Something in your house caught fire. Maybe it was a faulty wire, or maybe a candle ignited a curtain. Whatever caused it, now that the fire is long gone, you might still be struggling to get rid of the smoke smell. But why? You’ve already attempted to clean the damaged area. Shouldn’t the smoke have just dispersed by now? Let’s take a look at a few of the reasons why the smell of smoke can linger.

Soft Surfaces

The more soft surfaces you have in a smoky area, the more likely it is that you’ll have a lingering smell. Smoke can cling to fabrics, so surfaces such as couches and carpets may hold onto that smell for a long time. Have you ever gone to a bonfire and then smelled like smoke for the rest of the night? It’s because the smoke settled into the fabric of your clothes. For the bonfire smell, all you had to do was toss your clothes into the washing machine. Unfortunately, items like cushions and rugs will prove much more difficult to clean.

Walls and Ceilings

In addition to your fabrics, your walls and ceilings can also absorb a smoky smell. Since smoke rises, your ceilings become prime real estate for a lingering smell. Your walls also hold onto a lot of that smell because your paint absorbs it. Thoroughly cleaning and treating the painted surfaces and then applying a fresh coat of odor-blocking sealant can eliminate a lot of the problem.

What You Can Do About It

Aside from repainting the walls after a proper cleaning, there’s not a lot that a non-professional can do about a lingering smoke smell. The contaminants from smoke and soot usually require a team of experts for removal. Furthermore, the accompanying fire and water damage may have caused serious structural issues to your home. Your best option is to hire a professional cleaning and restoration service. This way, you won’t risk overlooking any damage that might cause long-term issues.

Smoke Smell

Are you looking for a professional service to help you get rid of that smoke smell? Soil-Away can help. The expert team at Soil-Away has years of experience dealing with fire damage, including the smoke that gets left behind. From the first assessment to the final walk-through, we provide complete cleanup and restoration for fire-damaged areas. Our smoke removal includes the Esporta process, which removes smoke damage from soft goods. Are you ready to get rid of that smoke smell forever? Contact us today. We’re here for you 24/7.