Have you ever walked into a home or building after a fire and noticed that unpleasant smoke odor lingering in the air? If so, you’re not alone. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there were an estimated 1,353,500 fires reported in the United States in 2020 alone. Even after a fire has been put out, smoke odor can still remain and affect the air quality of your home.

We’re here to assist you with removing smoke odor and let you know the sources of smoke odor, its consequences on your health, and several quick and easy techniques to permanently get rid of it are all covered in this blog post.

Continue reading if you’re prepared to put an end to the lingering smoky smell and take in some fresh air.

Causes of Smoke Odor

Smoking Habits

While you may enjoy the first puffs of your cigar, the nasty smoke odor has already started to linger in your house and settle deep into home furnishings. According to NHS, smoke odor can linger in the air for 2 to 3 hours after you’ve finished a cigarette, even with a window open.

Passive smoke, which is the cigarette odor that clings to skin, hair, and your house, contains nicotine and other chemical substances, which have been linked to multiple health issues, including:

• Cancer
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Third-hand smoke should be eliminated for a variety of reasons. Read on to find out to which extent smoke odor may affect you.

            

How Cigarette Smoke Odor Affects Your Skin, Hair, And Body

Are you aware of how cigarette smoke odor can harm your skin, hair, and overall health? The dangers of smoking are widely known, but the impact on your appearance is often overlooked. From premature wrinkles to dull hair, the effects of cigarette smoke odor can be detrimental to your physical appearance.

On the outside, cigarette smoke deposits a carcinogenic residue on everything it touches, including hair and skin. You may not feel it, but it’s there, releasing a smoky odor.

The absorption of nicotine, both into the lungs and through the skin, also affects the sweat glands. Nicotine makes you sweat more and taints the way your sweat smells. If you sweat profusely, your skin will smell like stinky smoke.

Wildfires

As of the time of writing, there are 4.5 million U.S. homes at extreme risk from wildfires, with over 2 million in California alone. According to Verisk, There were 58,985 wildfires in 2021, which affected 7.1 million acres of land. It’s clear that wildfires are a significant and pressing challenge that requires attention and action.

Out of many damages done by wildfire, It releases dangerous smoke that can get into your house and eventually into your body. 

Dangers of Wildlife Smoke Odor

According to a study published in the journal of the American Heart Association, wildfire smoke contains a variety of gases and particles from the materials that fuel the fire, including ozone, carbon monoxide, polycyclic aromatic compounds, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter—pollutants linked to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

A healthy person who breaths in the air that has been tainted by fire smoke could have eye-stinging, and when they cough, they might have problems catching their breath. But, it is yet unknown what will happen to that same person if they continue to breathe smokey air for a long time each year.

The microscopic particles of wildfire smoke, which are about 30 times smaller than human hair, can become stuck deep in the lungs and harm the lining when they enter the airway. The body mobilizes to expel the foreign invaders, causing reflexive actions like coughing that aid the cilia, and the tiny hairs lining the cells of the airway, in expelling the particles.

According to Stephanie Christenson, assistant professor of pulmonology at the University of California, San Francisco, immune cells can’t break down the particulate matter, which forces them to fight it harder and cause more inflammation as a result.

How To Reduce Smoke 

Keep your doors and windows closed and remain inside.

Whether you have a room unit or a central air conditioning system, employ high-efficiency filters to catch smoke’s small particles. Find out from an expert in air conditioning what kind of high-efficiency filters your air conditioner can use.

Refrain from causing indoor air pollution.

Avoid using gas, propane, woodburning stoves, fireplaces, aerosol sprays, or candles.

Do not vacuum, smoke tobacco products, or fry or broil meat. All of these things can worsen indoor air pollution. To lessen indoor air pollution, use a portable air purifier. Be sure it fits the space and that it doesn’t produce dangerous ozone, which is an air pollutant.

Create a “Clean Room” in your home.

Choose a room with no fireplace and as few windows and doors as possible, such as a bedroom. Use a portable air cleaner in the room.

Having a supply of N95 respirators

N95 respirators will help to prevent dangerous particles from going into your body. You can find them in many home improvement stores online. 

Fire Damage

Smoke Can Damage Your House

Did you know that smoke particles are so tiny that they can seep deeply into your walls, leaving behind a stubborn odor that just won’t quit? Not only that, but this pesky smoke can even weaken the structure of your home. 

