How to get rid of smoke smell in your house after a fire.

After a fire, big or small, the smell is often the part that stays longest. This guide covers what causes it, how to get rid of it, what does not work, and when to bring in help.

Our sources are public health agencies, the EPA, the Red Cross, fire departments and university extension services, along with two national restoration companies. Where they disagree, we say so. We are a restoration company and we sell this service, so we have tried to be clear about what you can do yourself.

Smell smoke but cannot see a fire? Do this first

If you smell smoke or a strange smell and do not know where it is coming from, the fire department in Somersworth, New Hampshire says to call 911. It may be gas or another dangerous vapor. Do not call from inside the house, and do not use light switches.

If the smell is a burning or rubbery odor coming from an appliance, or you notice warm or discolored outlets, sparks or flickering lights, the NFPA says to call a qualified electrician.

Before you start cleaning after a fire

• Wait until it is safe. The U.S. Fire Administration says not to enter until the fire department says it is safe. If you smell gas, the CDC says to leave and contact emergency authorities, and not to do anything that could cause a spark.
• Call your insurer first. Portland Fire & Rescue says everything should be inventoried and nothing thrown away without the insurance company’s approval. Our claim tips cover what to photograph and what to say.
• Protect yourself. Colorado’s health department recommends a well-fitted N95 or P-100 respirator, gloves, long sleeves and long pants. It says surgical and cloth masks will not protect your lungs from the fine particles that matter most.
• Keep some people out. Colorado says people with heart or lung disease, including asthma, older adults and pregnant women should avoid cleanup, and children and pets should stay away. Clean in short sessions and take fresh air breaks.

Why the smell hangs on

Oklahoma State University Extension explains that the odor is caused by tiny particles that cling to walls, furniture, floors, clothing and other items. Colorado’s health department adds that smoke, ash and soot leave chemicals such as benzene on surfaces, and that these keep being released into the air for weeks after a fire before they reduce. That is why spraying air freshener or lighting a candle does not work. As Oklahoma State puts it, those only mask the smell for a short time.

How to get rid of smoke smell, step by step

1. Air the house out

Open windows and doors when you can. Colorado says that if there is a lot of ash and debris outside, wait until it has been cleaned up before airing out, and use air cleaners in the meantime. Oklahoma State suggests leaving closet doors and kitchen and bathroom cabinets open too.

2. Run air cleaners and change the furnace filter

• Air cleaners: Colorado’s health department recommends units with HEPA filters for particles and activated carbon filters for chemicals such as benzene, left on until the smells go away.
• Furnace filter: Colorado suggests upgrading to a MERV 11 or higher filter if your system can take it, and replacing it when clogged or monthly for up to a year. FEMA tips quoted by Oklahoma State say to change filters when you first return and at least once a month for the first year.

3. Vacuum soot before you wipe anything

Colorado says to use a HEPA vacuum on floors, carpets, rugs, drapes and furniture, or steam clean them, and to avoid dry sweeping and dusting, which stir particles up. Soot smears when you touch it, so our guide to cleaning soot off walls and ceilings goes through that part in detail.

4. Wash every hard surface

The Red Cross says to clean walls, furniture and floors with a mild soap or detergent, or with 4 to 6 tablespoons of trisodium phosphate (TSP) and 1 cup of household cleaner or chlorine bleach per gallon of warm water. Wear rubber gloves, and read the label, because TSP is caustic.

• Wash walls one small area at a time, from the floor up to prevent streaks, and rinse with clear water straight away. Do ceilings last.
• Do not forget the inside of cabinets, drawers and closets, as the FEMA tips point out.
• Dry everything thoroughly, and do not repaint until walls and ceilings are completely dry.

Never mix cleaners. The CDC says never to mix bleach with ammonia or any other cleaner. Some guides list a bleach mix and an ammonia mix side by side, so pick one, rinse well and open the windows.

On vinegar, the advice differs. Servpro suggests wiping hard surfaces with warm water and white vinegar, and Oklahoma State adds vinegar to the wash. Colorado’s health department says not to use harsh chemical cleaners or vinegar on ash, because they can react with chemicals in it, and that soap and water are enough. Colorado’s advice is written for ash, so on sooty surfaces we would start with soap and water.

