House Smells Too Much Like Smoke

House Smells Too Much Like Smoke? Here’s How We Remove It for Good

Smoke smell in the house is a common problem that we see a lot of at the houses we clean. Smoke smell is One of the hardest problems to get rid of because it does not just hang around in the air; it gets absorbed by all kinds of things—surfaces, furniture, clothing, etc.—and even your heating/air conditioning system. Regardless of whether the smoke smell is caused by someone smoking inside your Home (cigarettes), some kind of cooking or grilling, or from some past fire damage, getting rid of smoke smell permanently requires way more than general cleaning.

At maria's green cleaning, we have helped countless homeowners take their homes back to having a clean, fresh, healthy place to live. Below, i'll explain why smoke smell stays in a Home and what really works to get rid of smoke smells so they never come back again.

Why Your House Smells Too Much Like Smoke

Generally speaking, if your House Smells too much like smoke, it's because of how smoke acts. When you light a cigarette or cook something with smoke, tiny particles are released into the air. Those particles then attach themselves to anything they touch. They can settle into walls, ceiling fans, drapes, upholstered furniture and cushions, carpets and even hard surfaces.

As long as those trapped particles remain in whatever material they've settled in to, they continue to give off the odor. This is why so many people say that no matter how well they clean their Home, the smoke smell returns. We've seen this happen in homes where people have been smoking indoors regularly, in kitchens where cooks frequently grill or fry foods creating lots of smoke, and even in homes that used to have fireplaces. Until those embedded particles are eliminated, the smoke smell will continue to exist.

Why Regular Cleaning Doesn’t Solve the Problem

A lot of people think that simple cleaning will get rid of smoke smell. However, the truth is that regular cleaning only cleans up half the problem. What we commonly hear from customers who try to clean out smoke smells themselves is that they've tried various combinations of sprays and fragrances, mops and vacuums and still find that the smell remains.

This is because smoke residue has penetrated deeply into fabric and other materials. Spraying fragrances might temporarily hide the odor but they do nothing to remove the cause of it. Sometimes spraying fragrances causes a worse smelling combination of fragrances and smoke. Instead, you need to tackle the root cause of the odor — the source — rather than trying to treat its symptoms.

How We Recommend Removing Smoke Smell from Your HomeHome

First and foremost, we think it makes sense to start by opening windows and doors. By doing this you create additional air flow which reduces airborne particulates and increases indoor air quality. While this isn't going to totally solve your problem, it's definitely a good beginning.

After you increase air flow, you want to move on to deep cleaning. From working on homes with smoke smells we know that walls, ceilings and flooring can harbor a great deal of smoke residue. In order to remove the residue you're going to need to scrub all three very thoroughly using a product specifically made for breaking down particulate matter.

Softer materials also absorb smoke rapidly. So you will probably need to wash or deodorize your curtains, bedding and upholstered furnishings. We've also noticed that carpets tend to hold onto smoke smell longer than pretty much any other surface. You'll probably need to do deep extraction cleaning of your carpets in order to completely remove the smell.

And lastly many people neglect to consider their Home's air circulation system (HVAC). Smoke particles can travel through the air ducts and filters of your system and spread the odor throughout your Home. Cleaning your filters and ensuring proper airflow through your system can be a huge improvement.

Finally, depending on your preference you could add some natural odor absorbing agents like baking soda or activated charcoal during the cleaning process. While neither option would completely eliminate the odor itself they would certainly help minimize it.

Signs the Smoke Odor Problem Is More Serious

Based on our experience at maria's green cleaning, there are several telltale signs that will let you know if your smoke smell is not simply surface level.

If you are experiencing recurring smoke smells after cleaning it is highly probable that there is residual smoke smell embedded in your Home. A couple of examples include wall or ceiling discoloration due to heavy smoke residue. Another example includes fabrics retaining smoke odor even after washing. Lastly, some homeowners also report respiratory-related problems including headaches or sore throats which are directly related to poor indoor air quality.

When these indicators appear standard methods will generally not be sufficient. At this point more aggressive cleaning needs to occur.

When It’s Time to Bring in Professionals

Eventually, when you do everything yourself you run out of options. If your House Smells too much like smoke regardless of how well you've attempted to eradicate it through your own efforts hiring a professional cleaner will greatly improve your chances of success.

At maria's green cleaning we offer a safe, environmentally friendly method for eliminating smoke smells from your Home. Our focus is centered around achieving both maximum efficiency and safety. All of the cleaning products we utilize are non-toxic, green based and we apply deep cleaning techniques which penetrate into the porous materials where the smoke particles become lodged.

Our goal is to remove odors at their source — not merely mask them. Additionally, we pay particular attention to aspects of your Home that are often overlooked when cleaning for smoke smell — namely your HVAC system and hard-to-reach areas. It is through paying close attention to all details that we achieve successful results for our clients for years to come.

How We Help Prevent Smoke Odor from Returning

While once you've successfully removed smoke smells from your Home preventing them from returning is far less complicated. There are two primary actions you can take to keep smoke smells away:

Firstly avoiding indoor smoking is obviously the simplest way to prevent recurring smoke smells.

Secondly making sure you have adequate ventilation while cooking also prevents the accumulation of particles in your Home.

Regular cleaning of surfaces and soft goods will prevent particle buildup over time.

Lastly, maintaining your HVAC system by replacing filters regularly and optimizing airflow through your system will ensure that particles are not circulated back into your Home.

How We Help Prevent Smoke Odor from Returning

Maria's green cleaning believes that removing smoke smells should not require compromising anyone's health. Traditional cleaners contain chemicals that could lead to new problems in addition to solving old ones.

Because of this we specialize in utilizing only eco-friendly cleaning products. These products are capable of destroying smoke particles safely while allowing families, pets and individuals who have sensitivities or allergies to breathe easily in their homes. This is a balancing act between performing efficiently and responsibly — an element that we emphasize in each Home we clean.

Final Thoughts

If your House Smells too much like smoke and you realize that getting rid of the smell is not an easy task as expected — understand that it takes more than a few minutes or hours to accomplish this. Smoke smell must be attacked aggressively and thoroughly in order for it to go away for good.

If you're currently struggling with ongoing smoke smell at your Home, maria's green cleaning is ready to assist you. As experienced professionals specializing in safe & efficient cleaning methods for eliminating smokes smells in Seattle homes, we look forward to helping you restore a pleasant environment in your Home.