After a house fire, it is a very common feeling to want to get things back to normal as quickly as possible. While visible damage from the fire can be easy to pinpoint and restore, tackling smoke odor is a whole different ballgame. Smoke odor can get trapped in any slightly porous surface, and failure to eliminate the odor will probably have you feeling pretty uncomfortable in your home every time you get a whiff of the scent that brings back the memory of the fire itself.
The first think you should know about odor removal is that covering it will not work. There are a lot of products on the market that claim to get rid of odors but are really just masking it. Once the masking agent wears off, the original smell returns because it was not truly eliminated.
Most restoration companies, like Stretch Cleaning & Restoration, use a variety of products and machines to eliminate the odor at the source and be sure it is not going to come back to haunt you later.
If you have had a fire in your home and are back living in it again but the smoky smell has reappeared, here are some places to consider and ask whoever did your restoration work if these were areas they cleaned.
Smoke and soot from a fire will almost certainly get trapped in the duct work in your home. A good restoration contractor will make duct cleaning part of any fire damage restoration process. Sometimes, parts of the duct system will need to be replaced if the materials are absorbent, making it hard to get the smoke odor out. Other times, the duct work can simply be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized.
Something else to note about ductwork: if it wasn’t cleaned after the fire, but was exposed to water while the fire was being extinguished, there could also be mold growth inside. A professional remediator will be able to solve all of these problems.
Anything from baseboard trim to crown molding and cabinetry can hold on to smoke odors. Ozone machines or hydroxyl generators can be placed strategically throughout the home to help eliminate the odor in the wood. Plus, every piece of exposed wood should be carefully wiped down with a good, professional-grade cleaner and sometimes will need to be resealed or painted.
Depending on the severity of the fire, sometimes soft textiles in a home can be cleaned and the odor completely removed. It is possible that, despite best efforts, some odor is still lingering in some flooring, clothing, or furniture.
If you have a lingering odor in your Long Beach Island home – smoke, musty, or otherwise, there are a number of ways Stretch Cleaning & Restoration can help you breathe easy again. We follow four general odor removal principles: remove the source of the odor, clean the affected area and materials, recreate conditions when necessary to prove the odor is eliminated, and seal restored surfaces when necessary.
Using these steps is a nearly fool-proof way to kick the odor out for good.
