How to Get Rid of Smoke Smell in Your House: Bonfire, Log Burner, Burnt Food and Cigarette Smoke
It only takes one evening. The neighbours light a bonfire with your washing still on the line, the log burner puffs back into the room when you open the door, or the roast potatoes are forgotten for ten minutes too long. Next morning the whole house smells of smoke, and it seems to be in the curtains, the sofa and your jumper.
So, how do you get rid of smoke smell in your house? The short answer is to do it in three steps: let the smoky air out with plenty of fresh air, clean the soft furnishings and surfaces that hold on to the smell, then add a fresh fragrance once the room is clear. Fragrance on its own only covers smoke for a short while, so the airing and cleaning come first.
This guide explains why smoke smells linger, how to get rid of smoke smell fast, and what to do about each kind of smoke: bonfire and fireworks smoke, log burners and open fires, burnt food and cigarette smoke. It finishes with the fresh scents we reach for once the air is clear, and the safety signs that mean you shouldn't just open a window.
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First, a quick safety check
If you can smell smoke and you don't know where it's coming from, don't treat it as a smell problem. Check that nothing is smouldering, and if you're at all unsure, get everyone out and call 999. Make sure you have working smoke alarms on every floor and test them regularly.
Carbon monoxide has no smell at all, so a smoky smell is not a test for it either way. If you have a log burner, open fire or any fuel-burning appliance, have a carbon monoxide alarm in that room. The NHS lists the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, and if you think you have them, get into fresh air and get help straight away.
Everything below is for the everyday kind of smoke smell, once you know where it came from.
Why does smoke smell linger in a house?
Smoke is made of tiny particles and droplets. They drift through the house and settle on everything they touch, especially soft, porous things like curtains, cushions, carpets, rugs, bedding and clothes. Hard surfaces such as walls, kitchen cupboards and windows pick up a thin film too.
That's why a room can still smell smoky a day later, even after the air has cleared. The smell is coming off the furnishings, not the air. It's also why a spray or a candle on its own doesn't solve it: as soon as the fragrance fades, the smoke smell comes back.
How to get rid of smoke smell in your house fast
If you need the house smelling better today, this is the order we'd work in:
- Open windows on opposite sides of the house. A cross-breeze moves smoky air out much faster than one window. Twenty to thirty minutes with the doors open between rooms makes a real difference.
- Run extractor fans in the kitchen and bathroom to help pull air through.
- Take the worst things outside or into the wash. Throws, cushion covers, tea towels, coats and anything that was in the smoke. Wash them in line with their care labels.
- Vacuum carpets, rugs and the sofa. A sprinkle of bicarbonate of soda left on carpets for a few hours before you vacuum can help lift lingering smells. Test a small hidden area first.
- Wipe hard surfaces with warm, soapy water: worktops, tables, window sills, skirting boards and the inside of windows.
- Leave a bowl of bicarbonate of soda or white vinegar out overnight in the smokiest room. Both are common household ways to soak up stale smells. Keep them away from children and pets.
- Then add fragrance. Once the room smells neutral rather than smoky, a few sprays of a fresh room spray or a fresh wax melt finishes the job.
Bonfire smell in the house
Late October and early November are when most of us notice the bonfire smell in the house. Bonfire night, garden bonfires and fireworks displays all send wood smoke drifting over gardens, and it gets in through open windows, washing and clothes.
To stop it getting in:
- Close windows and trickle vents on the side facing the smoke while bonfires and fireworks are going on, then open them up again once the air outside has cleared.
- Bring washing in before the evening starts. Smoky washing is one of the most common ways the smell gets into the house.
- Take coats and jumpers off in the hallway after a bonfire or fireworks display, and wash them or hang them outside the next day.
- Wash your hair if you've been standing near a bonfire. Hair holds on to smoke smell surprisingly well, and so do pillowcases.
If the smell has already got in, air the house out the next morning, wash anything that smells smoky and give soft furnishings a vacuum. A bright citrus or fresh, airy scent is a lovely way to reset the house after a smoky evening.
