Fire!

[OUpearlgirl]

Hey ladies.. Last night we had a small fire in the kitchen. Everyone is fine and the damage is minimal. The only real problem is the awful smell of smoke. Do any of you ladies have any suggestions in how to get this smell out? It''s all over the house!

 

[Lorelei]

I have read that the usual method is for a contractor to use ozone to remove odours after a house fire, but I don't know if that is necessary for you?

Personally I would air out the house as much as I could, wash any fabrics as smoke smells will cling to them if needed, have a jolly good clean round and perhaps try the old trick of bowls of white vinegar in each room, that is a good tip to remove smoke smells.

Thank goodness you and your family are ok and that it wasn't worse!

 

[belle]

sorry to hear about the fire!

at least everyone is okay.
were you cooking? if you were cooking meat, the residue from protein burning is going to be tough to get out. the best thing you can do in any case is clean, clean, clean. lots of cleaning.
if you think it''s worth it, you might want to claim it on your insurance and have it professionally cleaned. obviously, you could also just hire professionals and not make a claim as well. either way, someone needs to start on it right away.

 

[door knob solitaire]

Yes...I had a furniture store, and a car we parked in the warehouse had an electrical spark that caused a fire and smoke damage to every little piece and even to the contents inside cardboard boxes.

We bought a machine that may not be in your budget to buy, but you can rent them. Car dealers and hotels use them to rid the smoke smell before sale or room turnover. It is referred to as an Ozone machine. Let me find the details...

But on a cheaper more elbow work method...Use the product Odo Ban. This is sold at Wally World and in a gallon size at Sams Warehouse...(are you still in OK?). You use a spray bottle and spray all surfaces liberally. Wipe away some and some leave in. Fabrics etc you can shop vac the product out.

It is a scientific recipe way beyond my intellect, but I think it has something to do with Bacteria fighting Bacteria...blah blah blah. But I promise IT WILL TAKE SMOKE OUT. The smell it leaves behind is somewhat pleasant...but will fade away(open bottle to smell at the store...oh wait there is a foil seal to keep it fresh). I would get this stuff and see if it is going to give you relief with out the gizmo I am telling you about.

I am sorry...so glad no one was injured. Blessings without bounds...wouldn't you say?

DKS


ETA: http://www.jenesco.com/index.html

is similar to the one I have. Mine is an San AIR professional. I think I paid over $1500 for mine. At first, I thought it was snake oil...and then I bought it and it saved...millions of $$$ of my inventory. You will seal off the room with sheeting, turn on machine for 12 to 24 hours...and viola. Smell gone. There are many companies that do this service for you...but charge about $150 an hour. You can see buying the machine will pay for itself. You can use it many applications. Basement smells, babies rooms...pet areas...

It is not safe that humans or pets be in the area treated while it is running. It has something to do with ozone oxygen levels. But you can be on the other side of the sheeting. Read about it...It is not as scary as I make it to be. I have no idea if the small ones would do for you what the pro one did for me. I hate for you to buy IT and it not work.

Must get to yard work. If you have any more questions I will try to check back it. I PROMISE THESE SUGGESTIONS WILL WORK. I am talking about fabric furniture, cherry wood dining tables...all saved. Did not lose ONE PENNY.

 

[OUpearlgirl]

Thank you! We actually don''t know exactly what caused the fire. None of us were home when it started, but the trashcan caught on fire. The fire fighters say it could have been a lamp near the trashcan caused it to catch on fire. Luckily, my roommate came home before it was too out of control. She said the trashcan was a puddle on the floor with flames about chest high We''re calling insurance about it all today (the firemen had to cut a hole in our tile and in the wall).

Thank you all for your tips! I will definitely get some of that Odo Ban!

We are just so grateful she came home then, she almost decided to go to the library instead!

 

[door knob solitaire]

OU girly...wanted to point to an ETA line in my post...it hit after your post and you may not read the thread until another posts comes.

DKS

 

[door knob solitaire]

OH one more thing I just thought about. You know the wonderful aroma that occurs after a rain? That is actually ION''s that you are smelling. That is ALL that you will sense after this machine gizmo thing does it''s magic. Not kidding. Removes the negative ions...(no static at all as Steely Dan would say) Peaceful, zen like...worth forking the jack over!!

DKS

I think I have erred...it is not OZONE...but Ion''s. Yeah. I correct myself...which you now know happens alot.

 

[wolftress]

I don''t have any advice, but I just wanted to say i''m sorry about the fire. It must have been horrible and frightening. Good thing everyone''s ok!

DKS - you''re a wealth of information

 

[monarch64]

Oh, sorry to hear this oupear! I''m glad you''re ok, though, tg for that. Very scary experience it must have been, I''m sure. There is a similar product to the one DKS described called "Ozium" I think, it''s an aerosol spray that contains ozone or something chemically related I believe. DH uses it in his car because he smokes in it, and it really does work in there. I don''t know how effective it will be for a space as large as a house, but you might try it. Best of luck to you throughout the renovation process, take care.

 

[chiefneil]

Consumer-grade ionizers or ok, but be cautious with industrial-grade ionizers/ozonators (which are really what you need for smoke damage). It may not be safe to be in the home when they''re operating. It''s probably best to call a remediation company - they''ll rent you the units and advise you on how to use them safely.

 

[door knob solitaire]

Chief Neil...quit that!! Don't scare everyone. I have one of those units. It is just not recommended to be in the treated area as it is being treated* (for an extended period...you can go in to get a book or get a soda....) A closed door is sufficient. I use plastic sheeting to ensure an airtight application.

But that scare tactic is used to make sure the general public allows an industry to rake them over the checkbook coals.

When I had my warehouse fire, we contacted one of your Remediation Companies. They came out and gave an estimate...explained they were going to build a frame out of 1" X 2" wood and draped 3mm plastic sheeting over it. Use it like an oven and take the gizmo and treat my inventory. Would you like to know the price of this little endeavor? $450 an hour.

My husband looked at the back of the gizmo, retained the manufacturers name and contacted them. Same unit...ran us $1500 -oops I stand corrected we bought the $2600 unit. The manufacturer dispelled the FEAR OF THE PROFESSIONALS that was instilled and we finished the job in one week as apposed to the original company stretching it out over three weeks. Again at $450 an hour.

Using bleach or ammonia in your bathroom has far more dangerous side effects than the proper use of an ionizer. It isn't going to suck the life out of you! (Just drain your checkbook)

Just going to make these little green things grow on the top of your head...that look like antennas...Mine are getting smaller each year.

DKS

 

[chiefneil]

DKS, I think you just said the same thing I did. You were able to close a door or use a sheet of plastic to enclose the area. That''s important information for people to know. I just didn''t want someone running out and firing it up in the kitchen or great room with the kids sitting next to it watching tv. Ozone works pretty much the same way as bleach (oxidation), so they should both be treated with respect.

 

[LAJennifer]

Date: 9/13/2007 11:58:29 AM
Author: door knob solitaire
You know the wonderful aroma that occurs after a rain? That is actually ION''s that you are smelling. That is ALL that you will sense after this machine gizmo thing does it''s magic. Not kidding. Removes the negative ions...(no static at all as Steely Dan would say) Peaceful, zen like...worth forking the jack over!!

DKS

I think I have erred...it is not OZONE...but Ion''s. Yeah. I correct myself...which you now know happens alot.

Hmmm, I think the sweet-after-the rain smell is actually caused by a bacteria that lives and grows in the soil.