How to remove smoke odour after a fire: A complete guide 

Smoke odour is more than just an unpleasant smell that lingers in your home after a fire. The lingering smoke odour is caused by the presence of harmful particles generated during the fire and from the smoke. These particles stay on surfaces long after the fire itself has been dealt with. The lingering smoke smell can even persist after you wipe down surfaces and open windows. The heat generated during the initial fire can open pours in surfaces, creating the perfect place for the particles to settle. As the surfaces cool, these pours will shrink back to the original size, trapping the odorous particles.

It’s even more important to understand the impact that smoke odour has on your health and the air quality within your property. The smoke odour that you smell is a result of the particles left behind. These particles are extremely harmful to your health and to your property. Particles that cause the smoke odour are very fine, inhaling them can irritate your respiratory tract. This is especially bad for people that suffer from conditions like:

• Asthma
• Bronchitis
• Chronic respiratory diseases
• Allergies

Another harmful aspect of smoke odour is the presence of chemicals generate by the initial fire. These chemicals are proven to be carcinogenic, meaning that long-term exposure can increase your risk of developing cancer.

H2 – Why does smoke odour persist?

As briefly mentioned, smoke odour is a result of the fire and smoke particles left behind after a fire. Being microscopic in size, these particles can settle in difficult to reach areas and on porous materials. Without expert knowledge and specialist smoke odour removal equipment it can be very difficult and often impossible to remove all traces of these particles.

The cause of the fire can also have an impact on the odour and how difficult it is to remove. Protein fires, which often occur in kitchens, leave behind a greasy residue and a very strong smoke odour. Again, without professional smoke odour removal it is difficult to ensure that your property will be returned to an odour free state.

Furniture

Furniture can be a major source of persistent smoke odour after a fire due to its porous materials and ability to absorb and trap smoke particles. Upholstered furniture, with its fabric coverings and foam padding, acts like a sponge, soaking in soot and lingering odours. Even solid wood furniture is susceptible, as smoke can penetrate cracks, crevices, and varnished surfaces, embedding itself deep within the material. These trapped odours not only compromise indoor air quality but can also re-release harmful toxins over time, prolonging the effects of the fire. Proper professional fire damage cleaning or smoke odour removal is essential to eliminate these odours and restore the furniture to a safe, usable state.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Fires generate volatile organic compounds which often linger long after the event. Over time, VOCs can continue to off-gas, reintroducing the odour into the air, prolonging the unpleasant odour within your property. Professional smoke odour removal techniques, such as thermal fogging or Biosweep treatment, are essential to neutralise VOCs and fully restore air quality.

HEPA Vacuuming

To successfully remove smoke odour from your property it will take a combination of different tools and processes. The first tool to utilise is a HEPA vacuum. HEPA technology is designed to guarantee the capture of microscopic particles. Traditional vacuums and filters are too large to capture these particles and will allow them to pass through and re-enter the airspace. The HEPA vacuum will capture 99.9% of them allowing for the safe capture and removal. Using this piece of equipment on all the surfaces in the affected area will help to remove a large majority of the loose odour causing particulate.

Ozone/ Biosweep

Ozone treatment is a proven method to remove smoke odour by breaking down odour-causing particles at the molecular level. Using an ozone generator, it neutralises smoke smells in hard-to-reach areas like carpets, upholstery, and walls. Ideal for fire damage and cigarette odour, this treatment ensures thorough deodorisation, leaving spaces fresh and odour-free.

Thermal Fogging

Thermal fogging is an effective way to remove smoke odour by using a heated fogging machine to release deodorising particles that penetrate deeply into porous surfaces. This method recreates the conditions of smoke to neutralise odour molecules trapped in walls, furniture, and fabrics. This is a very effective method for removing smoke odour and quickly improving the air quality inside of your property.

Can you do DIY odour removal?

Attempting to do smoke odour removal yourself is not recommended but if you do choose to attempt it, here are a few things to do. Start by ventilating the space thoroughly to let fresh air circulate. Wash all washable fabrics, like curtains, bedding, and clothing, with a mix of detergent and baking soda to neutralize smells. Clean hard surfaces, including walls and furniture, with a vinegar-water solution to eliminate smoke residue. For carpets and upholstery, sprinkle baking soda, let it sit for several hours, and vacuum thoroughly. These tips and recommendations will not guarantee you 100% smoke odour removal. Again, it is a much safer choice to hire a professional. 

Although hiring a professional service provider may be more expensive in the short term, it will save you a lot of time and money over time. Also, you cannot put a price on your health and wellbeing, a professional service can help protect that.

Preventing smoke odour reoccurrence

The only way to prevent smoke odour reoccurrence is to completely and correctly deal with the issue at the first attempt. Attempts at DIY smoke odour removal does not often solve the problem. Removing the easy to reach particles that settle on walls and other hard surfaces will not put an end to the problem. It may mask it for a short period but over time the particles trapped in your property will release and the strong smoke odour will return.

Instead, immediately looking to hire a reputable professional to carry out the service for you is a better option. Years of experience carrying out the service will ensure that the experts know how to remove the odour causing particles no matter where they may have settled. Professionals also have access to the equipment needed to capture and remove the smoke and fire particles. This equipment may include:

• HEPA Vacuums
• Soot Sponges
• ULV Foggers
• Ozone/ Biosweep technology

Alongside the equipment used to remove the particles, smoke odour removal experts will also use the correct cleaning chemicals. Soot and ash particles are acidic and will corrode surfaces if left untreated over time. Using an alkaline wash during the service will neutralise the acid particles and eliminate the risk posed to your property. In conclusion, the best way to avoid smoke odour reoccurring is to hire a professional with a track record of delivering results.

The cost of smoke odour removal

Smoke odour removal costs will vary depending on a few factors:

• Location of your property
• Extent of the fire and smoke damage
• Size of the affected area
• The number of contents that require cleaning

All these elements are factored into the cost of smoke odour removal services because they greatly affect the amount of time and labour hours needed. Professional smoke odour removal services also utilise specialist equipment to ensure smoke odour neutralisation. Depending on the equipment required to solve your problem, the price of the service can once again vary. However, on average a smoke dour removal service will cost between £1,500 – £5,000. All the factors mentioned above will impact on the price so it should give you a rough idea of what you may need to spend.

What next?

If you have experienced a fire and ongoing secondary damage in the form of prolonged smoke odour, you should contact us today. One of our dedicated customer service team will be able to provide you with all the answers to your questions. Once we gather some information from you, we will also be able to provide you with a free estimate.