Smoke odor removal sounds a lot easier than it is, sometimes simply opening some windows and letting the fresh air in can get the smoke smell out. But, often simply opening the windows and airing out the property isn’t sufficient to remove the smoke odor, because smoke and soot particles are likely on many items and surfaces
Smoke odors caused by smoking indoors or a small kitchen fire are handled differently than smoke odors caused by a large house fire. However, the overall principle of eliminating the smoke odor from the home or business are largely unchanged. Determine the cause, the extent of the odor, and identify the items that are covered by smoke or soot particles causing the smell. These items can be anything from ceilings to carpets to personal belongings.
Smoke and smoke odors can also cause indoor air quality issues, which is why Restoration Dispatched recommends cleaning of any HVAC systems and implementing HEPA filter air scrubbers with activated charcoal pre-filters, in addition to negative air machines. The combination of these three things will cleanse the indoor air from any smoke residue, and the activated charcoal pre-filter assists in the smoke smell removal. At the end of the process, you will be breathing in fresh air, free from smoke or soot odors.
Restoration Dispatched is dedicated to providing Long Island, New York with complete smoke odor removal services. Regardless if it is cigarette smoke or smoke from a fire we can help. Our smoke odor teams are smoke damage and fire damage restoration specialists, with years of smoke odor elimination experience. You can call Restoration Dispatched any time for 24/7 emergency service and a free smoke odor removal estimate.
Long Island Kitchen Fire & Smoke Odor Removal
One of the most common causes of home fires starts in the kitchen, specifically oven or stovetop fires. Kitchen Fires typically spread fast and produce a lot of smoke, frequently lead to the development of harmful smoke and soot and leaving behind a nasty smoke smell. There are a few tips you can follow to help prevent kitchen-related fires, caution is your best friend. The following tips can help keep cooking fires out of your life.
- Don’t ever step away from your cooking progress even for a second.
- Maintain a neat and tidy setting. Grease and food remnants have the ability to ignite and trigger fires.
- Do not allow young children to get anywhere near your oven.
- Pull your hair back and make sure it’s out of your face.
- Wear non-slip shoes.
- Roll your sleeves up. If you prefer, you can change into a short sleeve top.
- Take off any loose jewelry pieces.
- Employ back burners any time you can.
- Steer clear of pots that are excessively large or small.
Should you experience a kitchen fire, it is important to keep your cool, and swiftly take action. Different fires call for a different action ranging from putting a lid on top of a grease fire to getting a fire extinguisher out. During a fire, if you can safely take any actions to extinguish it do so if the fire is too large or the home fills with smoke call the fire department immediately.
What Causes Smoke Smells After a Fire?
Smoke odors are caused by smoke and soot particles embedding themselves into the surfaces of different materials through your home or business. The smoke smell, intensity and difficulty to remove the smoke smell depend on what material was burned in the fire. Smoke smell removal can be difficult given how quickly and widely spread smoke travels, often requiring a deep cleaning of the entire property from ceilings to carpets.
What Is Soot?
Cleaning soot can be tricky, as it may not always be visible to the naked eye. A soot sponge is a good tool used to clean soot from walls and ceilings, it can also be used to test a surface for soot presence if it is not visible to the naked eye. Fabrics should be professionally dry cleaned, and other household items should be HEPA vacuumed and thoroughly cleaned.
Can I Remove Smoke Odors Myself?
For mild smoke odors, it is very possible for you to remove the odor yourself. However, the effectiveness of your removal efforts, as well as the indoor air quality, won’t be the same as a professional odor removal service. Below are a few methods you can try to remove the smoke odor.
In very mild cases, such as cigarette smoke, a smoke spray may help but is not a long term solution as most smoke sprays only temporarily cover up the smoke odors and don’t actually remove the particles from the air. Most “Smoke Odor” removers are essentially air freshers, and are not effective long-term solutions.
Typically, you will need to take the following steps. First, you want to air out the property as much as possible to minimize the amount of smoke or soot particles in the air. Next, you will want to clean anything fabric, utilizing appropriate cleaning products for each surface. You may also want to try using odor absorbers may also
Depending on the extent of the smoke damage, you may need to clean the walls and ceilings. The best way to clean walls and ceilings is by utilizing soot sponges. Thoroughly wipe down all walls, ceilings, and surfaces with the soot sponges, replace them as they get dirty. Once you have cleaned everything, washed the fabric items, and let the property air out you should notice a fairly significant decrease in odor. If you have an HVAC system, you may need to get it professionally cleaned. You should also address the potential air quality issue, you can rent HEPA filters with activated charcoal pre-filters. These will “clean” the air, removing up to 99.99% of particles and killing odors.
Restoration Dispatched proudly provides Long Island, New York with smoke odor removal services. We service both Nassau and Suffolk County, providing free smoke odor removal estimates. We are dedicated to providing our customers with outstanding services, which is why our smoke odor removal services also focus on improving indoor air quality. So you can rest assured that not only are the odors gone but that you have safe and clean air.