How to Get Smoke Smell Out of Clothes (After a Fire or Smoke Exposure)

Clothes are some of the most common things damaged by smoke, and most of them can be saved. It may take a few washes. Nashville Fire Removal Pros can connect you with a local provider for contents cleaning and pack-out in Nashville when there is too much to handle at home or the damage is heavy.

This is general information. Always read the care label, and test any cleaner on a hidden seam first.

Why smoke smell sticks to clothes

Smoke is made of fine particles and oily residue that work into the spaces between fibers. A SUNY Oneonta laundry guide notes that components of smoke get trapped between fabric fibers and must be removed. The heavier the smoke, the harder it is to restore the garment.

Fire smoke is often harder to wash out than campfire or cigarette smoke, because burned plastics and household materials leave sticky residue. Fabric type matters too. Tightly woven synthetics can hold color stains even after the odor is gone.

How to get smoke smell out of clothes, step by step

1. Sort first. Separate washable items from dry-clean-only items. Then separate heavy smoke damage from light.
2. Shake off soot outside. Shake or brush off loose soot before washing so it doesn't spread to other clothes.
3. Air them out. Hang washable items outside with space between them and fasteners undone. The SUNY Oneonta guide suggests leaving clothes outside for four to eight hours, with more airing if the smell is still strong.
4. Wash in small loads. University of Georgia Extension advises small loads so fabric can move freely.
5. Use the right detergent. Use a liquid detergent, or one made to remove odors, in the warmest water the care label allows.
6. Add vinegar. Oklahoma State University Extension suggests adding 1 cup of vinegar to the wash with your usual detergent.
7. Smell before you dry. If any smoke odor remains, wash again the same way. UGA Extension says it may take three to five washes.
8. Air-dry until the smell is gone. Don't use the dryer while clothes still smell like smoke. Heat can lock the odor in.
9. Skip fabric softener. UGA Extension says not to use fabric softener until the smoke damage and odor are gone.

What gets smoke smell out of clothes?

Never mix bleach with vinegar or ammonia. The mix can release harmful fumes.

How to get smoke smell out of clothes without washing

When you can't wash something right away, these steps reduce the smell:

• Hang it outside in fresh air and a light breeze for several hours.
• Steam it. A handheld steamer or a steamy bathroom can help release odor from fibers.
• Seal it with an odor absorber. Put the item in a bag or bin with an open box of baking soda for a day or two.
• Use a fabric deodorizer made to absorb odor, not one that just adds fragrance.

These are short-term fixes. Clothes with real smoke damage still need washing or professional cleaning.

How to get fire smoke smell out of clothes after a house fire

Clothes from a house fire need more care than clothes that smell like a campfire.

• Photograph them first. Your insurer may want to see them before you clean them.
• Wear gloves. Soot can irritate skin.
• Don't wash heavily sooted clothes with your other laundry. Soot can transfer.
• Check for heat damage. Melted, scorched or brittle fabric usually can't be saved.
• Consider professional textile cleaning. Restoration providers use specialized detergents and deodorizing for fire-damaged clothing.

Oklahoma State University Extension notes that one washing may not remove all the damage, and that you should rewash immediately until the smell is gone.

Fabric-by-fabric tips

• Cotton and cotton blends: Usually wash well in warm water with liquid detergent and vinegar.
• Polyester and other synthetics: Odor usually comes out, but gray staining may remain. Wash on the warmest safe setting.
• Wool, silk and delicates: Take them to a dry cleaner that offers smoke deodorizing, such as ozone treatment.
• Coats and jackets: Check the label. Many need professional cleaning.
• Shoes and bags: Wipe surfaces, stuff them with paper to keep their shape, and air them out. The Red Cross suggests stuffing purses and shoes with newspaper.
• Baby clothes: Wash several times and air-dry. Replace baby items that go in the mouth, such as pacifiers and bottles, as Oklahoma State University Extension advises.

Smoke-damaged clothes and insurance

Clothes damaged by smoke from a sudden fire are usually covered under the personal property part of a homeowners or renters policy. The policy may pay for professional cleaning or replacement.

• List damaged clothing on your contents inventory.
• Keep receipts for laundry, dry cleaning and supplies.
• Ask before discarding anything of value.
• Ask about an advance if you need clothes right away. Your insurer may be able to pay part of the claim early for essentials.

The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance advises documenting damage before cleaning and keeping receipts for added living expenses. If you rent, read does renters insurance cover fire damage.

Why smoke smell lingers in Nashville closets

Humid Middle Tennessee summers can make smoke odor come back in fabrics. Damp clothes in a closed closet can also grow mildew. Keep cleaned clothes dry, run air conditioning or a dehumidifier, and don't put clothes back into a closet that still smells like smoke. Clean the closet walls and shelves first.

How to prevent smoke smell in clothes

• Close closet and bedroom doors if a fire breaks out. Closed doors slow smoke.
• Store seasonal clothes in sealed bins.
• Don't smoke indoors.
• Move clothes out of a smoky house quickly after a fire.

Local note: Clothing loss looks different across the metro. Renters in Antioch and students near MTSU in Murfreesboro often lose most of their wardrobe to smoke in apartment fires. Lakeside homes in Hendersonville need extra care with drying to avoid mildew.

Related reading: Clean the rest of the home with how to get smoke smell out of a house and how to get smoke smell out of furniture. Before you discard anything, check what to throw away after smoke damage.

When should you call a contents cleaning professional?

Call a contents cleaning provider when:

• Clothes still smell after three to five washes.
• You have many items, or entire closets, affected by fire smoke.
• Wool, silk, leather or dry-clean-only items are smoke-damaged.
• Your insurer wants an inventory and cleaning estimate.

Smoke-damaged clothes in Nashville? Call (615) 458-0921 to reach a local contents cleaning provider.

Smoke smell in clothes questions