Well, even the best cooks can burn something on the stove or in the oven so, there’s nothing much to say about us, ordinary mortals?
Either you forgot the pot on the stove or the stuffed turkey in the oven, your kitchen will be filled with smoke and the ceiling will require a deep cleaning. It is very difficult to remove the smoke off walls and kitchen cabinets and appliances, because if you accidentally leave some stains behind, that burned odor will linger in the kitchen for months, irritating your breathing.
Nevertheless, there are some practical home remedies that can be used to repair smoke damage and remove the irritating smoke odor.
The most important steps when dealing with smoke damage is to maintain good air circulation in the kitchen. Turn on exhaust fans, open doors, and windows.
Important Asset: if smoke damage is severe, you should call for professional help. Get in touch with your insurance carrier and inquire about filing a claim or contact a professional fire and water restoration company.
If the damage is not severe, grab the following supplies and start the cleaning:
- newspapers
- vacuum
- stepladder (for the ceiling)
- rubber sponge
- big sponge
- 1 gallon plastic bucket
- trisodium phosphate
1. Put newspapers beneath the working area and set up a stepladder in the center.
2. Remove any smoke particles and ash from the ceiling first. Rub a dry sponge across the ceiling to loosen the particles, or vacuum the ceiling’s surface with the brush and hose attachment of your vacuum, if it can reach.
3. Rinse the dry sponge in warm running water to remove excess ash, smoke and debris. Wring it out when clean.
4. Put on the rubber gloves. Trisodium phosphate can burn the skin.
5. Fill the gallon bucket with hot water. Mix in 1 tablespoon of trisodium phosphate. Swirl the water with your gloved finger until the trisodium phosphate thoroughly dissolves.
6. Soak the sponge in the cleaning solution. Thoroughly wring it out. Apply the sponge with the cleaning solution to the ceiling. Repeat the cleaning process.
7. Rinse the sponge in running water, and then dip it into a bucket of clean, hot water. Apply the sponge to the area you wiped with the cleaning solution. Make certain to thoroughly remove the cleaning solution from the ceiling with the clean, rinsed sponge. Repeat cleaning and rinsing until all the smoke debris disappears from the ceiling.
Another method in removing smoke from kitchen walls without using trisodium phosphate:
- mix 1 cup of ammonia in a bucket of hot water
- or you can replace ammonia with vinegar and water in 1:1 ratio
- additionally, you can add undiluted vinegar to bowls placed around the room; this helps to reduce the smoky smell while you work
