The smoke smell removal process depends entirely on the material. Smoke damage can permeate the surface of porous materials and goes much deeper than any surface damage you may see. For example:
Walls and Ceilings – Fire can blister the paint on walls and cause discoloration. Walls and ceilings need to be scraped and sanded back sufficiently until all affected material has been removed, before being repainted.
Unfinished Wood – There is a lower success rate for unfinished wood. One option would be to apply a sealant onto the wood, in some cases this will trap the odor.
Finished Wood – As finished wood already has a protective layer that will have been affected by the smoke, this will often be stripped, sanded and refinished.
Furniture – As furniture is often made of fabric, it’s likely to soak in a lot of the smoke and cause a strong smell. This will require professional cleaning or, if it’s not of great value, replacement.
Carpets – The same applies to carpets. The fibers of the carpet will hold the smell, meaning that cleaning throughout the property is necessary. If this doesn’t work, a replacement will be required.
Unfortunately, once a fire has occurred inside a property, removing the smell of smoke can be a difficult process. It’s important to seek professional help from a team of fire remediation professionals such as BELFOR.