How to Remove the Smoke Smell from Your Home After Wildfires in the Myrtle Beach Area - Post and Courier

MYRTLE BEACH – As wildfire smoke continues to blanket the Carolina Forest , experts have offered tips on how local homeowners and renters can eliminate the lingering smell of smoke.

Smoke from wildfires is usually a mixture of gases and fine particles produced when trees, plants and other materials burn. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, inhalation can cause coughing, wheezing, asthma attacks, itchy eyes, scratchy throat, runny nose, sinus irritation, headache, fatigue, chest pain and tachycardia.

That's why experts recommend cleaning as soon as possible to remove traces of smoke. But before neighbors start, they should contact their insurance company, said Damien Monaghan, a 16-year restoration veteran who works for Rumsey Construction and Restoration , which has offices in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia.

"A lot of people don't realize that things like this are part of insurance coverage," Monaghan said, referring to odors that come from a home after an event like a fire. "There are parts of insurance that help alleviate and solve this problem."

For best results, he recommended hiring a professional restoration company or, if cost is a barrier, finding a nonprofit organization that offers affordable professional restoration services.

Although no homes suffered major structural damage from the Carolina wildfire, some porches were charred and siding was melted.

"Resolving the source of the fire is the critical step in any fire recovery," Monaghan said. "Remove and dispose of the source, vacuum the debris, clean the debris, and cut off any material that needs to be removed and cannot be cleaned."

For surface cleaning, people should use special cleaning products to clean walls, ceilings, floors and countertops. According to Home Depot, cleaning products neutralize and absorb odors.

Additionally, people should clean the inside and outside of their HVAC equipment. You can use a shop vacuum cleaner indoors.

"Smoke particles often enter homes' HVAC systems, which can create a lingering odor that constantly circulates throughout the home," according to Home Depot. "Check the system's air filters and grilles, clean them thoroughly, and replace any damaged or excessively dirty filters to restore them."

However, Monaghan said professional help may be needed in severe cases of smoke damage.

"Your home's HVAC system is like the lungs of your home," Monaghan said. "The insulation within the walls, under the house and in the attic cannot be removed by vacuuming or cleaning once smoke has settled on it. You would have to remove and replace the insulation … and clean those areas."

Home Depot also recommends specific treatments for carpets, rugs, and upholstery. These include steam cleaning delicate furniture or carpets, removing heavily soiled carpets and rugs with hot water, and dry cleaning water-sensitive materials that can be damaged if exposed to moisture.

It is also important to prioritize safety when it comes to areas affected by smoke. Home Deport recommends ensuring adequate ventilation by opening windows and using fans to circulate fresh air.

But Monaghan said ventilation could become a no-win situation.

"You turn on the fans and open the windows, but the conditions outside could be worse," Monaghan said. "Please consult the professional for advice on your specific situation... as this can be very specific depending on the situation, particularly in a situation like the one we are currently experiencing on the coast with bushfires."

Monaghan's crew often uses ozone and hydroxyl generators, which release ozone molecules to break down smoke particles and neutralize odors. This forces the air to evaporate faster than normal, Monaghan said.

It was also recommended to use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration system and air purifier.

Additionally, when cleaning their homes, people are advised to wear protective gear to avoid being exposed to potentially harmful particles and chemicals during the cleaning process. According to Home Depot, these include rubber gloves, safety glasses or respirators.

According to the latest press release from the South Carolina Forestry Commission, the Carolina wildfire had grown to 2,059 acres and was approximately 30 percent contained as of the morning of March 4. More than 500 rescuers are deployed to contain the fire.

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