How to Get the Smoke Smell Out of Your House After a Kitchen Fire

To start with, air out your home. It’s easy to quickly open all the windows and doors in and around the affected area. Let the natural sunlight in and turn on all of your fans. 

Put box fans in your windows facing outward to bring fresh air back into your home.

Home Made Simple recommends buying dehumidifiers to dry out the air. You can find these at any big-box retailer. They’ll do wonders to eliminate the breeding ground for any harmful or odorous bacteria left behind by a kitchen fire.

Don’t hold back on the baking soda. Baking soda absorbs odors but doesn’t carry a distinct smell, making it perfect for deep cleaning a room with lingering smells. The key is sprinkling baking soda generously, packing it in, and letting it sit (overnight, if possible).

For your carpets, Hunker.com recommends using a broom to push the baking soda into the carpets. While you are working on the carpets, move any stuffed, fabric furniture out of your way. Evenly sprinkle baking soda over the furniture pieces when you're ready to clean them and leave them for several hours. Once the baking soda has set, vacuum and repeat if necessary. You can use the soft brush attachment to sweep up the baking soda residue off of your furniture.

Dealing with a more stubborn smoke odor? You may need to hire an outside service to better target the source of the smell and eliminate it completely, using heavy-duty cleaners and special chemicals. Those professionals will also have the right protective equipment to get the job done safely and effectively. 

Throw any machine-washable items into the washer with your detergent of choice. As smoke travels, so does its odors. If you’re not vigilant about your deep-cleaning process, drapes, curtains, bed linens, and clothing can all carry persistent smoke smells that’ll ruin your fabrics.

Adding a cup of vinegar during the rinse cycle is an excellent way to fight odors. Turn your machine on, toss a load of laundry in, set a timer for the rinse cycle, then keep working.

You can remove the odors yourself by simply washing the floors, walls, and ceilings. In fact, Bob Vila’s key to getting rid of smoke smells is by hand-washing any affected surfaces, fixtures, and cabinetry. 

When used safely, ammonia can be effective in eliminating pervasive smoke smells, especially those caused by a kitchen fire. Use ¼ cup of ammonia with a bucket of water as a cleaning solution to mop your floors. Gently sponge-clean your walls. 

Note: If you have hardwood floors, do not use ammonia to clean them, as they may become discolored. 

Also, never use ammonia and bleach together. The resulting fumes can be especially toxic to you and your family. Be careful and always use protective gloves, goggles, and a face mask when handling ammonia.

Tar and soot will cling to your appliances and surfaces, causing them to smell. Baking soda comes in handy as a household cleaner when you mix it with warm water or vinegar. 

Wash every surface with a sponge, including cabinets, countertops, and appliances, by mixing one cup of baking soda with warm water. Don’t rinse-- let the surfaces dry. Clean as often as needed in order to get rid of the smell.

Save your air fresheners, odor-eliminating sprays, and oil diffusers for when you’re sure the smell is gone. According to Bob Vila, masking existing smoke odors this way is not only temporary but irritating to your respiratory system. 

Keep this in mind if you have household members with breathing problems or allergies.

Change out the air filters in your home’s heating and cooling system. When that’s complete, set out odor-eliminating bowls of absorbent materials like activated charcoal, baking soda, or coffee grounds. 

If you want a long-term solution, invest in an air purifier to make sure your home is constantly free of odors, fungi, and bacteria.

After a kitchen fire, smoke odors travel, linger, and take residence in your home. It’s a different kind of fire damage causing headaches, bad smells, and even respiratory issues. If you’ve tried Febreze and wall plug-ins, but still can’t seem to tackle the smell, try the six steps above. You may learn that a deep clean of your home is just what you needed.

• https://www.homemadesimple.com/in-the-home/how-to-get-smoke-smell-out-of-your-house-a-complete-guide/
• https://www.hunker.com/13421794/how-to-naturally-remove-smoke-smells-after-a-fire
• https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-get-rid-of-smoke-smell/