What outdoor smoke leaves behind

Smoke from burning grass, brush and trees is mostly fine particles and ash from plant material. Indoors, it shows up as gray dust on window sills, a gritty film on hard floors near doors, darkened furnace filters and a campfire smell in fabrics. If structures, vehicles or fences burned nearby, the smoke may also carry the oilier residue of burned plastics and paint.

Neighborhoods along greenbelts, open space parcels, drainage corridors and the edges of town are most likely to get a close grass fire. Strong downslope winds in fall and winter can push a small fire quickly, and the smoke often arrives before any evacuation notice.

Distant wildfire smoke tends to leave lighter, more even residue throughout the house, with the most in rooms where windows were open and on the return side of the furnace. Near a grass fire, residue is heavier on the windward side of the house and in the garage.

Before you start cleaning

  • Close windows and doors until outdoor air quality improves
  • Replace the furnace filter, and keep a spare on hand because it will load up quickly
  • Photograph sills, floors, filters and any visible ash for your insurer
  • Bag and set aside heavily smoked clothing and bedding rather than washing it all at once
  • Check attic insulation near roof vents and soffits for ash
  • Note exterior damage: scorched fences, melted vinyl, ash on the roof and in gutters

Do it yourself or get help?

Often manageable yourself

  • Light film on hard surfaces after distant smoke
  • Odor that fades after airing out and laundering
  • One or two filter changes clear it up
  • No ash inside the house

Time to call a restorer and your insurer

  • Visible ash indoors or in the ductwork
  • Odor that persists after a week of cleaning and fresh filters
  • Structures burned within sight of your house
  • Anyone in the home with asthma or lung conditions reacting to the air

A home cleanup order for light smoke

  1. Air and filters

    Run a portable HEPA air cleaner and change the furnace filter once the outdoor air has cleared.

  2. HEPA vacuum

    Vacuum upholstery, carpet and window tracks with a HEPA-filtered vacuum before any wet cleaning.

  3. Damp wipe hard surfaces

    Use a damp cloth and mild detergent on hard surfaces, rinsing the cloth often.

  4. Launder textiles

    Wash curtains, bedding and clothing in small loads; repeat or dry clean items that still smell.

  5. Reassess

    If the smell returns when the house warms up, the source is likely the ducts or attic, not the rooms.

General information for Centennial, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.