Restoration logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Restoration logo
  • NEWS
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products & Technologies
    • Submit Your Product
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
  • EDUCATION
    • KnowHow.
    • Podcasts
    • Trade Shows & Expos
    • Training & Certification
    • Webinars
    • Whitepapers
  • TOPICS
    • Water Damage
    • Fire & Smoke Damage
    • Mold
    • Contamination
    • Odor
    • Contents
    • Architecture
    • Catastrophe
    • Cleaning
  • BUSINESS
    • Managing Your Business
    • Insurance/Legal Matters
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • VIDEOS
    • Ask Annissa
    • Ask the Expert
    • Ironclad Marketing Minute
    • TradeTalks
    • Video Channel
  • INFOCENTER
    • Mold and Mycotoxins
  • THE EXPERIENCE
    • Conference & Exhibition
    • Convention & Trade Show
    • R&R Special Issue
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP
Fire and Smoke Damage RestorationOdor Removal

5 Steps of Fire and Smoke Odor Removal

By Michelle Blevins
5-Steps-of-Fire-and-Smoke-Odor-Removal.jpg
May 14, 2018

Odor removal is one of the more subjective parts of restoration and remediation work. What one person smells, another may not. What is offensive-smelling to one person, may smell sweet as roses to someone else (anyone want to talk about the smell of diesel fumes?!). All of this is why most restoration companies today no longer try to mask odors. Instead, complete odor removal is the goal – but how do you know the odor is gone when everyone’s senses are different? This all comes down to the science of smells. They key is to determine the source of the odor, then go from there.

When it comes to fire and smoke damage restoration, the source is usually pretty obvious – but without thorough cleaning, odors can linger and be trapped in tricky and hidden areas that were missed during the cleaning process. Plus, while one person in the home may adapt to any residual odor, the lingering smells could really irritate someone else.

There are a lot of articles in R&R that walk through the key steps of fire and smoke odor removal. In this article, we are going to break it down into five basic steps that are a combination of the wide range of expertise from various contributors and industry experts.

Step 1: Remove anything with visible smoke damage. Obviously, anything with smoke damage is probably going to be holding on to some odors.

Step 2: Clean everything. Every square inch – both the structure and the contents. There are case studies of odor removal being done in homes of hoarders, but the contents left untouched. Weeks after the odor removal is believed to be complete, the odor comes returns because it still exists within all the contents in the space. Microfiber cloths and cotton swabs are great for the cleaning process itself, and ensuring you’ve gotten rid of any lingering residue.

Step 3: Run your odor removal equipment. Depending on your equipment, preferences, and safety concerns, they can start running while crews are working on cleaning the structure – or be run during hours when the home or business is empty.

Step 4: Consider sealing any porous surfaces that may have absorbed the smoke odor – like unfinished, raw wood.

Step 5: Odor check! Do you smell anything? Do others smell anything they shouldn’t? If any odor lingers, go back to step two and repeat back to this step. Repeat steps two, three, and four as many times as needed until no smoke odor is detected.

There are some other things to take into consideration as you clean. Think about environmental conditions. Following the California wildfires, rainstorms kicked up smoke odors from the charred ground. The same goes for building materials and contents. Warmer, wet or humid weather will allow any odors trapped in building materials to escape and might therefore require you to do the project all over again. The biggest key to successful odor remediation is thoroughness and not skipping steps.

KEYWORDS: smoke cleanup smoke odor removal

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Michelle blevins headshot 200px

Michelle Blevins is the former Editor-in-Chief of Restoration & Remediation. From April 2015 through July 2021, Michelle oversaw all of the editorial content and focused on multimedia efforts for the brand.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • mold remediation

    Fighting Mold and Bacteria Damage

    Successful mold remediation can be multidisciplinary,...
    Cleaning and Sanitation
    By: Josh Woolen
  • certifications and licenses for restoration professionals

    Certifications and Licenses Every Restoration Company Needs

    Restoration companies need to make sure they have the...
    Restoration Training/Education
    By: Sharon Elzarat
  • a wall covered in moss and fungus

    Zero Tolerance for Toxic Molds: Essential Steps for Successful Remediation

    Understanding the importance of zero tolerance for toxic...
    Mold Remediation
    By: Michael A. Pinto CSP, SMS, CMP, RTPE, FLS, ERS and Kendra Seymour
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Manage My Account
  • eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • Manage My Preferences

More Videos

Popular Stories

Pop Art Female Superhero Punches a Masked Villain

TPAs vs. Independence: The Restoration Industry’s Own Version of the Cola Wars

RIA Carrier Advocate Mark Springer

Turning the Page: A New Era of Trust and Collaboration in Restoration

particle count hands-on demonstration of a HEPA filter

The Truth About HEPA Filters

Submit Your New Product/Technology to R&R!

Would you like to promote a new restoration, remediation or cleaning product/technology with Restoration & Remediation? Fill out the question below to start your submission:

Events

September 3, 2025

The Experience Convention and Trade Show

The Experience Convention & Trade Show logoJoin us in Las Vegas for The Experience Convention & Trade Show, the leading event for cleaning, restoration, and remediation pros, packed with hands-on demos, expert speakers, and high-impact networking. Happening September 3–5, 2025 at Caesars Forum—this is where the industry comes to learn, connect, and grow!

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Doffing PPE

When you are doffing your PPE, do you sanitize between every step?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

The Cleaning, Restoration, Inspection, and Safety Glossary

The Cleaning, Restoration, Inspection, and Safety Glossary

The Cleaning, Restoration, Inspection, and Safety Glossary.

See More Products
Prepare for CATASTROPHE with R&R!

Related Articles

  • Odor-Removal

    Don't Skip Steps: Mastering Odor Removal during Smoke Damage Restoration

    See More
  • What's That SMELL?! Blog Sponsored by Odorox

    Top Tips for Effective Smoke Odor Removal

    See More
  • What's That SMELL?! Blog Sponsored by Odorox

    5 Popular Odor Removal Techniques

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • After-The-Smoke-Clears.gif

    After The Smoke Clears...

  • deoderantization.jpg

    Comprehensive Deodorization

  • fires out.jpg

    Fire’s Out, Now What? Vol. I & II

See More Products
×

Stay ahead of the curve with our eNewsletters.

Get the latest industry updates tailored your way.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
    • Submit a Press Release
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eNewsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Reprints
    • Marketing Services
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing