How Should You Clean Your House After It’s Engulfed in Wildfire Smoke?

Inside Climate News · By Anna Gibbs · last updated March 28, 2025 – 1:05 AM

Research shows harmful chemicals released by burning vegetation and homes can return to the air months after the blazes are out, but some common cleaning methods can reduce the harm.

By Anna Gibbs

In the aftermath of January’s Los Angeles wildfires, researcher Elliott Gall got an email from someone who had returned home after evacuating. They wanted to know what to do with their mattresses, which had been exposed to smoke. Should they wash them, air them out, dispose of them?

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