Prep first
Before you start
- Check the care label on every fabric before it gets wet.
- Test any cleaner on a hidden spot first.
- Take cushions, rugs and small items outside so the soot does not spread through the house.
- Close doors to rooms you are not cleaning yet.
Smoke smell clings to everything soot touches, from walls and ceilings to furniture, carpet and clothes. Soot is greasy, so rushing at it can spread it further. Before you start, check the care label on each fabric and look for ash, which needs its own careful cleanup.
To get rid of house smoke smell for good, deal with the source rather than the scent. Air the rooms out and clear away loose soot and ash before anything gets wet. Then clean each surface in order, because a deodorizing spray only gives temporary relief.
10 items
What you'll need
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- Rubber glovesKeep soot and cleaner off your hands. (opens Amazon)
- N95 respiratorProtects your breathing during ash cleanup. (opens Amazon)
- Mild soap or detergentFor washing walls, furniture and floors. (opens Amazon)
- Tri-sodium phosphateFor heavy soot on walls, mixed with household cleaner or chlorine bleach in warm water.
- Liquid laundry detergentFor washable fabrics in warm water. (opens Amazon)
- HEPA-type vacuumPicks up ash and dust without blowing fine particles back into the air.
- Chemical spongeFor soot on painted or plaster walls, where water-based cleaner can make stains bleed. (opens Amazon)
- FanKeeps air moving while you work and while things dry. (opens Amazon)
- Household cleaner (opens Amazon)
- Chlorine bleach (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Ventilate the house and set up fans
Open the windows and set up a fan to circulate air through the rooms you are cleaning. Put on gloves before you touch any soot, and add an N95 respirator and long sleeves when you are cleaning up ash.
Step 2 of 6
Remove loose soot and ash
Mist hard surfaces and any ash with water before you sweep. Wet mop the floors, and use a HEPA-type vacuum for any dust you still need to pick up. On fabric, hold the vacuum nozzle slightly off the surface.
Careful. Dry sweeping kicks ash into the air, and attachments or upright brushes push soot into fabric, so avoid both.
Step 3 of 6
Wash walls, furniture and floors
Wash the walls, furniture and floors with a mild soap or detergent. For heavy soot on walls, mix 4 to 6 tablespoons of tri-sodium phosphate and 1 cup of household cleaner or chlorine bleach into each gallon of warm water. Work one small area at a time from the floor up to prevent streaks, and wash the ceilings last.
Tip. Keep each small area wet while you work so the cleaner does not dry on before the rinse.
Careful. Tri-sodium phosphate is caustic, so read its label for directions and safety. Test the bleach solution on a small area and let it dry at least 24 hours before using it on a surface.
Step 4 of 6
Rinse and dry the surfaces
Rinse each area with clear warm water right after you wash it, so no cleaner is left behind. Dry the surfaces thoroughly before you move on to the next room.
Step 5 of 6
Wash the washable fabrics
Wash washable fabrics in warm water with liquid detergent. Several launderings may be needed, so check each item before you put it away.
Careful. Test garments first and follow the maker's instructions before using any treatment.
Step 6 of 6
Air dry everything completely
Hang washed fabrics to dry rather than using a heated dryer until the smell is gone. Keep the windows open and the fan running while the walls and furniture dry.
Careful. Do not repaint until the walls and ceilings are completely dry.
What makes the job easier
Products that help
Choose a mild soap or detergent for walls and furniture, and a liquid laundry detergent for fabric rather than dishwasher detergent. Pick a HEPA-type vacuum for dust and ash.
OdoBan Odor Eliminator & Disinfectant Concentrate
How we picked these: each product is made for this kind of odor or surface, its maker doesn't warn against using it on house smoke smell, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely before you use it again.
How to tell it's really done →A faint smell often fades as everything dries and airs out; give it a day before a second round.
Find the guide for your stain →Heavy grime or a lingering smell usually needs a second round once it's fully dry.
See what to do for what you're seeing →When to call a professional →How to tell it's done
The room should smell clean once it has been aired out, and a dry white cloth wiped over the surfaces should come away free of soot. Everything needs to be completely dry before you close up the room. If the smell or soot is still there, repeat the wash and rinse on that area before you move on.
If there is a stain too
Related guides
A smell usually has a stain or a spill behind it. These guides cover the cleanup in detail:
What changes for yours
Adjust for what holds the smell
Painted or plaster walls
Painted and plaster walls are better cleaned with a chemical sponge or other non-water-based cleaner than with the water wash in the steps. Water-based cleaner on plaster makes the soot stain bleed, so use the non-water-based option there.
Test the sponge on a hidden spot first, and work in small sections so the soot does not spread.
