Available 24/7, on site in 2 to 4 hours
Smoke Odor Removal Memphis, TN
Cleaned, aired out, and the house still smells like smoke? We find what is holding the odor, clean the residue and treat the rest with thermal fogging and hydroxyl.
- Serving Memphis since 1989
- IICRC certified technicians
- No ozone used
Smoke odor
Why the Smell Stays After the Smoke Clears
Smoke odor is made of tiny particles and gases. They soak into anything porous: drywall, wood, insulation, carpet and fabric. Opening windows clears the air for a day, then the materials release the smell again.
Air fresheners only cover it. Getting rid of smoke smell for good takes three stages, in order. The cleaning stage is part of smoke damage restoration. The odor itself is treated after that, by a Memphis restoration team that has done this work for decades.
- 1
Take out the source
Materials that soaked up the smoke and cannot be cleaned.
- 2
Clean the residue
The film on walls, ceilings and cabinets keeps giving off odor until it is gone.
- 3
Treat what is left
Odor that went deep into drywall, wood and the air.
Smell decoder
What Does It Smell Like? A Smoke Odor Decoder
Different fires leave different smells, and each one hides in different places. Pick the one that matches your house.
Burnt food
Strong smell, light residue- Likely source
- A pan or pot left on the stove. Burning food leaves a thin, almost clear film that smells far worse than it looks.
- Where it hides
- Kitchen cabinets inside and out, the range hood, ceilings, and rooms down the hall.
- How we treat it
- The film is cleaned off every surface first, often more than once. Thermal fogging then reaches the smell in cabinets and drywall.
Burnt plastic or wiring
Sticky residue, hard to clean- Likely source
- An outlet, appliance or wire that overheated or smoldered. The smell is sharp and chemical.
- Where it hides
- Inside the wall near the source, on nearby surfaces, and in fabrics in the same room.
- How we treat it
- Whatever burned has to come out first. The sticky residue is cleaned, then fogging and hydroxyl treat what is left.
Wood smoke
Easier to clean- Likely source
- A fireplace or wood stove that backdrafted, or smoke that blew in from a fire outside.
- Where it hides
- Upper walls and ceilings, curtains, upholstery, carpet and the HVAC filter.
- How we treat it
- Dry residue is vacuumed and sponged off before any wet cleaning. Hydroxyl treatment clears the smell left in the rooms.
Cigarette smoke
Deep set, many surfaces- Likely source
- Years of indoor smoking. Nicotine leaves a yellow-brown, sticky film on every surface.
- Where it hides
- Ceilings, walls, cabinets, window blinds, carpet and the HVAC system.
- How we treat it
- Every surface is cleaned to remove the film, then fogging and hydroxyl treatment. Your painter seals and paints afterward.
Comes and goes
Source was missed- Likely source
- The smell was covered, not removed. It returns on hot or humid days, or when the heat or AC turns on.
- Where it hides
- Insulation, wall cavities, carpet pad, or ducts that were never cleaned.
- How we treat it
- We find what is still holding the smell, take out or clean that source, then treat the area again. Ducts go to a duct cleaning company.
Before any deodorizer
Source First, Then the Air
A deodorizer sprayed over a smoky wall wears off. The smell has to lose its source before any treatment can last.
Removing What Holds the Smell
Some materials cannot be cleaned deep enough. They come out.
- Smoke-soaked insulation in the attic or walls
- Charred wood and drywall near the fire
- Carpet pad that soaked up smoke or firefighting water
- The HVAC filter, which we change right away
Cleaning the Residue Off Surfaces
The film smoke leaves behind keeps smelling until it is gone. Heavy black residue follows our soot removal process.
- Air scrubbers pull smoke particles out of the air
- HEPA vacuums and dry soot sponges lift loose residue
- Walls, ceilings, cabinets and trim are washed by surface type
- Closets, inside cabinets and light fixtures are not skipped
After cleaning and odor treatment, your painter can seal stained surfaces with an odor-blocking primer and repaint.
Odor treatment
Thermal Fogging, Hydroxyl and Ozone: What We Use and Who Leaves the House
Thermal Fogging
- How it works
- A machine heats a deodorizer into a fine fog. Like smoke, it drifts into cracks, wall gaps and porous materials and works on the odor there.
- Best for
- Odor that went deep into drywall, wood, cabinets and closets after the residue is cleaned.
- Who leaves the house
- People and pets stay out while we fog. The area is aired out before you go back in.
Hydroxyl Generators
- How it works
- The machine makes hydroxyl molecules that break down odor in the air and on surfaces. It works more slowly and runs for longer.
- Best for
- Finishing the job across a whole floor, and the smell left in the air after fogging.
- Who leaves the house
- You usually do not have to move out. Makers say it can run with people nearby, but studies show it can form byproducts in the air, so we advise staying out of the treated rooms while it runs, especially children, older adults and anyone with asthma.
Why We Do Not Use Ozone
- How it works
- Ozone generators are common in odor work. The EPA says ozone can damage the lungs, and no federal agency has approved ozone generators for occupied spaces.
- Best for
- When used at all, it is only in a space with no people or pets, under tight control.
- Who leaves the house
- We use fogging and hydroxyl instead. If you rent an ozone machine, never run it with people or pets home.
