Whether from a fire, cigarettes, or something else, the smell of smoke in a home can be pervasive and bothersome. It can also be incredibly difficult to get rid of the smell of smoke in a home. If you find yourself in need of getting rid of the smell of smoke in your house, follow some of these helpful tips.
Getting Rid of the Smell of Smoke in a Home
Remove the Offending Air
The smell of smoke can linger in the air for a long time. But you can take proactive steps to remove the smoky air and replace it with fresh air. Open up as many windows and doors as you can to invite new air into the space. This method will not completely get rid of the smell of smoke, but it will make the space smell better as you try other options. When you air out your house, remember that cross-ventilation is key. If your portals to the outside do not allow for cross-ventilation, employ the use of fans to help the process along. Using an air purifier can also help speed up the process.
Clean the Ceilings and Walls
When your home is infested with smoke, you truly need to give it a thorough cleaning. You need to pay particular attention to the ceiling and walls of the rooms that are most affected by the smoke. Further, cleaning with just soap and water is not enough. Seek out cleaning products that contain ammonia and glycol, as they will help to neutralize the smell of the smoke. Keep in mind that these chemicals are harsh and can cause damage, so do a test area first before you attack the entire surface, and keep pets and small children out of the rooms when you are cleaning. If after a few days, the smoke smell comes back, consider stripping the walls and repainting them.
Clean the Carpets
Carpets retain lots of odors. So, if you have carpeting in your house, you will need to clean it to get the smoke smell out. You can try it on your own first with a strong rug-cleaning product. But there is a good chance that you will need to call in a professional to get the smell completely out.
Clean the Floors and Doors
Mop your floors thoroughly, and make sure you change your mop water frequently so you do not keep spreading the smell around. If you have wood floors, use a cleaning solution that is wood-friendly. You will likely need to use quite a bit of elbow grease to get the floors clean and free of the smoke smell. So, expect to get down on your hands and knees so you can give the floors a good scrub, particularly near the corners and edges. Do not forget to clean the baseboards and door frames, too.
Clean the Drapes and Blinds
Your drapes and blinds will need a thorough and deep cleaning. So, avoid simply trying to dust them off or run a vacuum attachment over them. Take down all of your window treatments so you can clean them appropriately. Put your drapes in the washing machine if you can and add a full cup of vinegar to the wash water to neutralize the odor. Be careful to add the vinegar before you put the drapes in. Clean your mini blinds by placing them in a bathtub full of hot water and a cup of vinegar. Let them soak for 15 minutes and then scrub them with a fine scrub brush. Hang them up to let them dry. If your blinds are made from wood or fabric, follow the instructions for washing your floors.
Clean your Mirrors and Windows
Clean all of your mirrors, windows, and other glass surfaces with a solution of vinegar and water. Do not forget to clean the sills and window frames as well.
Replace the Furnace Filters
Smoke from a fire or cigarettes can easily get trapped in your home’s furnace filters. As the contaminants get stuck in the filters, they will then travel throughout your house. So, changing the filters will help your house smell better and will also get rid of the harmful chemicals that linger in the air.
Clean the Air Ducts
If you clean every surface of your house but neglect the air ducts, the smell will never be completely gone. Smoke smell can settle in the ducts and will resurface whenever air blows through them. So, to ensure you permanently get the smell out of your house, you must clean your air ducts.
Home Remedies to get rid of the Smell of Smoke in a Home
When dealing with removing the smell of smoke from your house, Cleaning all of the surfaces in the house is a great first step. But some tried and true home remedies can also be helpful. The following common household products can help to neutralize odors and rid your house of the smell of smoke:
- Vinegar.
- Ground Coffee.
- Baking Soda.
- Lemons.
- Oats.
- Charcoal.
If all of the methods you have tried to get rid of the smell of smoke in your house have failed, you can simply sell it. Ben Buys Indy Houses will buy your house in whatever condition it is in, even if it smells like smoke! Contact us today to see how we can help you.