It’s like an unwanted houseguest that just won’t leave! 

If you try to wipe your walls with a sponge, the particles are just driven further into the wall, frequently resulting in irreparable harm. The same holds for smoke-damaged upholstery. Trying to vacuum or clean these things alone will make the issue worse.

Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration experts can help you out in this mess. They have the professional tools and resources to remove smoke damage and restore your property and belongings.

Effects On Your Health

Smoke poses serious health risks to those who inhale it as smoke contains air particles that can enter your body and do serious damage to the respiratory system.

Smoke can contain poisonous compounds and is heated depending on what is burning. It can harm your health by irritating your skin, nose, eyes, and throat. Young children are especially vulnerable to the effects of residual smoke damage (commonly known as passive smoke). 

It will have an impact on the respiratory system, making breathing challenging. Your lungs and sinuses are affected. It makes you feel nauseous, sleepy, and cough. Increased levels of carbon monoxide in the lungs, which prevent the body from getting enough oxygen, can cause death. Moreover, it may result in permanent brain damage. is dangerous for family members who have allergies, asthma, diabetes, or who are pregnant.

Although smoke damage might not be immediately apparent, it nevertheless poses a risk to your health and the health of your family.

Cable Fire Odor

If you’ve experienced a cable fire in your home, it’s important to take extra care when dealing with the aftermath. Unfortunately, cable fires are one of the most common causes of fires in homes. 

Did you know that cable insulation, just like old floor coverings, window frames, and wallpaper, often contains PVC? 

When PVC burns at low temperatures during cable and smoldering fires, it can produce highly toxic and corrosive substances that leave behind a strong and unpleasant odor.

Prevention of Cable Fires

It’s crucial to keep an eye on the insulation of your cables, especially if they become kinked or crushed, as this can lead to overheating and short circuits. Additionally, overloading your cables can cause serious problems. 

For example, make sure not to exceed the specified power for your lighting, avoid using overloaded multiple sockets or numerous branched socket strips, and be mindful when using electric heaters.

To further prevent overheating and smoldering fires, it’s important to fix any defective contacts or loose connections. One helpful tool for examining the surface temperature of electrical systems and equipment is a thermal imaging camera, which can be used during a thermographic inspection. 

By taking these steps, you can ensure the safety and longevity of your electrical systems and prevent potential hazards.

Effective Methods for Removing Smoke Odor

Deodorize the Air

Improving air circulation across the entire apartment or house is the first step in getting rid of the smoky smell. To help create a cross breeze that will pull the air out, start by opening all the windows and doors. To make the process faster, you can also use an air filter and a dehumidifier.

Finishing the deodorizing process with some air-refreshing methods is never a bad idea. According to SFGate, there are a few do-it-yourself ways you may use to eliminate scents. You can boil orange or lemon peels to create an additional sense of freshness, or set bowls of white vinegar or ammonia in smelly rooms.

Use Baking Soda To Eliminate Odors

Smoke residue is deeply embedded in carpets and furniture. Baking soda, a common household item, is a tried-and-true method for reducing intense smoke odors. Get a few boxes of baking soda, then liberally sprinkle the powder on upholstered furniture and dry carpets. This will help you to absorb the stinky odor. 

Let the baking soda several hours or maybe the entire night to sit. After 24 hours, vacuum the baking soda from the carpet and use a hand vacuum or the brush attachment on the vacuum to remove it from the furniture as well as the scents.

Wash Your Clothes with Vinegar

When smoke particles infiltrate your home, it’s not just your walls and furniture that are affected. Unfortunately, your bedding, including blankets, sheets, clothing, and curtains, can also become victims of that pesky smoke smell. 

Using laundry loads to get rid of that stubborn smoke smell can be a simple and effective way to freshen up your fabrics and make them smell clean and smoke-free again.

Changing Your Air Filters.

When a fire breaks out, microscopic smoke particles can quickly contaminate your home’s HVAC system. 

To combat this, it’s important to take action right away. As soon as you notice a fire, be sure to change the filters in your furnace and air conditioner. It’s also a good idea to have a specialist examine your HVAC system to check for any damage. 

To ensure that you’re breathing in clean, high-quality air every time you use your HVAC system, you may want to consider bringing in a certified air duct cleaning business to clean out the ventilation system. 

