"Walter R." wrote in message
.. .
A semi-homeless person in San Diego would to know how to get rid of smoke
odors in a house that survived the firestorm. Several "disaster restorers"
quoted from 30,000 to 50,000 to make our house smell as fresh as a daisy.
So they say.

The houses around us burned to the ground and contribute to the smoky
odor. There is a very fine layer of soot and ash in the attic and garage.
The rest of the house merely reeks of burned stuff.

Will washing the walls help? I am afraid that the odor will return after a
few days or weeks. Can anyone offer some suggestions for the permanent
elimination of this stink? Some people swear by ozone generators, others
say that they are dangerous and ineffective.

Thanks for any and all input.

Have you talked to your insurance company yet? They may cover any
remediation costs you incur.

You also want to clean any electronics. The soot carries some materials
that can corrode electronics over time. I'm told problems can come up in six
months from such a situation.

I'm in the process of cleaning control panels right now using spray on
electronics cleaner. Our business was in a building that had a major fire.
The odor is pretty much eliminated by a good washing with detergents and in
some cases degreaser. Upholstered furniture may keep it for a long time.
Get rid of carpeting. Time also helps dissipate the odor..

You may also want to consider a good insurance adjuster. They have
experience dealing with the insurance companies and assure that you get what
you are entitled to under the terms of your policy.

I hope you come out of this reasonably intact. It certainly was a terrible
situation.