Any time your home suffers a house fire, the smell of smoke can linger around for weeks or months. And the longer it sits, the more time it has to settle into the building materials and furniture. Fortunately, there is a way to get rid of the smoke odors, and it starts with professional restoration services.
Scheduling Professional Restoration
The first step in eliminating smoke odors is to have a professional restoration team come in to remove soot from the ceilings, walls and flooring. The experts also have tools to extract soot that’s deeply embedded in your furniture fabric and carpets.
Here are some methods that professionals use to eliminate smoke odors from your home:
- Masking agents
- Filtration agents
- Pairing agents
- Enzyme digesters
- Disinfectants and sanitizers
- Oxidization
- Air purification
Cleaning Hard and Soft Surfaces
Your countertops and cabinets are usually some of the first places where visible smoke residue settles after a house fire. Wipe them down using a mixture of warm water and a mild degreaser with a soft microfiber cloth, so you don’t accidentally scratch the finish. For soft surfaces like bedding and rugs, launder any items that are machine washable, adding a cup and a half of white vinegar to each load. And don’t throw them in the dryer until you’re satisfied with the odor removal since high heat will set the remaining smoke smell into the fabric.
Using Unique Deodorization Techniques
Even though surface cleaning can work wonders for removing smoke odors from your home, it might not always provide the results you were hoping for. Many experts suggest placing a bowl of baking soda in each room where you detect a strong smell of smoke to neutralize the odor-causing molecules in the air. It also helps to ventilate the rooms as much as possible by opening doors and windows. You will also need to stay on top of replacing your HVAC filters to prevent smoke particles from recirculating back into your living spaces.
Having the Ductwork Professionally Cleaned
When a house fire leaves behind soot and smoke odors in your ductwork, it may seem impossible to get rid of the smell. Every time the HVAC system runs, the lingering smoke particles will circulate back into each room. With professional duct cleaning, you can have experts deep clean every part of the duct system, including the supply ducts, return ducts and air registers. Your home will not only smell fresher, but the HVAC system will also circulate cleaner air throughout the house. This is a huge advantage for families with young children or seniors.
Talking to a restoration expert is the best way to kickstart the recovery process after a house fire. You’ll receive helpful answers that make it much easier to develop a restoration plan that fits your home’s specific needs. When you need smoke damage services in Charlotte, NC, contact United Water Restoration.