How to use a vacuum cleaner to clean smoky air out of my home?
Getting rid of smoky air inside your home might be more challenging than expected.
If you are in a region where wildfires or other conditions have caused poor outdoor air quality, consider monitoring the summer vacation air quality index by Mybiosource for updates and precautions. However, did you realize that your vacuum cleaner might cause further issues?
If you use a vacuum cleaner without a HEPA filter, your health may be badly affected if you clean indoor air.
What do HEPA filters do?
Popular and very valuable vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters are now widely available.
HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters are extraordinarily effective in removing microscopic particles that cause air pollution. In fact, they are so effective that they capture 99.7% of dangerous airborne particles 0.3 microns or bigger.
Using a HEPA filter with charcoal will assist in removing smoke and some of the gases from the harmful smoke smell.
Why are HEPA filters essential in smokey environments?
Even if you are meticulous about keeping your house’s air clean while the air outside is smoky with bushfire smoke, smoke particles can still infiltrate and enter your home.
When you use a vacuum without a HEPA filter, these particles are mixed up and released back into the air via the exhaust. The inability of standard filters to remove these dangerous particles puts your family at risk.
Inhaling smokey air can result in a range of health issues, including:
- Deterioration of existing circulatory, respiratory, and cardiovascular problems, including angina and asthma irritated eyes and a runny nose)
- Coughing, headache, breathlessness, and wheezing
How to Prevent Smoke Odours from Occurring?
Ensure the fireplace damper is open before lighting a fire, and remove the ashes following each usage.
The chimney flue should be examined and cleaned annually to keep your home clean.
Do not leave food alone in the oven or on the cooktop while it is cooking.
Indoor smoking of cigarettes and cigars is prohibited.
To assist in confining cigarette smoke to a single room, close doors leading to the rest of the home.
To prevent smokey air from being recirculated throughout the rest of the home, close the HVAC return vent in the smoking room.
To avoid fires, watch open flames on candles, wax warmers, and chafing dishes closely.
To avoid fires, keep small heating units away from drapes and upholstery.
Utilize an air purifier and frequently replace the filters.
What You’ll Require?
- Baking soda
- white distilled vinegar
- Buckets
- Sponges
- Lint-free fabrics
- Fabric revitalizing spray
- Step stool or ladder
- Borax
- Universal cleaner
- Soft-bristled brush
- Vacuum Laundry Machine
- vacuum cleaner
- Microfiber broom
- Mop
How to Eliminate Smoke Odors?
- Boost ventilation. As soon as you discover smoke odors, open windows and doors to enhance ventilation within the space (unless, of course, the smoke is coming from outside). Install ceiling fans and a circulation fan.
- Remove the ash. Remove any cold ashes from the fireplace or ashtrays. Take them outdoors and deposit them in a suitable container.
- Use vinegar. Pour white vinegar into numerous small dishes and set them in discrete locations across the room. The vinegar will aid with odor absorption.
- Cleaning accessories. Pillows, curtains, and bedding should all be washed in the washing machine. Add one cup of baking soda to the laundry water to enhance the refreshing effect of your usual detergent.
- Use baking soda. Sprinkle dry baking soda on upholstered furniture and carpeting. Use a soft-bristled brush to blend it softly. At least four hours, but ideally eight, should pass before cleaning.
How to Clean Walls to Eliminate Smoke Odor?
Remove dust. Before washing the walls for whatever purpose, remove cobwebs and dust using a microfiber duster. It is unnecessary to spread them throughout the walls.
Create a cleaning agent. In a bucket, combine 1 teaspoon of all-purpose cleanser and 1/2 cup of baking soda per quart of warm water. Stir well to combine. Fill another pail with clean water. Prepare more cleaning solutions as necessary.
Commence at the top. Soak a sponge or microfiber cloth in the soapy solution and thoroughly wring it dry to prevent leaks. Beginning at the top of the wall, carefully wash it down. Rinse the sponge or fabric frequently as soil is transferred. As you move the ladder, cover the entire wall by working in a grid.
Clean the wall. Use a second clean sponge to remove soap residue from the wall by rinsing it with water. To prevent dripping on a recently cleaned wall, wring the sponge until it is only moist. Replace the rinse water often.
How to Eliminate Smoke Odors From Upholstery?
Vacuum the furniture. To vacuum the upholstery, use the vacuum’s hose, upholstery brush, and crevice tool. Cover every inch, including the sides and back of the furniture, beginning at the top. Smoke odors can adhere to dust and grime.
- Sprinkle with baking soda. The upholstery should be generously dusted with dry baking soda.
- Blend it in. Employing a soft-bristled brush, work the baking soda into the fibers of the upholstery.
- Give it time. Allow the baking soda to sit on the cloth for four to eight hours so that it can absorb the smoke odor.
- Vacuum smells away. Employing the upholstery brush and crevice tool, vacuum the baking soda away.
- Utilize fabric freshener. Spray the garment with a fabric refresher spray that traps odor molecules if scents persist.
How to Eliminate the Smell of Smoke from Carpets and Rugs?
Hoover the carpet. Effectively vacuum the carpet or rug to capture dirt and dust. If you are using a vacuum with a disposable bag, throw it away after use to avoid smells from recirculating.
Use baking soda. The carpet or rug may be deodorized by liberally dusting it with baking soda. Allow the baking soda to rest for at least eight hours before vacuuming it away.
Utilize a fabric refresher spray. Apply a fabric-refreshing spray to the carpet to capture odor-causing molecules.
Try a carpet steam cleaning. Clean the carpet thoroughly using a cleaning solution and a steam carpet cleaner. You may either rent a carpet cleaning machine or hire a carpet steam cleaning company.
Conclusion
If air quality is an issue in your home owing to health concerns, you should never vacuum unless your vacuum has a HEPA filter. It’s an easy way to protect respiratory health.
