How to Remove Smoke Smell from Carpet

What you will need:

• Large box of baking soda (depending on the size of the room)
• Dried lavender (optional)
• Vacuum Cleaners.

Steps to Remove the Odor:

1. This method is generally safe for all carpet types.
2. Sprinkle the entire carpet with the baking soda.
3. If you prefer the room to have a pleasant light scent, mix the lavender with the baking soda before sprinkling.
4. Let sit overnight (or at least 5 hours).
5. Vacuum carpets.
6. Repeat if necessary.
7. If the above method does not eliminate the odor, you should call in a professional carpet cleaner who will have the cleaning chemicals necessary to eliminate stubborn odors.
8. If all else fails, you may need to replace the carpet.

NOTE: There are various carpet and room deodorizers on the market designed to sprinkle on your carpets and vacuum. Unfortunately, many of these are ineffective in the long term against smoke odors because they do not neutralize the odor, but rather mask it with manufactured scents, which eventually fade, letting the original odor take over.

What you need:

• Large box of baking soda (depending on the size of the room)
• Dried lavender (optional)
• Vacuum Cleaners.
• Several bowls of distilled white vinegar.
• Vanilla extract (optional)

Steps to Remove the Odor:

1. Follow steps 1-5 above for cigarette/cigar/pipe smoke.
2. Set several bowls of distilled white vinegar around the room, which will serve to absorb odors remaining in the air. Leave for 3-5 days.
3. If you do not particularly care for the smell of vinegar, place a few drops of vanilla extract into each vinegar bowl to cut the scent of vinegar.

Smoke odors caused by fire are particularly difficult to remove and can effect your carpet and other areas of your house in different ways depending upon the source of the fire and the type of smoke it creates. Some particular types of smoke odors are as follows:

• Wet Smoke – Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.
• Dry Smoke – Fast burning at high temperatures.
• Protein – Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes. Extreme pungent odor.
• Fuel Oil Soot – Furnace puff backs cause fuel oil soot.
• Other Types – Tear gas, fingerprint powder, and fire extinguisher residue are other types.

Generally it is best to call in a smoke damage professional. Check your local yellow pages, or check with your local Chamber of Commerce or Better Business Bureau for information regarding licensed professionals in your area.

There are products on the market known as Ozone generators that may help in reducing the smoke odor from your carpet. These products may be effective in reducing the odor, but unless the source of the odor (i.e. the carpet) is addressed, the odor will never be completely eliminated.

Many people hesitate to call in a smoke damage specialist because of the costly, sometimes dangerous and environmentally unfriendly nature of the process (i.e. the use of ozone neutralizers). However, there are companies out there who employ environmentally friendly smoke removal procedures. These services may present a viable alternative.

In sum, however, if your carpets have absorbed the smell caused by smoke damage, there is little that can be done without the services of a professional.

Related:

• How to Clean Smoke Damage
• How to Remove Burnt Plastic Odors
• How to Remove Cigarette Smell from Wooden Furniture
• How to Remove Odors from Carpet
• How to Remove Smoke Smell from Fabrics
• How to Remove Smoke Smell from Vinyl Furniture