The lingering smell of smoke indoors from the kitchen, an extinguished candle, or cigarettes can be exasperating. Air fresheners, sprays, and scented candles only mask the smoke smell temporarily. Even the time-honored tradition of opening the window only dilutes the odor without removing the smell permanently. Thankfully, there are ways to get rid of the odor permanently.
Deal with the Source
Some of your home's surfaces, such as drywall and carpeting, soak up the smells they're subjected to regularly. Some of the ways to wash away the smoke smell from them include:
- Cleaning carpets containing smoke odors
- Thoroughly washing your ceiling and walls with trisodium phosphate (TSP) or vinegar and water
- Machine washing, steam cleaning, or replacing your window treatments
- Removing furniture that has absorbed plenty of smoke
Treat the Air
To get the smell of smoke out of your home, you'll also need to clean the indoor air. Here are some tips:
- Whole-home filtration. Installing a HEPA air filter with a charcoal odor filter will help eliminate smoke particles from the air. You can also invest in a whole-house air-purification system to work alongside your HVAC system to filter out smoke odors and other airborne contaminants.
- Dehumidification. Moist air makes smoke smells more intense, so consider running a dehumidifier in the rooms that are most affected by the smell.
- Duct cleaning. Ductwork can be coated in smoke byproducts like nicotine and tar after a long period of exposure. Having your ducts cleaned will get rid of the byproducts as well as dust bunnies that may be harboring odor particles and prolonging the smell you find in your home.
- Evaporator-coil examination. If there's someone who smokes in your home, the odor can infiltrate the evaporator coil. The smell will be blasted into your home whenever the air conditioner is running. Inspect your evaporator coil and have it cleaned by a professional if it's dirty.
Smoke smell is not only unpleasant to your nasal cavities, it can stick to your belongings until they're beyond salvage. Therefore, it's best to act fast. If you need more help with removing smoke odors and other contaminants that can pollute your Fort Wayne home's indoor air quality, contact Hartman Brothers Heating & Air Conditioning.