Are Smoke Damaged Clothes Dangerous? Full Guide

Yes, smoke damaged clothes can be dangerous. If your clothes were in a house fire, near a wildfire, or exposed to tobacco smoke, they may carry toxic chemicals that are harmful to your health. This includes particulates, benzene, formaldehyde, and carbon monoxide. These can irritate your skin, lungs, and respiratory system.

Let’s explore what happens to clothes after smoke exposure, how it affects your health, and what you can do about it.

What Happens When Clothes Are Exposed to Smoke?

Smoke Is More Than Just Smell

Smoke isn’t just a bad smell. It’s full of dangerous chemical compounds, like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), toluene, aldehyde, and sulfur dioxide. These come from combustion (burning materials). Whether it’s a fire or tobacco smoke, clothes can soak up these toxins.

Textiles Trap Smoke

Clothes made of cotton, wool, silk, polyester, and linen absorb smoke. These textiles trap molecules from smoke deep in the fabric. The tighter the weave, the harder it is to clean.

Why Smoke Damaged Clothes Can Be Dangerous

Health Risks from Contamination

When smoke sticks to your clothes, it can touch your skin, get into your lungs, or move around your home. This is called contamination. It may cause:

Irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat
Headache or nausea
Shortness of breath
Long-term lung damage or respiratory tract disease
Weakened immune system

Chemicals That Cause Harm

Smoke contains:

Asbestos (in older buildings)
Benzene (linked to cancer)
Acrolein (damages the liver and respiratory system)
Carbon monoxide (lowers oxygen in the blood)
Formaldehyde (can cause coma, vomiting, or breathing issues)

Even after the fire is out, these chemicals can stay on your clothes for weeks.

Can Washing Remove Smoke?

Regular Laundry Is Not Enough

Throwing smoke-damaged clothes in a washing machine with regular detergent might not fully remove the smell or chemicals. Smoke can hide in every thread, especially in thick fabrics or upholstery.

Why You Need Special Cleaning

To clean smoke damage, you may need:

Disinfectants like hydrogen peroxide
Deep cleaners like trisodium phosphate
Heavy-duty cleaning agents
Fabric softeners and air fresheners to mask smell (but not a real fix)

Even bleach may not be strong enough to clean polyester, silk, or wool clothing.

Steps to Safely Clean Smoke Damaged Clothes

1. Wear Protection

Before handling clothes, wear personal protective equipment like gloves and a mask. This protects your respiratory tract from inhalation of particles.

2. Shake Off Loose Particles

Take the clothes outside and shake them to remove soot, soil, and aerosol particles.

3. Vacuum with HEPA Filter

Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter. This removes particulates and prevents them from reentering the indoor air.

4. Pre-Soak in a Cleaning Solution

Fill a tub with warm water and soap, or use a mix of hydrogen peroxide and water. Let the clothes soak to break down smoke molecules.

5. Wash in Hot Water

Use your washing machine on the hottest safe setting. Add strong detergent or trisodium phosphate. Don’t mix bleach and ammonia—this makes toxic gas.

6. Rinse and Dry Outside

Hang clothes outdoors in fresh air and sunlight. Good ventilation helps remove ozone, smoke, and any lingering odors.

When to Call a Restoration Company

Heavy Smoke or Fire Damage

If your home had a fire, or if your wardrobe, floor, or ducts were affected, call a professional restoration company. They offer:

Smoke damage restoration
Fire damage restoration
Environmental remediation
Removal of air pollution from your property

These restoration services use technology like charcoal filters, oxygen treatments, and ozone machines to clean smoke damage.

Mold and Water Damage

Water damage from firefighting can also lead to mold, which adds to the danger. A restoration expert knows how to handle both.

Smoke Damage Can Affect More Than Clothes

Home and Furniture

Smoke sticks to paint, carpet, upholstery, and walls. It can destroy your property if not cleaned properly. Vacuuming, disinfecting, and sealing surfaces can help.

Air and Ventilation

Your indoor air quality can suffer after a fire. Change your air filters, clean your ducts, and use an air purifier or air freshener to reduce lingering smells.

What Clothes Should You Toss?

Some Fabrics Are Too Damaged

If clothes smell like smoke even after cleaning, or if they cause skin irritation, it’s safer to throw them away. This is especially true for:

Baby clothes
Clothes for people with allergies or asthma
Fabric with melted or burned spots

Items to Be Extra Careful With

Clothes that were near perfume, cosmetics, or personal care products
Anything stored near paint, acid, or flammable items

These could have combined to create more harmful chemical compounds.

How Wildfire Smoke Is Different

Outdoor Exposure

If your clothes were exposed to wildfire smoke, the particles may include ash, oxide, hydrocarbons, and sulfur dioxide. These can be very sticky and harder to remove.

You may also experience:

Coughing
Eye irritation
Risk to people with asthma or other respiratory diseases

Fire Safety Tips from the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross says it’s important to:

Keep emergency kits ready
Store clothes in airtight bins
Use fire safety plans to stay safe
Know how to escape and what to grab
Always check clothes and personal items after a fire

Simple Experiments to Show Smoke Damage

Kids and parents can learn about smoke by doing safe experiments using candles and fabric (with adult help). See how soot changes the color and smell of a cloth. Always practice fire safety!

FAQs

Are smoke damaged clothes dangerous to wear?

Yes. They can carry harmful chemicals that affect your skin, lungs, and immune system. Wash them thoroughly or throw them away.

Can I clean smoke damaged clothes in my washer?

Sometimes. But regular laundry may not remove all contamination. Use a cleaning agent like trisodium phosphate or call a professional.

What does smoke do to fabric?

Smoke clings to textile fibers, causing smells, stains, and irritation. It may weaken the fabric over time, especially natural materials like cotton or wool.

Do air fresheners remove smoke smells from clothes?

No. They only mask the odor. You must clean smoke damage using detergent, disinfectant, or professional methods to remove the source of the smell.

When should I call a smoke damage restoration service?

If you smell smoke after a fire or can’t clean the clothes properly, call a restoration company. They use tools to fix property damage, air quality, and clothing.

Eric Allison

Eric Allison is a seasoned professional in property restoration, serving as the primary contact and founder of Preferred Restoration Services, LLC, based in Tustin, California. With a career spanning over two decades, Eric has developed extensive expertise in addressing fire, water, and mold damage, ensuring properties are restored to their pre-loss condition.

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