Log burner smell in the room
A log burner or open fire is one of the cosiest things about winter. A faint whiff when you open the door to add a log is common, but your room should not smell strongly of smoke. If it does, the fire may not be drawing properly.
Some things that can help:
- Open the burner door slowly, and only when the fire is burning well, so smoke doesn't roll out into the room.
- Burn dry, well-seasoned wood. Damp wood makes more smoke. In England, logs sold in small amounts should carry a "Ready to Burn" label.
- Get the chimney swept by a qualified chimney sweep at least once a year, and before the first fire of the season if you can.
- Have the stove or fire checked by a qualified installer if smoke keeps coming into the room, you see staining around the stove or flue, or the fire won't draw. Don't just keep using it and cover up the smell.
Wipe down the hearth and nearby surfaces regularly, as ash and soot dust carry the smell too.
If you love the smell of a crackling fire but not the smoke, our Log Fire Wax Melts are inspired by it: soft wood smoke, cedarwood and guaiacwood over a warm amber base, without any real smoke at all.
How to get rid of smoke smell in the house after burning food
Burnt toast, a scorched pan or a forgotten tray in the oven can make the whole downstairs smell smoky. Here's what to do once the cooking is safely switched off:
- Close the kitchen door and open the kitchen window so the smoke goes out rather than through the house. Run the cooker hood on its highest setting.
- Take the burnt pan outside or soak it straight away, as it will keep giving off smoke smell while it sits on the hob.
- Clean the hob, oven and cooker hood. Splashes and spills on the hob carry on smelling every time they heat up. Check whether your cooker hood filter needs cleaning or replacing.
- Wipe kitchen cupboards and walls with warm, soapy water if the smoke was heavy.
- Wash tea towels, oven gloves, kitchen blinds and the dog's bed if it lives in the kitchen.
If you set off the smoke alarm, that's it doing its job. Don't take the battery out. Open windows and wave a tea towel near the alarm to clear the air instead.
London Fire Brigade has helpful cooking safety advice if you're worried about kitchen fires.
How to get rid of smoke smell in the microwave
Popcorn is the usual culprit here. Unplug the microwave and let it cool, then wipe out any burnt bits. Heat a microwave-safe bowl of water with a few slices of lemon for a few minutes, leave the door closed for a little while so the steam softens any residue, then carefully take the bowl out (it will be hot) and wipe the inside clean. Leave the door open for a while afterwards to air it.
How to get rid of cigarette smoke smell
Cigarette smoke smell is the hardest one to shift, because it builds up over time on walls, ceilings, curtains and carpets. If you've moved into a home where people have smoked, or a visitor has smoked indoors, it takes more than a quick airing.
- Wash everything that can be washed: curtains, bedding, cushion covers, throws and rugs.
- Wash walls and ceilings with warm water and a little washing-up liquid or sugar soap, working in small sections. Yellow or brown marks are a sign the smell is still on the walls.
- Clean or steam clean carpets and upholstery, following the maker's care advice.
- Wipe light switches, door handles, window frames and inside cupboards.
- Repaint if the smell keeps coming back. Where there's heavy staining, decorators usually use a stain-blocking primer before the top coat.
Keep airing the house every day while you do this. Fragrance works best at the end, once the walls and furnishings no longer smell.
How to get rid of smoke smell in a room or in clothes
For a single room, follow the quick steps above: open the window, close the door to the rest of the house, wash or air the soft furnishings, wipe the surfaces and leave a bowl of bicarbonate of soda out overnight.
For clothes, wash them as soon as you can in line with their care labels. For coats and wool that can't go in the machine, hang them outside on a dry, breezy day, ideally for a few hours. Don't spray room spray directly on to clothes to cover the smell.
What smells good after smoke? The best fresh scents to use
Once the room smells neutral again, a fresh fragrance makes the house feel clean and welcoming. These scent families work especially well after smoke:
- Citrus. Bright and zesty, and lovely in kitchens. Our Orange and Bergamot Room Spray blends sweet orange and crisp bergamot with neroli, amber and cedarwood.
