Is there an article or a thread or information that we can pass along to our customers who will be calling to find out how to get the smoke odor out o

[Mikey P]

As floor and furnishing cleaners, what's the most we can do?

 

[Cleanworks]

We can clean and deodorizer their floors and soft furnishings. We can either fog or use ozone to help with the rest. Walls, ceilings, etc still need to be washed. Ozone is the last step after all cleaning options are exhausted.

 

[Old Coastie]

What surfaces need to be cleaned, Mike?

 

[Mikey P]

What surfaces need to be cleaned, Mike?

All....

 

[hogjowl]

I tell them to call ServPro

 

[sassyotto]

dont forget the ductwork!

 

[Nomad74]

Have them buy tickets to the Experience.

 

[ruff]

Tell them to learn to live with it. Fire season is a long way from over.

Or just give them free streaming of Dr. Strangefire: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the smell of smoke.

 

[Hack Attack]

buy some lovely scented candles, light them and place under your furniture and behind your curtains

fire jobs suck, all surfaces will need to be cleaned most likely twice if any visible residue. And then sprayed or fogged, ozone etc

you might get away with spraying or fogging a room that looks pristine with just slight hint of smoke

 

[Jim Pemberton]

A lot depends on the degree of contamination and heat of the smoke.

A house burns down next door? They need a professional. The burnt building materials have a great deal of toxic content and the heat of the air will cause the contamination to penetrate porous surfaces.

Airborne forest fire smoke? Ventilation, dusting, vacuuming, and cleaning of all content and surfaces will do all that needs done, or most of it. Ventilation is more effective than most realize.

Residual smoke odor can be removed with ozone, hydroxyl, fogging, or Vaportek. If a furnace filter change out doesn’t remove odor from the air handling system, duct cleaning will help.

 

[Dolly Llama]

pour Aqua Velva in the return registers ....


..L.T.A.

 

[Jim Pemberton]

As floor and furnishing cleaners, what's the most we can do?

To your question about any publications, our friends at the IICRC had something out in 2018.

Newsroom | Business Wire

The global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure. Public relations and investor relations professionals rely on Business Wire for broad-based and targeted market reach.

www.businesswire.com

 

[Mikey P]

@Monique

 

[John Otero]

I don't know what kind of "smoke" odor you are referring to. Is it a fire odor, tobacco odor etc... The #1 rule is that you have to remove the source before you remove the odor. But here is a complete system for tobacco odor removal.
Lingering smoke odors create significant Issues in so many different ways. Other malodors that can negatively affect a home’s value related to pets, overcooked protein, and other food odors such as fish, curry, onions, and tobacco/cannabis odors. The procedures discussed below apply equally well to these types of odors but we will be focusing on tobacco/cannabis odors in this article.

Smoke odor sources

Smoke and odors from tobacco disperse in the air and adhere to all surfaces. We have to remember that we are not just removing odors but we will be removing chemicals. One cigarette has over 4,000 chemicals and over 400 toxins/poisons, in addition tobacco and cannabis leaves a sticky residue that accumulate and continually release malodors.

Researchers have learned that when ozone mixes with residual nicotine in the air and on surfaces, it transforms into ultra-fine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs. These particles may be difficult for the body to expel and could cause additional breathing problems for asthma sufferers. So it is not recommended to use ozone to remove tobacco odors.

Heavy smoking over a long period of time causes stubborn and severe smoke odors, matter of fact the EPA has a term for this: Environmental Tobacco Smoke and there is another terminology called Third Hand Smoke. The yellowish-brown, sticky substance left on all surfaces and furnishings is easy to see, smell, and feel, but is extremely difficult to remove. Residue from tobacco often discolors painted walls and plastics, and it can permanently change the appearance of wallpaper, blinds, paint and other surfaces.

The smoke penetrates upholstery, carpet, drywall, window treatments, and the HVAC. So it is recommended that before you start to clean the environment it is recommended to clean the ducts with MediClean Fragrance Free which is EPA registered and don’t forget that the coils also need to be cleaned. It is highly recommended to clean the coils with Unsmoke DegreaseAll with ODORx TabactAttack, the advantage of using DegreaseAll is that it has corrosion inhibitors meaning that it will prevent rust on metal. Each state is different so make sure that you use a NADCA certified duct cleaning company to make sure the coils are cleaned properly. The HVAC system will carry these residues and odors throughout the structure.

The resulting odor and appearance from long-term smoking in enclosed areas can resemble that of an actual fire. Successfully removing tobacco and cannabis residue and odor requires skill and expertise, but it is easily within reach of the well-prepared restoration contractor.

Proven Cleaning System

The ProRrestore Tobacco/Cannabis odor removal system is a proven system that can help diversify your business and increase revenue. There is NO single product exists to eliminate tobacco/cannabis odors, but there are proven systems that do work.

Here’s is the ProRestore three-step process used for many years by professional smoke damage remediators with great success: (Refer to product label or User Guides for specific instructions.)