By taking these steps, you can be sure that your home is filled with fresh, clean air all year round.

Using Smoke Detectors

Did you know that most fire victims actually pass away from inhaling smoke and dangerous chemicals, rather than from burns? It’s true! 

Unfortunately, smoke inhalation can be a major threat during a fire, and it’s important to take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones.

According to The Zebra, house fires cause an average of 2,620 civilian deaths each year. Smoke and lethal gases tend to spread farther and quicker than heat in a fire. The majority of deadly fires occur when families are sleeping because people are unaware of the fire until there is insufficient time to escape. A smoke detector keeps watch around the clock and emits a piercing warning when it detects smoke. This frequently provides a family with the valuable, but limited, time required to flee.

Now you might be wondering, where smoke detectors should be placed. And how many smoke detectors do I need?

Smoke alarms should be installed on every level of the home, outside sleeping areas, and inside bedrooms. If not possible try to install at least 1 smoke in the common area. Don’t neglect it as the number of smoke alarms increases, and your life danger decreases. 

Because both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms are good at detecting don’t worry too much about which smoke detector is best. 

Why Hire A Professional Smoke Odor Removal Service?

Dealing with persistent smoke odor in your home can be a major challenge for homeowners. Unfortunately, smoke can be incredibly difficult to remove and can stick around for years, affecting the overall air quality in your home. 

But don’t worry, there’s a solution! If you’ve recently experienced a fire and want to get rid of that pesky smoke smell once and for all, consider bringing in expert smoke odor removal services. With their help, you can breathe easy again and enjoy fresh, clean air in your home.

Access to Highly Specialized Equipment and Tools

Long-standing smoke damage restoration companies have a set of abilities and equipment that facilitate the cleanup process. Also, they are informed about the most recent advancements and market conditions. Eliminating fire soot residue calls for a creative fusion of technical expertise and technology.

Modern equipment is used by residential fire damage repair companies to speed up the cleaning procedure. These smoke damage restoration specialists not only have the tools but also the correct cleaning supplies to return your home to the way it was before the fire.

Thorough Inspection

The first stage in restoring your home after fire and smoke damage is inspection. A cleaning strategy will be developed by experts like MyRemediator to restore your home once the extent of the damage has been verified.

A team of experts is equipped to tackle any technical problems that arise in your home as a result of fire damage. These licensed specialists examine the entire home to assess the level of damage and choose the most effective ways to start the rebuilding.

Water damage from putting out the fire could also exist. Most homeowners are unaware that 98% of basement-containing homes sustain some kind of water damage. If you fall under this group, restoration specialists will enable you to fix the water damage and stop additional damage.

Staff with Proper Training and Skills

Unlike regular cleaners, fire damage restoration contractors have a specialist staff that is highly qualified and trained. The extensive training that Myremediator’s staff has received has helped to make them professional and informed. Communication is one of the unique talents they train for as part of the whole customer service experience.

Likewise, seasoned businesses don’t take any chances when it comes to hiring employees. To ensure a particular level of honesty and a strong work ethic, prospective workers are screened by a set of principles and corporate policies. These professionals’ primary goals are to renovate your property and get you back into your house as soon as feasible.

Complete Cleansing

Intense and thorough cleaning is the best technique to undo smoke damage. For inexperienced cleaners, smoke and ash from a newly put-out fire might be a challenge. Professionals with experience are aware of what to do in these circumstances.

The ash and smoke residue that has accumulated on surfaces must be removed during the deep cleaning process. Due to its acidic characteristics, ash is likely to harm surfaces if left neglected.

Even though the personnel will have been inspected at the start of the cleaning engagement, another round of evaluation may be required. You won’t get a thorough review of this nature in regular cleaning services.

Conclusion

To sum it up, dealing with smoke odor can be a major headache for homeowners and indoor spaces. But don’t worry, there are steps you can take to combat this pesky problem! 

It’s crucial to take smoke odor seriously, not just because it’s unpleasant, but also because it can pose a health risk, especially for those with respiratory issues. 

By implementing the tips we’ve shared in this blog and taking proactive measures to prevent smoke odor, you can ensure that your home or indoor space is a clean, healthy, and fresh-smelling environment for you and your loved ones. 

Here’s to breathing easy again!