How to Get Wildfire Smoke Smell Out of Mattresses, Furniture and Other Fabrics

With several wildfires affecting the Spokane area, many homeowners are dealing with an unexpected problem after the smoke clears: lingering smoke odors inside their homes. Even if your property wasn't directly threatened by fire, wildfire smoke can travel for miles, leaving furniture, mattresses, bedding, curtains and upholstered surfaces smelling like smoke.

Smoke particles are incredibly small and can settle deep into fabric fibers and foam, making odors difficult to eliminate with air fresheners alone. The good news is that mild to moderate smoke odors can often be reduced with the right cleaning approach.

Improve Your Indoor Air Quality First

If wildfire smoke is still affecting outdoor air quality, it is usually best to focus first on keeping indoor air as clean as possible and wait to deep-clean mattresses, upholstered furniture and other porous materials until the smoke has largely cleared.

Otherwise, those materials may continue picking up new smoke particles and odors after you clean them.

Once local air quality has returned to some semblance of normal, start by:

• Replacing your HVAC air filter
• Running portable HEPA air purifiers if you have them
• Cleaning hard surfaces like countertops, floors and shelves, where smoke residue can settle
• Opening windows once conditions have improved to ventilate your home

Removing smoke from the air creates a cleaner environment and helps prevent odors from returning after you've cleaned upholstered items.

Vacuum Upholstered Surfaces Thoroughly

Wildfire smoke leaves behind fine ash and microscopic particles that settle into fabrics. Using a vacuum equipped with a HEPA filter can help remove much of this debris before deeper cleaning begins. Thoroughly vacuum:

• Sofas
• Recliners
• Dining chair cushions
• Mattresses
• Fabric headboards
• Ottomans

Use upholstery attachments and slowly work across seams, creases and cushions where particles tend to collect.

Let Fresh Air Do Some of the Work

For mattresses or removable cushions:

• Stand them upright if practical.
• Allow airflow on all sides.
• Use fans to circulate fresh air through the room.

Avoid placing furniture or mattresses outdoors while wildfire smoke is still present or during periods of high humidity, as additional moisture or smoke exposure can make the problem worse.

Try Baking Soda for Mild Smoke Odors

For mattresses and upholstery with light smoke odors, a light coating of baking soda may help absorb some odor-causing compounds near the surface. Let it sit for several hours, then remove as much as possible with a dry cloth or soft brush before carefully vacuuming the remainder with an upholstery attachment.

Test it on an inconspicuous area first, particularly on dark or delicate upholstery, since fine baking soda can sometimes leave visible residue behind. Baking soda also won’t remove smoke contamination that has penetrated deeply into foam or fabric.

Wash Everything That Can Be Washed

Sometimes what seems like a smoky mattress is actually smoke trapped in bedding or blankets. Wash all removable textiles, including:

• Mattress protectors
• Sheets
• Pillowcases
• Blankets
• Decorative pillows
• Removable cushion covers
• Curtains

Using your regular laundry detergent is often sufficient, although heavily affected items may benefit from a second wash if the manufacturer's care instructions allow.

Cleaning these surrounding fabrics can make a surprisingly large difference in the overall smell of the room.

Use Upholstery Odor Removers Carefully

If smoke odors remain after vacuuming and airing out your furniture, specialty upholstery cleaners or enzyme-based odor removers may help. Before using any cleaning product:

• Test it in an inconspicuous location to ensure it doesn’t leave stains or visible residue
• Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully
• Avoid oversaturating upholstery or mattress foam
• Allow plenty of drying time before use

Excess moisture trapped inside furniture or mattresses can create mold or mildew problems that are even more difficult to address than smoke odors.

Consider Professional Upholstery Cleaning

For high-quality furniture or persistent smoke odors, professional upholstery cleaning may be well worth the investment.

Professional cleaners have equipment and cleaning methods designed to remove contaminants from deeper within upholstered furniture than most consumer products can reach. Mattresses require more careful treatment to avoid introducing excessive moisture, so make sure any professional you hire has experience cleaning them.

If your furniture is particularly valuable or sentimental, professional cleaning is often the safest approach before considering replacement.

Ozone and Hydroxyl Treatments for Severe Smoke Damage

Spokane homes with significant wildfire smoke exposure sometimes require more advanced odor removal methods.

Professional restoration companies may recommend ozone or hydroxyl treatments to neutralize stubborn smoke odors.

These treatments should only be performed by experienced professionals. Ozone treatments require people and pets to vacate the home during the process, and repeated exposure may affect certain materials, including rubber, plastics and some textiles.

Because of these considerations, these professional-grade smoke odor treatments are generally reserved for severe smoke contamination rather than mild odor issues.

When Replacement May Be the Best Option

Unfortunately, not every mattress or upholstered item can be fully restored after heavy or prolonged wildfire smoke exposure.

If odors remain after thorough cleaning, or if the smoke has deeply penetrated aging foam, fabrics or cushioning, it may be more practical to replace the affected item. This may be especially true for older mattresses that have already accumulated years of wear, moisture and other household odors and are difficult to clean deep beneath the surface.

Supporting Spokane After the Recent Wildfires

The recent wildfires have affected homes and families throughout the Spokane area. If smoke damage has left your mattress difficult to clean or no longer comfortable to use, Twilight Bedding offers locally made replacement options to help restore comfort at home.



Contact our North Spokane showroom at (509) 413-2431 or our Spokane showroom at (509) 926-2333 for more information on new or replacement mattresses.