• Step 1: Thermal fog with the Electrogen Hot Fogger in the environment using Thermo55 TabacAttack which is a heat-activated odor counteractant that penetrates cavities and materials and creates a vapor barrier to prevent smoke malodors from returning.

• Step 2: Clean all surfaces—including cabinets, inside drawers, ceilings, and any painted walls—with Unsmoke Wall Wash along with ODORx TabacAttack which is a odor counteractant that will help neutralize tobacco/cannabis odors while you are cleaning. It is recommended to use a FOAM IT sprayer when applying the cleaning solution. Foam the walls 2-3 ft wide let it sit for 3-4 minutes and then wipe off the surface with a cotton towel or microfiber towel.



• Step 3: For hard and soft surfaces you can add TabacAttack with any pre-spray or you can also use Unsmoke DegreaseAll if you are going to clean carpet, upholstery, tile & grout and even if you are going to mop the floors.

In addition to cleaning It is recommend to use the DriEaz HEPA 500 Air Scrubber equipped with an activated carbon filter to not only assist in removing odors, but also improve the indoor air quality, as recommended in a recent Environmental Protection Agency guide.

After thorough cleaning, you need to seal surfaces with a special primer designed to lock in any remaining stains and odors—standard paint primer is not sufficient. Once the primer is applied, the surfaces will be ready to paint, refinish, or to apply new coverings.

Soft goods such as upholstery, bedding, window coverings, and rugs require special attention. Because they absorb odors so well and are often easily damaged, these items may require specialty upholstery or fabric cleaning expertise to restore.

In some cases, the owner may prefer to simply replace these items. Treatment of antiques, paintings, jewelry, electronics, and anything that is irreplaceable or especially valuable to the customer may best be referred to a restoration specialist for that specific item. As always, maintain clear lines of communication with your customer, and don’t proceed with any cleaning procedure or disposal without permission.

Marketing Advantage

In marketing whoever is first to the market WINS and will take most of the market share. Tobacco and cannabis smoke removal is an untapped market and now is the time to separate you from your competition, it is an excellent way to diversify your business in create revenue and profits.

People react differently to smells. Some potential homebuyers may immediately decide against a house where malodors are present, while others may remain open to it, knowing they will have to invest time and money into remediation. In either case, negative odors will make a significant impact on how the home is perceived and valued. That means your ability to remove smoke odors is a high-value asset.

Delivering the “smell of clean” using a proven odor removal system will result in satisfied customers, positive referrals, and a stronger bottom line for your business.



Additional information:

Click here for a quick video regarding Tobacco/Cannabis Odor Removal System: Click Here

• Complete three-step odor removal flyer: https://www.legendbrandsrestoration.com/Fileshare/Documents/ProductGuides/3-Step_Tobacco-Cannabis_Odor_Removal_Flyer.pdf

• Additional information regarding environmental tobacco smoke from the EPA: https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/indoor-air-pollution-introduction-health-professionals#health-ts

• Using air scrubbers in homes: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2018-07/documents/residential_air_cleaners_-_a_technical_summary_3rd_edition.pdf

Berkley study shows ozone and nicotine a bad combination for asthma: https://newscenter.lbl.gov/2010/08/16/ozone-and-nicotine-a-bad-combination-for-asthma/

Guide to Air Scrubbers: https://www.legendbrandsrestoration.com/Fileshare/Documents/Guide-to-Airscrubbing.pdf

 

[Jim Pemberton]

I don't know what kind of "smoke" odor you are referring to. Is it a fire odor, tobacco odor etc... The #1 rule is that you have to remove the source before you remove the odor. But here is a complete system for tobacco odor removal.
Lingering smoke odors create significant Issues in so many different ways. Other malodors that can negatively affect a home’s value related to pets, overcooked protein, and other food odors such as fish, curry, onions, and tobacco/cannabis odors. The procedures discussed below apply equally well to these types of odors but we will be focusing on tobacco/cannabis odors in this article.

Smoke odor sources

Smoke and odors from tobacco disperse in the air and adhere to all surfaces. We have to remember that we are not just removing odors but we will be removing chemicals. One cigarette has over 4,000 chemicals and over 400 toxins/poisons, in addition tobacco and cannabis leaves a sticky residue that accumulate and continually release malodors.

Researchers have learned that when ozone mixes with residual nicotine in the air and on surfaces, it transforms into ultra-fine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs. These particles may be difficult for the body to expel and could cause additional breathing problems for asthma sufferers. So it is not recommended to use ozone to remove tobacco odors.

Heavy smoking over a long period of time causes stubborn and severe smoke odors, matter of fact the EPA has a term for this: Environmental Tobacco Smoke and there is another terminology called Third Hand Smoke. The yellowish-brown, sticky substance left on all surfaces and furnishings is easy to see, smell, and feel, but is extremely difficult to remove. Residue from tobacco often discolors painted walls and plastics, and it can permanently change the appearance of wallpaper, blinds, paint and other surfaces.