- Cool, clean and green. Eucalyptus and herbal notes feel crisp and airy. Our Frosted Eucalyptus Room Spray opens with fresh eucalyptus before a soft floral heart and a base of patchouli and musk.
- Fresh laundry. Soft, clean and comforting in living rooms and bedrooms. Try Fresh Linen Wax Melts or browse our laundry wax melts.
- Woodland and outdoors. A good choice if you still want a cosy feel. Our New Forest Walk Room Spray combines pine, moss and cedarwood with wild herbs.
For more ideas by room, see our guide on how to make your house smell nice.
Room spray, wax melts or a reed diffuser: which is best after smoke?
| Format | Best for | How to use it after smoke |
|---|---|---|
| Room spray | A quick lift once the room has aired | A few sprays into the air, away from flames, fires and burners |
| Wax melts | Filling a whole room with fragrance | Melt one or two cubes once the windows are closed again |
| Reed diffuser | Gentle, all-day background scent | Place one in the hallway or living room to keep things fresh |
A room spray is the fastest fix when visitors are on their way. Wax melts give a fuller fragrance for the evening, and a reed diffuser keeps a soft scent going day after day with no flames or electricity. If you're torn, our room spray vs reed diffuser guide explains the differences.
Safety tips when freshening a smoky house
- Air the room first. Don't use fragrance to cover smoke while the air is still smoky.
- Keep room sprays away from flames. Our room sprays are made with perfumer's alcohol, so never spray them near a lit candle, log burner, open fire, hob or wax melt burner.
- Be careful where you spray. You can lightly mist curtains, cushions and linen, but always patch test on a small hidden area first. Sprays can mark some fabrics and polished, painted, leather or plastic surfaces.
- Follow the label on every candle, wax melt and burner. Never leave a lit candle or tealight burner unattended, and keep them out of reach of children and pets.
- If a candle is the source of the smoke, our guide to why your candle is smoking explains the usual causes, like a long wick or a draught.
Smoke smell in house: FAQs
How long does smoke smell last in a house?
It depends on how much smoke there was and what it settled on. A light smell from burnt toast often clears within a day with good airing. Heavy or long-term smoke, such as years of cigarette smoke, can last until the walls, carpets and furnishings are properly cleaned.
What absorbs smoke smell in a house?
Bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar are the most common household options. Leave a bowl out in the smokiest room overnight, or sprinkle bicarbonate of soda on carpets for a few hours before vacuuming (test a hidden area first). Fresh air and washing soft furnishings do the most work, though.
How do I get rid of smoke smell in my house fast?
Open windows on opposite sides of the house for a cross-breeze, run extractor fans, wash or air the soft furnishings that were in the smoke and wipe hard surfaces. Once the room smells neutral, a fresh room spray gives a quick lift.
Why does my house smell of bonfire?
Usually because wood smoke from nearby bonfires, fireworks or wood burners has drifted in through open windows or come in on washing, clothes and hair. Close windows on the smoky side while bonfires are lit, bring washing in, then air the house out once the smoke outside has cleared.
Is it normal for a log burner to smell in the room?
A faint smell when you open the door is common, but a room shouldn't smell strongly of smoke. If it does, have the chimney swept and the stove checked by a qualified installer, and make sure you have a working carbon monoxide alarm in that room.
Will a candle get rid of smoke smell?
A candle adds fragrance, but it won't remove smoke from curtains or carpets, and any flame gives off a little smoke of its own. Air the room and clean first, then use a candle, wax melt or room spray to add a fresh scent.
Bring back a fresh-smelling home
So, how do you get rid of smoke smell in your house? Let the smoky air out with plenty of fresh air, clean the curtains, cushions, carpets and surfaces that hold on to it, and only then add fragrance. Whether it was bonfire night, a log burner or a burnt dinner, that order gets your home smelling fresh again rather than smoky with a top note of perfume.
Our wax melts are handmade in the UK using 100% soy wax and premium fragrance oils, and we hand-pour our home fragrance at our workshop at Eastover Farm, Abbots Ann, near Andover, with more than 200 fragrances across the wider range. For more ideas, see our guide to making your home smell fresh all day.