How did you get rid of the smell of smoke?

Question

There was a fire in the kitchen today. Luckily no one was hurt but a pot is completely gone and the smell of smoke is all over the house. It is pretty strong. I tried opening all the windows but the smell is still here. Any advise is appreciated. Thanks!

Answer 1

Try putting vinegar in open jars, and set them in each room. Also you can get a air purifier from a cleaning supply store, or cleaning company, or rental company that helps a lot.

Answer 2

If you haven't tried already, the walls may need deodorizing : 1 Tbs baking soda + 1 tsp lemon juice to 2 cups hot tap water in a spray bottle. Keep on as long as the paint/wall paper doesn't get ruined (test in a hidden area). You can also deodorize with 1/4 cup baking soda (Arm & Hammer is o.k. - I get them in a large 10+ lb box)in hot tap water in a 2- gallon bucket and sponge on lightly. This much will clog a nozzle in a bottle.

I assume you've steam-cleaned & shampooed the carpet and upholstery. If not, or you can't afford it, you could sprinkle baking soda all over the carpets and leave overnight. Next, shampoo carpets and upholstry with: a 1/4 cup of a vegetable-oil- based liquid soap (i.e from Trader Joe's or any natural grocery store), and 5 gallons of water. Adjust depending on the volume taken by the shampooing machine you rent. If you decide to add some essence in the water (usually oil-based), beware not to add more than a 1/4 tsp. to 5 gallons of water, since oil will bind with the soap, making the soap less effective in solubilizing other oily substances in the carpet and removing it. Depending on the hardness of your water, if you get too much foam, decrease the amount of liquid soap or add a bit more of the essence based in oil. Next load of hot water, add less soap. If you want the convenience of a prepared bottle, you can purchase from Grany's at 818-577-1825 orAFM at 1-909-781-6860. Both in CA

For air deodorizing, try bowls of baking soda in several areas of the room or bowls of vinegar, or bags or zeolite, a natural mineral found near volcanoes. Get it from Dasun Company 1-800- 433-8929

Answer 3

activated carbon in the form of charcoal. Put it in a porous bag and cram it into an open window then put a fan so it blows through the bag of charcoal and out the window. Of rent an ozone generator from a fire restoration company and run that for a few hours.

Answer 4

The best things for smoke is vinegar and alcohol. Alcohol to wash every hard surface down, and vinegar for fabrics (unless they are dryclean only) then put vinegar in jars as someone else has suggested. Good luck. PS- Vinegar in hot water w/ a small amount of cleaner in a shampooer will work for upolstery and carpets too.

Answer 5

This is a long shot...But it works getting rid of the smell of paint.
Cut a few ordinary onion in half and leave them open around the house...No your house will not be covered with the smell of onions,...they absorb certain chemicals in the air, thats what causes the smell of paint after application. It could just do the trick with the smell of smoke.

Good Luck! And be carefull in the future!

Answer 6

Try washing down all surfaces and shampooing the carpet with viniger and water. That should help. My apartment burned down and i was able to save all of my clothes which reeked of smoke and this helped.

Answer 7

try all suggestions and also air freshner also run a fan and open windows for quite awhile and get some air in area so forth

Answer 8

Have you tried lysol air earter? Take care Heather

Answer 9

a good way to get rid of smoke smell is to never start smoking another good way is to wwash ur clothes very well

Answer 10

wipe down the cabinets and walls, possibly re-painting kitchen