Odor

  • Do not use perfumed sprays or disinfectants to remove odor. They will only mask odor for a short while, and may interact chemically with smoke odor to create a new unpleasant smell.
  • Hang damaged items outside, preferably in sunlight, for 4-8 hours to air out. If weather does not permit, hang items in a location that was not damaged by fire. Soot remains in the air of the home or building where the fire happened, and will redeposit on clothing.
  • If airing out does not eliminate odor, contact professional fire restorers / dry cleaners and ask about “counteractants”. These chemicals, applied based on what material was burned in the fire, can help to break up smoke and odor particles in the fabric.