaspoon of dishwashing liquid. Rinse away the solution with clean water. The smoke particles and the resulting odors will be washed down the drain.
Steam Cleaner
Smoke particles that have become lodged into carpets, upholstery, and curtains can be effectively eliminated by a powerful steam cleaner. While most homeowners are not likely to have a steam cleaner sitting around the house, one can be inexpensively rented from a local hardware store. Use this gadget to deep clean every fabric surface.
Febreeze
Another odor absorber, Febreeze works because it contains a chemical compound known as cyclodextrin, which grips odors. Spray Febreeze generously around the home to reduce the smells of smoke.
Professional Smoke Odor Removal Services
The most effective way to eliminate smoke odors is to hire a professional smoke damage restoration company. The technicians will zap away the smoke particles with advanced technology, leaving your home, its furnishings, and all surfaces free from the overpowering elements of smoke.
ServiceMaster of North Texas is a reputable fire and smoke damage restoration service provider. Our specialists are trained and experienced in resolving odor issues related to smoke, soot, and fire. Every household item the smoke particles have settled into, from stainless steel, marble, and tile to upholstery and carpeting, will be thoroughly cleansed.
Our skilled technicians are experts in smoke odor mitigation. Advanced technology is utilized as a powerful means of odor elimination. ServiceMaster of North Texas professionals uses hydroxyl and ozone deodorization to dislodge all smoke particles and the resulting odors. Our technicians will also pinpoint the source of the smoke odors and remove them immediately.
Smoke odor is a messy matter. When left alone, smoke can permanently damage household furnishings and structural elements of a home. Swift and proper cleaning will ensure the affected property within a home is restored.
ServiceMaster of North Texas reliably serves the Dallas, TX, communities of homes and businesses. We are available 24 hours a day to take emergency calls.
