If you were lucky enough to have your home still intact in the LA wildfires, you may have encountered another problem: the smell.
As anyone who has tried to hide the sticky smell of cigarettes from their parents will remember, the strong smell of smoke is hard to hide and hard to get rid of. Here are expert answers to all your smoke removal questions.
This article is provided free of charge to keep our community safe and supported during these devastating fires.
What's in wildfire smoke – what does it smell like?
Wildfires create a wide array of pollutants that can lodge deep in your lungs and enter your bloodstream, causing respiratory problems, cancer and other health problems.
This year's fires in Los Angeles burned thousands of buildings, leaving all kinds of harmful particles in the smoke from houses, cars, furniture, paint, and burned materials. While it's sometimes easy to see a pile of toxic ash on your windowsill, the airborne ash particles are much smaller. It should be seen with the naked eye.
“There's a lot of asbestos and lead in these buildings,” said operator Scott Hummel Tactical mitigation servicesA Westlake Village-based business cleans up homes after disasters. “The volatile organic compounds in this ash are hazardous.”
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are a big contributor to sticky smells that linger long after a fire is out. And according to For the Cooperative Institute for Environmental Science ResearchThey can be deposited on walls and ceilings, where they can continue to outgas for weeks or months.
What are the first things you should do?
Once you've been told it's okay to return to your home, start by assessing your surroundings. Take pictures of any ash, soot or visible damage. Look for any open windows, and check the room for ash and soot that could get into or into the heating and cooling systems.
“My philosophy is that if you look at anything at a high level, I'll also consider the physical evidence, the invisible toxins and risks,” said Dr. Noah Greenspan, MD, director of Cardiopulmonary Medicine in New York City. – based Pulmonary Health and Rehabilitation Complex. “But if you come home and don't smell it, you can't assume there's anything there, because the toxins we're talking about are odorless and colorless.”
Protect yourself from what you can't see by making sure you have a working carbon monoxide detector and changing or cleaning the filters in your heating and cooling system.
If you can afford it, you are Rent an air scrubber For a day of high-powered air cleaning. For a long-term fix, you can buy a high-efficiency particulate air, or HEPA , The filter is an air purifier that removes particles as small as 0.3 microns. If you can't afford a high-quality purifier, the The EPA has instructions for making a DIY version Uses a box fan and a MERV 13 air filter.
When the outside air is sufficiently clean—which, now, It is may No will be – You can open the windows and expose the fans.
So how do you get rid of the smell?
It might be tempting to start with a wet mop—but many cleaning and damage repair experts warn against it.
“One of the biggest mistakes you can make is using a wet cleaning product on a flat painted surface—it pushes soot into the paint,” said Robert Bowles, director of service line development at Servpro. “What we do in the industry is use special rubber sponges. They're designed to pick up and hold soot in a specific way that doesn't damage surfaces. It doesn't contain water.”
Gary Miller, who runs Green for You Cleaning, an eco-friendly cleaning service based in the South Bay: “If you start with water, you make mud.”
Instead, he recommends using a dry microfiber to wipe down every wall and dust every crevice. Find a duster extension or ladder to make sure you can reach the ceiling and tops of cabinets and refrigerators. “You have to put on your gloves and lift things up and clean them,” he said.
After going the first time without water, Miller recommends going back with a damp towel and mild soap. When it comes to vacuuming, make sure you're using a vacuum with a HEPA filter – and don't forget to vacuum the furniture too. Return to wet mopping only after you've vacuumed.
If the smell lingers after your deep clean, Miller recommends putting out baking soda or charcoal sachets to absorb the odor. For mattresses and furniture, she said, you can sprinkle baking soda on the fabric. Let it sit and then vacuum up the powder to avoid leaving a mess.
Similarly, Hummel recommends purchasing fragrance blocks Sentinel Formula 522To absorb odors. Sanitation experts cautioned against using candles or air fresheners that mask odors.
Are there other things you need to clean that people usually forget about?
Don't forget to clean your blankets and curtains, depending on the fabric and the severity of the odor it may need to be professionally cleaned. For items that can go in the washer, Miller said Add white vinegar Helps to get rid of bad smell. (But don't mix vinegar with bleach or any cleaning products that contain bleach The mixture produces toxic chlorine gas.)
It's easy to forget about the filter on your vacuum cleaner, which you need to clean or replace. Check the vents in your bathroom where dust and particles can accumulate.
When should you call a professional?
There's no agreed-upon rule of thumb for when you should call a professional cleaner or damage repair service, but your proximity and length of exposure to flames can be key.
“If the house next door is on fire, you may need a professional,” Miller said, even if your home doesn't have significant damage.
Another indicator that you may need outside help is if there is visible ash or soot. But because airborne particles from fires are often invisible, Miller and other cleanup experts generally lean toward getting professional help when you can. Your homeowner's or renter's insurance can help cover the cost.
What do professionals do?
When dealing with the aftermath of a wildfire, Hummel said he starts by decontaminating the attic, removing soot-insulation and applying a spray-on odor sealer to the porous wood. Then, he runs a HEPA vacuum on all surfaces — even the ceilings — and uses a dry chemical sponge to pull out dry particles and ash before doing another round of HEPA vacuuming.
“All of your personal belongings will be wiped clean with a combination of a HEPA vacuum and a microfiber cloth,” he said, although some cloths may need to go to the dry cleaner for reconditioning.
Throughout the process, Hummel uses various machines to clean the air, including air scrubbers, deodorizing hydroxyl generators, and negative air machines that clean and push the air out.
How much does it cost?
It can vary – a lot. Hummel said the cheapest jobs he does, setting up the equipment and letting it run for a few days, fetch about $5,000 to $10,000. Very expensive jobs, visible smoke or damage in large houses, easily clock in at six figures.
How long does it take for the smell to go away?
“I'd be a millionaire if I knew that answer,” Miller said. “It depends on how close you are and how persistent you are.”