Short answer: air the house once the smoke has cleared outside, vacuum everything with a HEPA-filter vacuum, wash what can be washed, and replace air conditioner filters. If the smell is still there after a week, the particles are deep in the carpet and upholstery and need hot water extraction.
Why smoke lingers
Bushfire smoke is made of very fine particles and oily residues. They pass through gaps around doors and windows and settle into anything soft: carpet, curtains, couches, mattresses and bedding.
Adelaide gets smoke days most summers, from fires in the Hills, on the Fleurieu or further afield, and from burn-offs in autumn. Even homes far from the fire can smell of it.
First steps at home
- Wait until outdoor air is clear, then open the house up fully for a few hours.
- Vacuum carpets, rugs and upholstery slowly with a HEPA-filter vacuum. Go over each area more than once.
- Wash curtains, cushion covers and bedding.
- Wipe hard surfaces with a damp cloth. Smoke residue on walls and sills keeps feeding the smell.
- Change or clean air conditioner filters, and check the evaporative cooler pads.
- Sprinkle bicarb soda on carpets, leave overnight and vacuum. It helps with light odour.
What does not work
- Air fresheners and sprays. They cover the smell for a day.
- Shampooing with a hire machine. Too much water and too little suction can leave carpet damp and smelling worse.
- Waiting it out. Light smoke smell fades. Heavy smoke residue does not.
When to call a professional
If the smell persists after airing and vacuuming, hot water extraction removes the residue from carpet and fabric lounges. Leather, curtains and mattresses can be treated too.
If your home was close to a fire, or there is visible soot or ash indoors, contact your insurer before you clean anything. Soot smears easily and needs a specific approach.
See carpet cleaning, couch and upholstery cleaning, mattress cleaning and curtain cleaning.
Protecting the house on smoke days
Keep windows and doors shut, set reverse-cycle air conditioning to recirculate, and do not run an evaporative cooler, which draws outside air in. See evaporative coolers and carpets.
FAQs
How long does bushfire smoke smell last in a house?
Light smoke clears in a few days with airing. Heavier exposure can linger for weeks in soft furnishings until they are cleaned.
Does steam cleaning remove smoke smell?
Yes, for carpet and fabric upholstery, because it rinses out the residue that holds the odour.
Is smoke residue in carpet a health concern?
Fine particles can irritate people with asthma or allergies. Vacuuming with a HEPA filter and cleaning soft furnishings reduces exposure.
