How Long Does It Take For Smoke To Clear Out Of A Room?
It seems like the smoke from a burnt piece of toast lingers in your home for hours. The more smoke, the longer it seems to take to dissipate. Fresh, clean air is essential to maintaining a healthy home.
How long it will take to get smoke out of a room depends on the amount of smoke in the room, air circulation, and the room size. In the case of cigarette smoke, it can take two to three hours to clear a room. More extensive smoke can take several hours to clear, such as from a chimney backflow or a small fire. Removing the lingering smoke odor can take anywhere from two weeks to a month.
A few easy tactics will help speed your efforts to clear smoke from a room. Try these steps to return your air to normal.
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Assess And Put Out the Source
Before getting the smoke out of the room, you must first identify the source and put out the fire. Smoke in a home can be caused by:
- Burning food on a kitchen appliance
- Fireplace smoke from backflow
- Cigarette smoke
- Accidental room fire, such as from a space heater or a tipped-over candle
Always make sure you take steps to stay safe when dowsing or removing the source of the fire.
Hot Pots and Pans
Turn off the heat source. Cover open flames with a metal lid or cookie sheet. You can also try pouring baking soda or salt on the flames. Spray a chemical fire extinguisher as a last resort. Never put water on grease fires.
Once the flames are fully distinguished, you can consider removing pots and pans outside only if it is safe to do so. Avoid placing hot cookware on a flammable exterior surface.
Fireplace Smoke
Extinguish the flames. For a wood fire, use a poker to spread the wood and embers around the fireplace. Put ashes or baking soda over fire to put out the fire. The fire must be completely cool and not smoking before you can remove ashes.
In the event of a chimney fire, always call your local fire protective services first. If possible, shut all the vents and flue dampers. Remove any flammable materials. Gently splash water on an open fire.
Cigarette Smoke
Do not light any new cigarettes. Ask guests to smoke outside. Wait for cigarette ashes to cool before removing. Never add hot ashes to a trash bag, as this can start a trash fire.
Accidental Room Fire
Your steps depend on the source and extent of the fire and smoke. Place your safety first; if needed, call for emergency fire services.
If it appears to be a small fire or smoldering item, put out the heat source. Consider using baking soda, gentle dousings of water, or metal lids to smother flames. You may be able to remove the source to the exterior, but only with proper safety precautions.
For example, let’s say a light bulb exploded in a lamp and is smoking. You may be able to unplug the lamp, pick it up by its stem, and place it outside on a concrete patio.
Open Doors and Windows
Once the smoke source is eliminated, increase ventilation, so the smoke escapes and fresh air replaces it. A study of indoor air change rates from open windows found opening multiple windows increased the air change rate by 1.7-2.8 an hour. Open whatever windows and doors you can.
If possible, try to create a cross breeze to help push smoke from the room. Not all rooms have cross-facing doors or windows. You can boost ventilation by placing a box fan in a window. Point the air flow out of the home so the box fan pulls the smoke away from the room.
In place of a box fan, any fan directed out of the door or window will help.
Use a Towel Soaked In Vinegar And Water
Let’s say the room does not have many windows, or you lack a fan. One alternative is to wet a towel with a mixture of water and vinegar. Ring the extra moisture from the towel.
Swing the towel over your head in a circular motion to encourage the smoke towards the nearest window or door. The vinegar mixture helps soak up smoke odors that linger in the air.
Use An Air Purifier
Air purifiers continuously cycle the air in the room and generally reduce particulates and neutralize smells. Larger devices will work to scrub smoke molecules, but it will take more time. It’s also not as effective as improving the general air circulation.
To make your air filter more effective, use HEPA filters or activated carbon filters. Some air filters release ozone, which can be a lung irritant.
How Do I Stop Smoke Coming Down My Chimney?
A common reason fireplace smoke enters your home is due to a weak draft or back puffing. Some steps to prevent smoke backflow into your home:
- Pre-warm the flue by lighting a newspaper or small piece of cardboard decreases the temperature differential between the chimney flue and the outdoors, improving the draft when you light the fire.
- Check that the chimney flue is not being blocked. If it is, remove the obstruction.
- You may also have a leaky chimney cap which is creating a backflow. Replace or steal your chimney cap and crown.
- Install an outside air supply vent to help provide the right kind of airflow into your fireplace.
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Related Questions
How do I clear cigarette smoke from a room?
Start by opening all the windows and providing air circulation. Remove all remaining sources of the cigarette smell, such as ashtrays. Fill several small bowls with baking soda and set them around the room. Wipe down the walls and floors with white vinegar. Vacuum all fabric surfaces. Consider washing your curtains and steam cleaning any rugs or carpeted floors.
How do I remove the smoke smell from a room?
Long after the smoke has cleared from your room, the smell can still linger. That’s because cloth items absorb smoke molecules easily. If you find the smoke smell is lingering, clean the fabric surfaces. Wash any drapes, throw blankets, and pillows. Consider steam cleaning your furniture, area rugs, and carpeted surfaces.
Clearing Smoke from Your Room
The faster you can clear the smoke from your room, the less it will damage the interior surfaces of your home. When the source of the smoke has been safely smothered, focus on increasing air circulation in your room. Within a few hours, you should be back to having fresh, clean air in your home.
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