Smoke damage is not easily cleaned even with powerful household products. Smoke odor can be behind your walls and inside of insulation, vents, attics, and crawl spaces. Without professional cleaning, the smoke odor may never dissipate. If you decided to clean the property and wipe away the ashes, you may have lost proof of your insurance claim. It is very important to document and leave the property as-is if you are filing an insurance claim.