Services
Smoke Odour and Soot Removal in Calgary
Professional removal of smoke smell and soot from homes and belongings after house fires, kitchen fires and wildfire smoke.
Smoke smell is not just in the air. It sits in soot on every surface and inside fabric, paper and wood, which is why airing out and air fresheners rarely work.
Smoke particles are small enough to settle deep into soft materials and coat hard ones with an acidic residue that keeps etching surfaces the longer it sits. Covering the smell only hides it until the weather warms up or the furnace comes on.
Calgary Contents removes the source: soot is cleaned off your contents, porous items are treated, and the remaining odour is neutralized with hydroxyl, ozone or fogging, depending on what is being treated and whether the space needs to stay occupied.
We treat smoke odour from:
House fires and kitchen fires
Wildfire smoke
Candle and fireplace soot
Furnace and appliance malfunctions
Cigarette smoke
Hydroxyl, Ozone and Fogging
Each method has a place. Hydroxyl generators break down odour molecules and can run while a space is occupied. Ozone works faster on heavy odour but needs the space empty and aired out afterwards. Fogging with the Halo and TOMI SteraMist™ systems reaches every surface and disinfects at the same time.
Our comparison of ozone, hydroxyl and fogging explains when each one is used.
Odour treatment also includes:
Soot cleaning before deodorizing
Textile and upholstery treatment
Ultrasonic cleaning for hard items
Electronics cleaning and drying
Fogging and disinfection
Soot Removal for Your Belongings
Soot needs to come off before odour treatment can work. Dry soot from fast, hot fires can be vacuumed and sponged; oily soot from smouldering fires and burning plastics smears and needs specialized cleaning. Wiping soot with a damp cloth usually makes it worse.
Hard items go through ultrasonic cleaning, electronics through electronics restoration and fabrics through textile restoration. Our guide to what can and can’t be saved after smoke damage walks through each category.
Things to avoid:
Wiping soot with a wet cloth
Running the furnace before the ducts are checked
Washing smoky clothes with heat
Masking the smell with air fresheners
FAQ – Smoke Odour Removal
How long does smoke odour removal take?
It depends on the source and how far the smoke spread. One room after a small kitchen fire can take a few days; a whole home after a house fire takes longer because the soot has to be cleaned first.
Will the smell come back?
Not if the source is removed. Smell comes back when soot is left behind or the odour was only masked, which is why we clean first and deodorize second.
Is ozone treatment safe?
Ozone is effective but must only be used in empty spaces, followed by airing out. Hydroxyl can be used in occupied areas.
Can you remove wildfire smoke odour?
Yes. See our guide to wildfire smoke damage to belongings.
Is smoke odour removal covered by insurance?
Usually, when it follows a covered loss such as a house fire. Wildfire smoke claims vary by policy, so check with your insurer.
Related Services and Guides
More on odour, smoke and soot.
Talk to a Contents Specialist
Tell us what happened and what was damaged. We will explain what can be saved and what happens next. Call 403-407-0208, 24/7.