The smoke penetrates upholstery, carpet, drywall, window treatments, and the HVAC. So it is recommended that before you start to clean the environment it is recommended to clean the ducts with MediClean Fragrance Free which is EPA registered and don’t forget that the coils also need to be cleaned. It is highly recommended to clean the coils with Unsmoke DegreaseAll with ODORx TabactAttack, the advantage of using DegreaseAll is that it has corrosion inhibitors meaning that it will prevent rust on metal. Each state is different so make sure that you use a NADCA certified duct cleaning company to make sure the coils are cleaned properly. The HVAC system will carry these residues and odors throughout the structure.

The resulting odor and appearance from long-term smoking in enclosed areas can resemble that of an actual fire. Successfully removing tobacco and cannabis residue and odor requires skill and expertise, but it is easily within reach of the well-prepared restoration contractor.

Proven Cleaning System

The ProRrestore Tobacco/Cannabis odor removal system is a proven system that can help diversify your business and increase revenue. There is NO single product exists to eliminate tobacco/cannabis odors, but there are proven systems that do work.

Here’s is the ProRestore three-step process used for many years by professional smoke damage remediators with great success: (Refer to product label or User Guides for specific instructions.)

• Step 1: Thermal fog with the Electrogen Hot Fogger in the environment using Thermo55 TabacAttack which is a heat-activated odor counteractant that penetrates cavities and materials and creates a vapor barrier to prevent smoke malodors from returning.

• Step 2: Clean all surfaces—including cabinets, inside drawers, ceilings, and any painted walls—with Unsmoke Wall Wash along with ODORx TabacAttack which is a odor counteractant that will help neutralize tobacco/cannabis odors while you are cleaning. It is recommended to use a FOAM IT sprayer when applying the cleaning solution. Foam the walls 2-3 ft wide let it sit for 3-4 minutes and then wipe off the surface with a cotton towel or microfiber towel.



• Step 3: For hard and soft surfaces you can add TabacAttack with any pre-spray or you can also use Unsmoke DegreaseAll if you are going to clean carpet, upholstery, tile & grout and even if you are going to mop the floors.

In addition to cleaning It is recommend to use the DriEaz HEPA 500 Air Scrubber equipped with an activated carbon filter to not only assist in removing odors, but also improve the indoor air quality, as recommended in a recent Environmental Protection Agency guide.

After thorough cleaning, you need to seal surfaces with a special primer designed to lock in any remaining stains and odors—standard paint primer is not sufficient. Once the primer is applied, the surfaces will be ready to paint, refinish, or to apply new coverings.

Soft goods such as upholstery, bedding, window coverings, and rugs require special attention. Because they absorb odors so well and are often easily damaged, these items may require specialty upholstery or fabric cleaning expertise to restore.

In some cases, the owner may prefer to simply replace these items. Treatment of antiques, paintings, jewelry, electronics, and anything that is irreplaceable or especially valuable to the customer may best be referred to a restoration specialist for that specific item. As always, maintain clear lines of communication with your customer, and don’t proceed with any cleaning procedure or disposal without permission.

Marketing Advantage

In marketing whoever is first to the market WINS and will take most of the market share. Tobacco and cannabis smoke removal is an untapped market and now is the time to separate you from your competition, it is an excellent way to diversify your business in create revenue and profits.

People react differently to smells. Some potential homebuyers may immediately decide against a house where malodors are present, while others may remain open to it, knowing they will have to invest time and money into remediation. In either case, negative odors will make a significant impact on how the home is perceived and valued. That means your ability to remove smoke odors is a high-value asset.

Delivering the “smell of clean” using a proven odor removal system will result in satisfied customers, positive referrals, and a stronger bottom line for your business.



Additional information:

Click here for a quick video regarding Tobacco/Cannabis Odor Removal System: Click Here

• Complete three-step odor removal flyer: https://www.legendbrandsrestoration.com/Fileshare/Documents/ProductGuides/3-Step_Tobacco-Cannabis_Odor_Removal_Flyer.pdf

• Additional information regarding environmental tobacco smoke from the EPA: https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/indoor-air-pollution-introduction-health-professionals#health-ts

• Using air scrubbers in homes: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2018-07/documents/residential_air_cleaners_-_a_technical_summary_3rd_edition.pdf

Berkley study shows ozone and nicotine a bad combination for asthma: https://newscenter.lbl.gov/2010/08/16/ozone-and-nicotine-a-bad-combination-for-asthma/

Guide to Air Scrubbers: https://www.legendbrandsrestoration.com/Fileshare/Documents/Guide-to-Airscrubbing.pdf

Thanks Jon.

When you become adept at reading between the lines of Mike's often obscure commentaries, you'll understand better.

Mike was looking for what people in the California wildfires should do.

No worries....its taken me 14 years, and I still can't always figure him out.

 

[AdamDumphy]

So an ozone machine is bad to use for smoke? I know with ours we explain thoroughly to our customers who want to get rid of odors with the ozone that they cant be in the area or house while its running. I myself haven't done much research on it because my boss and owner were the ones who got it and made a plan on how to use it. How long after running the machine will the air quality be okay for people to go back into the area that it was being used?