Getting rid of smoke

[maplecookie Veteran]

Okay guys, I need some help.

I didn't want to repost the entire thing, so I'll link to my rant about what happened. You can also see my other rants on my blog The Box (link in sig)

https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=337425

So, our apartment is in really bad shape. Everything smells like smoke. Our furniture, carpet, clothes, everything at this point. The smell won't leave.

Has anyone had a small fire or anything in their house before or know someone who did?? I need to know what steps I need to take to get rid of all of the smell! Even *I* smell like smoke and I scrubbed like mad this morning to make sure I didn't.

I've burned bacon and stuff before, and Flish and I were able to get it out of the apartment really quickly. But this won't leave. It's that electrical burning, smokey smell. It's sickening.

Any suggestions would be really wonderful! :yes:

[reveries]

have like a blower or a stand fan in ur place

its worth a try

or one of those air sucker things

[maplecookie Veteran]

Well we had three fans running yesterday, all afternoon and night, door and window opened. It's horrible.

And I think it's on my clothes because I everything my jacket gets too close to my face, I start coughing and sneezing again. I am *not* a happy camper.

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

The apartment next to my old one had a fire. The firemen:

1) Opened all doors and windows.

2) Got a HUGE fan in the front door.

3) Stood and left it there for hours, as they were more interested in the dark black room with certain toys, hooks and photos all around...

Seriously! Then a police van arrived with "Forensic Science" on the side. A little while later, police came out with boxes of clearly bagged "toys".

The woman who lived there was damned fine, and all the time I never knew she was a pro!

[nemo]

Get a few bottles of Febreeze and start spraying everywhere that has fabric on it.

[maplecookie Veteran]

Look into making a claim for EVERYTHING (carpest, soft furnishings, furnishings, clothes) against the building manager's insurance.

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It didn't even occur to me to do that, or even with our insurance company. I honestly didn't think it was bad enough to have to worry about smoke damage and the smell. It wasn't until a coworker pointed it out to me yesterday that I even thought about it.

I can't use febreeze. I'm allergic to it. But at this point, I might get desperate enought to try. I wonder if that would work.

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

Look into making a claim for EVERYTHING (carpest, soft furnishings, furnishings, clothes) against the building manager's insurance.

[rezza Veteran]

Febreze is your friend.

Buy lots, and spray everything - clothes, furniture, carpets, curtains.

[ripped]

place activated charcoal around the house in small bowls.

believe it or not it soaks up the stank.

ripped :shifty:

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

Insurance is there for a reason. Add up all the costs and you'll see it's quite high.

Also, not sure if you have it in the US, but we have Neutrodol over here. It's not an air freshner as such, but a gel that absobs smells.

[maplecookie Veteran]

Insurance is there for a reason.  Add up all the costs and you'll see it's quite high.

Also, not sure if you have it in the US, but we have Neutrodol over here.  It's not an air freshner as such, but a gel that absobs smells.

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I've never heard of that. I'll look around for something that absords oders. I'll also get some frebreeze and just take some allergy meds before using it. Maybe if I go to a hardware store they can suggest something. maybe.

I also just bought a suede coat for this fall on Sat. So of course it's in the apartment. I don't even know if that can be cleaned cause it's suede. I am very upset and I want to stop sneezing.

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

You know, in a very similar situation, my 2 mates simply moved out for 4 days while they had the place "aerated" and charged it all to the landlord. They didn't give the guy an option to not accept this. That's also my way of dealing with things - make "No" not even an option.

If you are allergic to febrezze - don't use it. Remember you will be spraying this stuff all over your home - probably not cool! Try and find another alternative.

Suede can be cleaned, stream is your friend in this instance. Once again, have it professionally done and charge the landlord. Keep receipts for all costs incurred, everything. And document this!

[DreAming in DigITal]

Hey Triliaeris...The guy above is correct...You can claim ALL of those items as losses. Hopefully you haven't had many claims recently, but you should have coverage. You should contact your Homeowners Agent and inquire about this and he can advise you. If you don't have an agent...then PM me and I can help you through the process (I'm an Agent myself). BTW..What state are you in?

Edited June 28, 2005 by DreAming in DigITal

[maplecookie Veteran]

I'm in NE. I'm about to give my insurance agent a call and see what to do. I'll let you guys know.

[tagerd0g]

boil some white vinegar + water (50/50)

helped get the burnt smell out of my microwave... surely could try the apartment. what's the worse that can happen? heh

[Rob2687]

Get one of those ionizer things...it virtually removes any odour in the air. It is supposed to work for smoke but I don't know how well it actually works. Only prob. is it might smell like electrical stuff for a while when you first use it.

[cr3at0r]

use those gas bombs for pests!

but seriously though

Boil Vinegar <--

It has some kind of a chemical that absorbs smells

[bdsams Veteran]

boil some white vinegar + water (50/50)

helped get the burnt smell out of my microwave... surely could try the apartment. what's the worse that can happen? heh

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(Y) thats what i was going to reccomend, we had water in our basement and boy did it stankkkk....that did the trick tho

[Alex_is_Axel]

i just thought id add that Morrisons are selling Febreeze on offer at the moment if your hoping to buy a couple of bottles. They have a full range of different kinds.. Morrisons also sell consentrated airspray which one shot spray covers the room with a very VERY strong smell which could help?

BTW, yes i work in morrisons :p but i just thought id help out with the items that i know my store sells :)

Alex :cool:

[killmaster84]

...Let it rip! counter smells :p

The vinager thing works :yes:

[maplecookie Veteran]

Well, I can't get ahold of our insurance agent at the moment. I'm going to drop off some things that haven't yet absorbed the smell over at my parents to try to save them.

I think I'll talk to the apartment manager about switching apartments away from the furnace/ac room. That should help.

I'm going to try a couple of these things tonight. Hopefully something works. I can't stop sneezing and coughing from it all. Flish and I both have bad headaches from the smell.

Keep your fingers crossed something helps.

[jazztheglass]

Burn a pile of hair from a barbershop... that will take care of it.

[waurbind]

if you are alergic to fabreeze dont use it, it coats the stuff forever. try the vinegar thing and if that doesnt work then you should call in a professional to do the job, it will cots alot though :/ juts charge it to the landlord

[uniacidz]

Incense.

Works wonders.

[maplecookie Veteran]

Well, I spoke with the apartment manager. She apologized a lot. After attempting to clean last night, all we did was make our apartment smell like burned electronics and cleaning supplies. Instead of just burned electronics and smoke.

So tomorrow they are sending in someone to clean the ac ducts in our apartment. Then next week they are going to have the entire furnace and ac system replaced and they *might* take money off of our rent for next month.

Hopefully with them cleaning the air ducts and us cleaning everything else, the smell will go away.