Smoke: The Most Onerous of Odors

2/8/2021 (Permalink)

Removing Odor from Property

In the battle against stenches, there’s one that defies even the most skilled odor removal and deodorization experts: Nicotine. 

“The key to eliminating odors is to remove the source. But nicotine is made up of very, very small micron-level particulates that can embed themselves into damn near anything,” said Jason Sadler, mitigation estimating manager for SERVPRO of Northwest Charlotte. “So if nicotine is the source and it’s in and on every crack, crevice and surface, it becomes quite the task to try and remove it.”  

Masking and other shortcuts are powerless against cigarettes and cigars, Sadler said, and even extensive cleaning doesn’t offer assurance. 

The stinky reality 

“Let’s say you buy a property where it has been smoked in for years. You’d probably have to remove or replace everything that’s either pushing or pulling air or made of porous materials,” he said. “Things like HVAC systems, exhaust vents in bathrooms and carpet and padding just hold onto that odor and can’t be salvaged.” 

Sadler added, “If you wet wash walls with certain types of cleaning products, you might be able to eliminate a good bit of the odor, but it’s tough to guarantee removal of that nasty yellowing and nicotine or smoking-type odor.”

If you plan to head to a grocery store or big-box retailer this weekend to rent a carpet cleaning machine or take advantage of one of those $99 specials for commercial carpet cleaning, Sadler offers a word of caution. 

“It’s not realistic to think you can bring a machine home and use it to get rid of the cigarette or cigar smells in your carpet. And as far as those commercial carpet cleaning deals go, those are for general cleaning, not nicotine removal,” Sadler said. “Bottom line. Even if it looks cleaner, that doesn’t mean it is cleaner.”

Odor removal and deodorization

The science of identifying and eliminating odors in your property can be complicated because they can come from a variety of sources both inside and outside your building, office or other structure. SERVPRO of Northwest Charlotte has local experts trained to identify and eliminate offensive odors using air scrubbers, thermal foggers and deodorization agents. For questions, contact us anytime at (704) 393-7890 or request help online.