Key points
- Grease and protein smoke leaves a sticky, smelly film — often hard to see.
- Wiping with the wrong cleaner can smear soot deeper.
- Odor spreads through the HVAC system to other rooms.
- Small fires still leave big odor problems.
What not to do
- Don’t scrub walls with household cleaners before testing
- Don’t run the HVAC system until filters are changed
- Don’t use cookware or food exposed to heavy smoke
- Don’t paint over smoke stains without cleaning and sealing
How professionals clean it
- Dry soot removal with specialized sponges.
- Degreasing cleaners matched to the residue.
- Cabinet interior and exterior cleaning.
- HVAC cleaning — see HVAC cleaning.
- Odor removal — see smoke smell removal.
If firefighters used water, drying is needed too. See after a house fire.
Smoke damage?
Call (385) 250-2825 — answered live 24/7 by the Vault crew.
Fire damage restoration · Soot removal · Smoke damage cleanup