Old smoke smell is stubborn because it's made of sticky tar particles that get deep inside walls and fabrics. Regular cleaning and air fresheners only hide the smell for a short time because they can't reach the hidden source. To truly get rid of the smoke smell for good, you need a method that can reach deep inside these materials and destroy the odor particles completely.
The Ozone Attack: How O3 Chemically Destroys Smoke Odor Molecules
That is where an ozone generator comes in as an extremely useful piece of kit. Ozone (O3) doesn't simply trap matter as a filter or hide odours as a spray. Instead, it attacks the odour molecules and alters them. Ozone is itself a gas that alters things with ease. Comprising three oxygen atoms, this structure isn't stable. The third atom of oxygen longs to escape and combine with other molecules.
Smoke smell is an odor due to chemicals called phenols. If you employ an ozone generator for smoke smell, the room is filled with O3. The extra oxygen molecules in the ozone breakup. They knock into the molecules that cause the odor of the phenol. This breaks apart the chemistry of the odor molecules. It breaks down the molecules all the way to the simplest things with no smell, such as carbon dioxide and water. Ozone doesn't simply hide the smell. It destroys it.
Step-by-Step Guide: 4 Steps to Eradicate Smoke Smell from Any Room
Operating with powerful equipment such as an ozone generator requires a safe step-by-step method. Proceed with the following steps to remove smoke odors forever from any room in the house.
Step 1: Preparation is Key - Clean and Remove
Ozone works best when it goes after the stink molecules directly. Get rid of the heaviest yucky deposits by cleaning all the hard surfaces. Scrub walls, ceilings, floors, and hard-backed furniture with a heavy-duty cleaner. This removes the top coat of tar and nicotine. This lets the ozone get down deeper. To work best, wash all the fabrics you have access to, including curtains and carpets. They hold most of the odor.
Step 2: Ensure the Space is UNOCCUPIED
This is the most important safety step, and you must do this. High levels of ozone are bad for your lungs to breathe. Before you start the treatment, you must remove all people, pets, and houseplants from the room. Close the door to the room. You can put a towel at the bottom of the door to stop ozone from getting into other parts of your house.
Step 3: Set Up and Run the Ozone Generator
Put a strong ozone generator, like the OZB1, in the middle of the room. This helps to spread the ozone around evenly. Its high power of up to 90,000 mg/h is perfect for rooms of any size. Use its easy-to-use smart screen to set the timer. A room with a medium smell might need 60-90 minutes. A room with a very bad smell may need more time. The OZB1's built-in 10-second safety delay gives you time to leave the room after you turn it on.
Step 4: Air Out the Room Thoroughly
After the machine is done, do not go into the room right away. You must wait for the ozone to fade away and turn back into normal oxygen (O2). A safe time to wait is usually 1 to 2 hours after the machine turns off. After you wait, open all the windows and doors to the outside. Then use fans to air out the room for at least one more hour. This will clear out any leftover ozone and leave the air fresh.
For Your Vehicle: A Specialized Approach to Car Smoke Odor Removal
It is difficult to get the smoke odor out of a car. This is due to the limited interior space that is limited, in that the smells permeate the fabric seats as well as the roof liner. There is no better tool for this task than ozone.
Step 1: Pre-Treatment Cleaning
Just as with a room, it is highly recommended to clean thoroughly beforehand. Remove all the garbage. Clean the carpets and upholstery thoroughly. And clean all the hard surfaces, such as the dash, the panel on the doors, and all the glass. This removal of the tar through this method is an incredibly crucial preliminary step.
Step 2: Safe and Effective Ozone Treatment
For the compact space of an auto, the optimal solution for an easy-to-carry small ozonator is the OZE1. Put the machine on the flat part inside the car, the middle part between the front and rear seats or the ground. Pull the power cord through the open window by only an inch or so. Cover the small hole in the window with the towel.
Step 3: Operation and Ventilation
Set the timer on the OZE1 for a 30-to-60-minute treatment. This will depend on how awful the stench is. To make sure the ozone has access to the air system, turn the car on. Then set the A/C on the "recirculate" setting for the first 15 minutes of the treatment. After the timer has elapsed, apply the same safety rule: at least an hour. Then, open all the doors on the car as well as the trunk so it will air out for yet another hour before you use it,Therefore, the importance of ventilation cannot be ignored.
What to Expect After an Ozone Treatment for Smoke
It is important to know what it is right after an ozone treatment. When you return to the room for the first time (before airing it out), you will detect an acrid, crisp odor. Many people remark that it has the scent of the air after a severe thunderstorm.
Do not panic. This is the characteristic odor of leftover ozone. This is an indication that the treatment was successful and the room was filled with ozone. This odor won't linger indefinitely. Once you begin to ventilate the room by opening doors and windows, this odor will completely vanish. This will leave nothing but clean, neutral, and really pure air. There is no perfume-like result, but it removes odor.