5. Wash or clean fabrics

• Clothes and bedding: Oklahoma State suggests adding 1 cup of vinegar to the wash with your usual detergent, and washing again until the smell is gone. Do not put smoky clothes in the dryer, which can lock the odor in. The Red Cross also suggests a cold wash with detergent and 1 tablespoon of pure vanilla extract. Read the care label first.
• Furniture, mattresses, carpets and curtains: Oklahoma State says furniture and mattresses may need professional cleaning. The FEMA tips say to clean and deodorize carpets, curtains, upholstered furniture and mattresses with steam or other suitable equipment.
• What to keep and what to throw away: see our guide to what to throw away after smoke damage.

6. Absorb what is left

Oklahoma State suggests leaving bowls of baking soda or activated charcoal around the house for several days. Servpro suggests bowls of baking soda or distilled vinegar. These help with a lingering smell. They will not fix a smell that is still coming from soot on the walls.

7. Seal before you repaint

If walls still smell or stain after cleaning, the San Jose fire department and other sources in our soot guide suggest a smoke sealer or stain-blocking primer before repainting. Wait until the walls are completely dry. Fire-hose water is a different problem: the Red Cross says drywall and insulation soaked by it cannot be dried out and keep their strength or resistance to mold, so consult a professional about replacing them.

What does not work, and what to be careful with

Ozone: what the agencies say

Ozone machines are sold as a quick fix for smoke smell. The EPA says that at levels within public health standards, ozone has little potential to remove indoor air contaminants and is not effective at removing many odor-causing chemicals. It can also react with other chemicals to form harmful by-products. When inhaled it can damage the lungs, and even relatively low amounts can cause chest pain, coughing and shortness of breath. The EPA says no federal agency has approved these devices for use in occupied spaces.

The California Air Resources Board strongly advises against using them where people or animals are, and Colorado’s health department says not to use them in occupied homes. If one is used in an empty space, Colorado says to air it out for at least four hours before going back in.

There is a professional side to this. The EPA notes that high levels of ozone are sometimes used in empty buildings in fire restoration, but that little is known about the by-products, and that ozone can damage rubber, electrical wire coatings, fabrics and artwork. Oklahoma State University Extension calls a professional ozone treatment a final option, never a DIY job, that means leaving your home. ATI Restoration goes further and suggests homeowners can rent ozone equipment for furniture, which the agencies above would not support.

Our view: do not run one yourself, and never with anyone at home. If a contractor proposes ozone, ask how long you need to be out, how they keep people and pets out, and what in the house it could damage.

Thermal fogging and other deodorizers

Restoration companies also use deodorizing fogs, chemical counteractants and other equipment. ATI describes thermal fogging as heating a deodorizer into a fog that reaches the same places the smoke did, and Servpro lists several kinds of odor treatment. We did not find a government source that evaluates these methods, so ask any contractor what they plan to use, why, and whether you need to leave while they use it. None of them replaces cleaning off the residue first.

Do you need your air ducts cleaned?

Sources differ. The FEMA tips quoted by Oklahoma State say to have the heating and cooling units and all ductwork professionally cleaned after a fire. Colorado says to consider it. The EPA says duct cleaning has never been shown to prevent health problems and should be done only as needed, for example when ducts are clogged with debris or particles are blowing out of the supply registers.

Our view: change the filter first. If the smell keeps coming from the vents, or you can see soot on the registers or inside the ducts, have the system inspected and cleaned.

When to call a professional

Servpro says you may handle light smoke odor from a small fire yourself, but significant fire damage almost always needs professional help. Portland Fire & Rescue goes further, saying contractors who specialize in fire and smoke restoration should be used in most cases. We would call if:

• Soot covers more than a small area, or is in more than one room.
• The smell is still there after you have cleaned.
• Drywall or insulation got soaked by fire hoses.
• The smell is coming through the vents.
• Someone in the home is very young, older, pregnant or has heart or lung disease.

Ask your insurer what your policy covers before you replace anything.

Frequently Asked Questions