How to Get the Fireplace Smoke Smell Out of a Hardwood Floor

A fireplace is a desired feature in many homes, adding warmth and coziness on a chilly night. If your wood floors smell like smoke, chances are a thin layer of ash has settled on your floors or between the floorboards. Once you remove the ash, the smell should dissipate. You can then use a few simple techniques to remove any lingering smoke odors that your hardwood floors may have absorbed.

Vacuum cleaner
Bucket
Dishwashing detergent or white vinegar
Mop
Baking soda

Instructions

- 1
  Vacuum the floor to remove ashes from the floorboards. Vacuuming is the best method to remove the ash because unlike sweeping, it also removes the ash from between the boards. Do not use the beater bar when vacuuming hardwood floors.
- 2
  Fill a bucket with 1 gallon of warm water and add two or three drops of dishwashing detergent. According to Keene State College, you can also use 1 cup of vinegar in 1 gallon of hot water to clean wood floors. Vinegar effectively removes odors.
- 3
  Dip and wring out a mop in the bucket of cleaning solution. If your floors are lacquered or shellacked, however, do not clean the floor in this manner. Rather, use a floor cleaner designed for your type of floor finish and follow instructions on the label.
- 4
  Mop the floor to remove the remaining ash and remove odors. Mop in the direction of the grain and clean under the furniture as well.
- 5
  Sprinkle baking soda on your floors and let it sit overnight if the smoke smell remains after the floor dries. The baking soda will absorb some of the smoke odors. Vacuum the baking soda up the next day.

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