Not E related - smoke odor help?

azdancer8

I don't post here too frequently, but since this is a busier board I thought I would give it a shot.  My sister is getting married tomorrow, and last night there was a fire under her apartment. Everyone is fine, but the apartment is full of smoke smell. She is freaking out, and doesn't have a lot of time obviously for a deep clean. Google recommended using vinegar, charcoal, and candles as odor eaters. Have any of you had experience with this? What works?

LeiselEB

When I was in high school we had a fire in our house, and while there was a lot of fire damage, the room that didn't "burn" had a lot of smoke damage. That smell is awful!

I would recommend your sister get her important stuff out of that apartment for the time being and stay somewhere else if she doesn't like being around the smell. Have her open windows if possible to get some ventilation. That smoke will seriously get into every little nook and cranny and stay there. 

Find a professional cleaner to get rid of the soot and do an air treatment that will remove the smoke. Smoke will just sit in the walls and floors no matter how much air freshener you use, and the odor will keep coming back. The fire department can give information on what cleaning companies can do this - that's how we got our referral.  

Glad everyone got out safely!

ETA: I know that this isn't the best sounding option, but that smoke will not just go away on its own. My room didn't burn at all in the fire, but I had to have the room cleaned, all my clothes cleaned, get a new mattress, have furniture professional restored, and paint the room before the smoke was completely gone. It's a very annoying thing, but better to get it done right than deal with that smell down the road. 

shanliann

i saw some candles in the candle isle at either michaels or hobby lobby, pretty sure it was hobby lobby, called smoke away or something to that effect.....

Loopyseven

I'm sorry your sister is having to deal with this.  Hopefully you can get a few people together to do some cleaning up for her so she can focus on the getting married part.  Lousy timing.  Good luck!

Avion22

Does the have renters insurance? Maybe she can get them to pay for a place for her to stay for a week or so and bring in professional cleaners. I would worry about the long-term health affects of staying in an apartment filled with smoke residue. If she is in an apartment complex then maybe they can help out?

hoffse

Ditto PP who said to wash everything.  Mostly the walls - paint is porous.  Sprinkle baking soda everywhere, keep the windows open, put out many bowls of vinegar, wash the walls, and let it all sit overnight before vacuuming.  Febreeze can help too but it might take several bottles.  I accidently started a small fire in my apartment right before we had to move out and we managed to get the smell to a manageable level in about 2-3 days.  If you have fans, aim them toward the open windows/doors to get the smelly air aiming outward.