Washable wallpaper
Clean washable wallpaper the way you would painted walls, with a chemical sponge or other non-water-based cleaner, and do not wet the paper through. Re-paste any loose edges with a commercial paste rather than letting them hang.
Work in small sections so you can see how the paper responds as you go.
Wood furniture
Wash wood with the mild soap or detergent from the steps, and keep the cloth damp rather than wet. Steam and heat can damage the finish on some wood tables, so skip them and let the piece air dry.
Dry the wood right after the rinse, and check the finish once it is dry before deciding the smell is gone.
Purses, shoes and suitcases
Stuff purses and shoes with newspaper to keep their shape while they air out, and leave suitcases open. Let them dry in the ventilated room rather than sealing them up.
If the item is leather or you do not know the material, check its label before any liquid touches it.
Ducts and attic
Air ducts only need cleaning when they are clogged with dust or releasing particles, so the smell alone is not a reason to clean them. If the attic insulation has picked up smoke, consider replacing it, since it may keep holding odors.
Check the HVAC filter first when the house still smells, and replace it when it looks heavily soiled.
Prevention
Keep the smell from coming back
Check the air cleaner and HVAC filters more often when they look heavily soiled, since they catch smoke particles. MERV 13 HVAC filters also remove smoke particles.
Use a damp cloth or wet mop on lightly dusted areas, and vacuum with a HEPA-type vacuum if you need to. Clean air ducts only as needed, such as when they are clogged with dust or releasing particles.
Keep the house well ventilated and skip perfume sprays, which only cover the problem for a while. Deep clean again only if the smell comes back, and check the filters after any new smoke in the house.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies get rid of the smell?
Lots of kitchen remedies get passed around for smoke smell, but most do not belong in this deep clean. Here is how each one fits, so you know which to use and which to skip.
Helps2Skip4Avoid1
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't cover the smell with sprays
Perfume and deodorizing sprays only give temporary relief, and they can add another odor. Clean the soot and wash the surfaces first, then let the room air out.
Don't mix bleach with other cleaners
Vinegar, baking soda and dish soap should never be mixed with bleach. Rinse the wall wash off with clear water before you use any other cleaner on the same surface.
Don't judge the job by smell alone
Fresh air can make a room smell better before the soot is gone. Check the surfaces too, and wipe a dry white cloth over them before you decide the job is done.
Don't expect one wash to finish
Smoke odor can come back from time to time if it is not fully removed, especially in warm or damp weather. Give washable fabrics several rounds before you decide they are clean.
Troubleshooting
If the smell comes back
Pick what you're seeing:
Smell returns in warm or damp weather
Smoke odor can come back if it was not fully removed. Repeat the wash and rinse on the areas that still smell, and keep the house ventilated and dry.
Fabric still smells after washing
Several launderings may be needed, so wash it again in warm water with liquid detergent. Hang the item to dry instead of using a heated dryer until the smell is gone.
Plaster walls show a bleeding stain
Water-based cleaner can make soot stains bleed on plaster. Switch to a chemical sponge or other non-water-based cleaner and work in small sections.
When to call a professional
Ask a professional about replacing drywall and insulation that fire hoses have soaked, since they cannot be dried out. Restorers can also use thermal fogging, a warm chemical fog that neutralizes smoke odor in walls. Have carpets cleaned twice, before and after repairs.
Questions
Can I get smoke smell out of a couch?
It can be, but start by checking the care label, since many couches cannot be washed. Ask a professional carpet or rug cleaner about upholstery if the label does not allow water.
Are ozone generators safe for smoke smell?
At safe concentrations, ozone is generally ineffective for indoor air pollution, so it is not a reliable fix. Restoration companies sometimes use high concentrations in unoccupied spaces, but ozone can damage the lungs and worsen asthma, so never run it where people or pets are.
Do air purifiers remove smoke odor?
Portable air cleaners and MERV 13 HVAC filters remove smoke particles from the air. They help once the surfaces are clean, but they do not replace washing walls and fabric.
Is fireplace smoke smell different from other smoke?
Fireplace smoke often leaves ash behind, so the ash comes up before anything else. Once it is gone, the walls, furniture and floors get the same wash and rinse as the rest of the house.
Can I use these steps on books, plastic or electronics?
The steps here are built for walls, furniture and fabric, so do not assume they suit electronics or books. Check the maker's instructions for each item, and ask a professional restorer before any liquid touches them.
Does kitchen fire smoke need different care on clothes?
Soot from a kitchen fire is greasy, so brush it off gently rather than rubbing it in. Wash regular laundry with a pre-soak odor remover, and expect that it may take a couple of wash cycles.
Start from the bigger picture
More odor guides
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.