Common mistakes
Smoke Smell Fixes That Make It Worse
Everyone tries something first. These are the common ones that backfire, and what to do instead.
Skip this
Air fresheners, plug-ins and candles
They add a second smell on top. Candles add a little more soot.
Do this instead
Air the house out and leave it unscented, so you can tell what is still there.
Skip this
Painting over smoky walls
The smell and the stains bleed through new paint.
Do this instead
Clean and treat first. Your painter seals and paints after.
Skip this
Running a rented ozone machine with people or pets home
The EPA warns ozone can damage the lungs.
Do this instead
Leave odor treatment to a crew that controls who is in the house.
Skip this
Bowls of vinegar or baking soda as the fix
They soak up a little odor from the air, not from the walls.
Do this instead
Use them while you wait if you like, but not as the solution.
Skip this
Running the heat or AC with the old filter
The smoky filter blows odor into every room.
Do this instead
Change the filter now and keep the system off until it is checked.
Skip this
Wiping soot with a wet cloth
Water smears the residue into the paint and sets the stain.
Do this instead
Leave it for dry sponges and HEPA vacuums.
Nicotine odor
Cigarette Smoke Odor in Rentals and Homes for Sale
Years of smoking leave a sticky nicotine film on ceilings, walls, cabinets and blinds. The smell lives in that film. Cleaning it off every surface comes first, then thermal fogging and hydroxyl treatment.
Landlords between tenants
A unit that smells like smoke sits empty longer. We clean and treat it while it is vacant, which is the easiest time to do it.
New owners after closing
The smell often shows up once the furniture is gone and the AC runs. Treating it before you move in is far easier than after.
Sellers before listing
Buyers often notice a smoke smell as soon as they walk in. Fresh paint alone will not hide it for long.
If smoking went on for years, the ducts usually need cleaning too. We do not clean ducts, so plan on a duct cleaning company.
Cost
Smoke Odor Removal Prices and What Moves Them
Typical national ranges, not our prices. Most odor jobs need cleaning plus one or more treatments, so the free quote is the real number.
Thermal fogging
$200 to $600
Typical range for a fogging treatment
A national estimate, not our price. Your free quote gives the real number for your house.
Sources: LawnStarter (2026) and Bob Vila (2024) cost guides.
Not part of a fogging price
- · Cleaning the residue off surfaces
- · Hydroxyl treatment
- · Tear-out of smoke-soaked materials
- · Duct cleaning and painting by others
What moves the total
Why choose us
Why Call Us for a Smell That Will Not Leave
A smoke smell that keeps coming back usually means the source was never found. This is how we work on it.
Since 1989
Serving Memphis
IICRC
Certified technicians
2 to 4 hrs
On site, 24/7
Free
Quotes
- 01
We go after the source, not the scent
What soaked up the smoke comes out, the residue gets cleaned off, and only then is the odor treated. Covering it up is not the goal.
- 02
No ozone in your home
We treat odor with thermal fogging and hydroxyl, and we tell you who should stay out of which rooms while they run.
- 03
You hear up front what we do not do
We do not clean ducts or paint. If your house needs a duct cleaner or a painter to seal the walls, we tell you, so nothing is left half done.
- 04
We bill your insurer directly
Once you have a claim number for a covered loss, we bill your insurance company and follow their guidelines.
- 05
Homes, rentals and businesses
Houses after a small fire, rentals between tenants, homes going on the market, offices and stores.
Service area
Smoke Odor Removal Areas We Serve
Our crews cover 29 ZIP codes across Memphis, from Downtown to Hickory Hill and the Bartlett side. Not sure if you are in our area? Give us a call and we will tell you right away.
- Hickory Hill
- Bartlett
- Whitehaven
- Raleigh
- East Memphis
- Southeast Memphis
- University District
- Frayser
- Midtown
- North Memphis
- South Memphis
- Downtown
FAQ
Smoke Odor FAQs
Have a question that is not listed here? Call us and talk to a real person on our Memphis team.
How long until the smoke smell is gone?
Light odor from a small kitchen fire is often gone within a few days of cleaning and treatment. Heavy smoke or years of cigarette smoke can take more than one round of treatment.
Do you use ozone machines?
No. We use thermal fogging and hydroxyl generators. The EPA warns that ozone can damage the lungs and should never be used where people or pets are present.
Can I rent an ozone machine and do it myself?
We do not recommend it. Ozone only helps after the residue is cleaned, and it is not safe with people, pets or plants in the house. Without cleaning first, the smell comes back.
Can you get the smoke smell out of clothes and furniture?
We treat the building: walls, ceilings, cabinets, floors and the air. Clothes, furniture and other belongings need a contents cleaning company or a dry cleaner that handles smoke.
Does insurance pay for smoke odor removal?
When the fire or smoke damage is covered, odor removal is usually part of the claim. Years of indoor smoking is normally not covered. Check your policy and get a claim number first.
Do you remove smoke odor from businesses?
Yes. Offices, stores, restaurants and rental units get the same steps: source out, residue cleaned, then fogging and hydroxyl treatment.
Related services
More Fire and Smoke Services
Stop Living With the Smoke Smell
Call ServiceMaster by Riverside any time. Tell us what it smells like and where it is strongest, and we will start with the source.
Call now: (901) 459-6610