Fire & smoke · Updated October 2026

Wildfire Smoke in Your Home: A Cleanup Guide

To clean wildfire ash and smoke from your home, wear an N95 respirator, gloves, and long sleeves. Mist surfaces lightly with water and wet-wipe or wet-mop them instead of dry sweeping. Use only a HEPA vacuum, never a regular household vacuum, shop vac, or leaf blower. Upgrade your HVAC filter to MERV 13 if your system can handle it, document the damage for insurance before you clean, and call a professional for heavy soot, lingering odor, or any home that was burned.

Before you start: is it safe to go home?

The CDC says do not return home until authorities say it is safe. Go back during daylight, watch for downed power lines and debris, and keep children out of cleanup work. If you smell gas, see sparks, or notice structural damage, leave and call 911 or your utility.

If you have a private well, CDC warns it can become contaminated after a wildfire. Check that your water is safe before drinking it.

If your home or property actually burned, this is a different situation. In California, CalRecycle warns that moving or spreading debris on a burned property will disqualify it from the government debris-removal program. Check with your county before sifting through debris. This guide is for homes with smoke and ash damage.

Protect yourself first

Ash can irritate your skin, eyes, nose, and throat. The EPA and CDC ash fact sheet notes that ash from burned structures is generally more hazardous than forest ash, and that contact with wet ash can cause chemical burns or skin irritation.

1. Wear a NIOSH-approved N95 or P100 respirator that seals snugly to your face. Surgical masks and one-strap dust masks won’t protect your lungs.
2. Cover your skin with gloves, long sleeves, long pants, shoes, and socks. Goggles help too.
3. Wash ash off your skin, eyes, or mouth as soon as you can.
4. Keep children and pets away from ash and cleanup. Clean ash off toys and pets.
5. Change shoes and clothes before leaving the cleanup area so you don’t track ash elsewhere.

EPA says children, older adults, and people with heart or lung disease, including asthma, should not participate in cleanup work. If you have heart or lung disease, talk to your doctor before using a respirator.

How to clean ash indoors

The goal is to remove ash without putting it back in the air. EPA and CDC guidance:

1. Don’t dry sweep or dust. Both stir ash back into the air.
2. Mist hard surfaces lightly with water before sweeping, then wet-mop. Use a damp cloth or wet mop on lightly dusted areas, and use as little water as you can.
3. Vacuum only with a HEPA-type vacuum. Don’t use a typical household vacuum or a shop vacuum. They blow collected ash out into the air.
4. Never use a leaf blower, indoors or out.
5. Bag the ash. Store collected ash in plastic bags or containers so it isn’t stirred up. Don’t wash ash into storm drains.
6. Run a portable HEPA air cleaner where people spend the most time, as the California Department of Public Health recommends.

Colorado’s health department adds that soap and water are adequate for cleaning ash from hard surfaces, and advises against harsh chemical cleaners or vinegar because they can react with chemicals in the ash.

If you suspect asbestos or other hazardous waste, the fact sheet says to contact your local hazardous waste authorities about disposal.

Your HVAC system and air filters

Smoke and ash get pulled into heating and cooling systems. EPA recommends a high-efficiency filter rated MERV 13, or as high a rating as your system fan and filter slot can accommodate.

• Check compatibility. EPA says you may need an HVAC technician to determine the highest-efficiency filter your system can handle.
• Make sure it fits snugly so air doesn’t leak around it. Don’t bend or crush a filter to make it fit.
• Replace filters more often than the manufacturer recommends during and after heavy smoke.
• Run the fan on “On” instead of “Auto” so air is filtered continuously, as EPA and the California Air Resources Board advise.

On duct cleaning, EPA says to consider it if ducts are clogged with dust and debris or particles are coming out of the supply registers, but that ducts should only be cleaned as needed.

Dealing with smoke odor

Smoke odor comes from residue on surfaces and in fabrics, so cleaning is the main fix. Colorado’s health department recommends:

• Air out the home by opening windows and doors when outdoor air is clean.
• Use air cleaners with HEPA filters for particles and activated carbon filters for odors and chemical vapors.
• Clean all surfaces, including walls and ceilings, and HEPA-vacuum or steam clean carpets, drapes, and upholstery.
• Don’t use ozone generators in occupied homes. Ozone is toxic to breathe and can damage materials.

When items should be professionally cleaned

Some things are hard to clean well at home:

• Upholstered furniture, mattresses, rugs, and drapes with deep odor or visible soot.
• Clothing and textiles that still smell after washing.
• Electronics and appliances with soot inside.
• Artwork, photos, books, and heirlooms.
• HVAC systems and ductwork with visible ash or ongoing odor.

Washington’s insurance regulator notes that soot can permeate drywall, insulation, and hardwood floors. That kind of damage usually requires professional deep cleaning, sealing, or replacement.

When to call a restoration professional

Consider professional help if:

• Ash or soot is heavy or covers large areas.
• Odor persists after you’ve cleaned and aired out the home.
• Smoke got into attics, crawl spaces, insulation, or ducts.
• Anyone in the home has asthma or heart or lung disease.
• You suspect damaged building materials could contain asbestos or other hazardous materials.

Insurance notes

Coverage depends on your policy, so read it and call your insurer. In general, Washington’s insurance regulator says standard homeowner and renter policies typically cover sudden and accidental smoke damage from wildfires, usually under the same coverage as fire. Many also pay for temporary living costs if the home is unlivable during cleanup. Its advice:

1. Take photos and videos before you clean anything. Note odors, soot, and staining.
2. Don’t throw anything away until the adjuster has inspected.
3. Request a full smoke damage inspection, including attics, crawl spaces, insulation, and the HVAC system.
4. Keep receipts for hotels, meals, and cleaning supplies.
5. Ask for a reinspection if odor or residue shows up later.

This is general information, not legal advice.

California notes

• CDPH’s Safe Cleanup of Ash recommends double-bagging and sealing ash and debris, and checking with your county for disposal instructions.
• The California Department of Insurance offers wildfire claim guides and a consumer hotline at 1-800-927-4357. It urges checking a public adjuster’s license before hiring one.
• After the January 2025 Los Angeles fires, CDI convened a task force on smoke damage claims and published a Smoke Claims and Remediation Task Force Report. Check CDI for the latest on standards for smoke damage claims.
• CARB maintains a list of certified air cleaners that emit little or no ozone, linked from EPA’s guidance.

If smoke or ash damage is more than you can safely handle, Restore Your Property can connect you with a licensed, certified local restoration contractor 24/7 at (855) 919-8808. The contractors in the network offer no-obligation estimates and work with every major insurance carrier.