{"id":20176,"date":"2026-05-25T03:50:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T03:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/romeoville-il-puroclean-romeoville\/?post_type=blog&#038;p=20176"},"modified":"2026-05-04T15:54:30","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T15:54:30","slug":"cleaning-smoke-damaged-electronics-and-getting-cigarette-smell-out-of-them","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/romeoville-il-puroclean-romeoville\/blog\/cleaning-smoke-damaged-electronics-and-getting-cigarette-smell-out-of-them\/","title":{"rendered":"Cleaning Smoke Damaged Electronics and Getting Cigarette Smell Out of Them"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Smoke from a small fire or cigarettes can be extremely harmful to most electronics. Even if the electronic device still looks as good as new, it could have internal damage caused by the smoke. If you want your equipment to function properly again, the smoke must be removed. It\u2019s also essential to clear away the stench that typically follows these cleaning efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Smoke stains may not be removed using conventional cleaning methods, but there are a few clever ideas you might try at home! Keep reading for some cleaning solutions you can try to clean your fire-damaged electronics and smoke damaged electronics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/K4eFZnOU.jpeg\" alt=\"a white computer with a camera on a desk\" class=\"wp-image-33994\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How Can Smoke and Soot Damage Electronics?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ash that remains after a fire is called \u201csoot.\u201d Smoke and soot damage to electronics can occur for a number of reasons. The three main problems smoke causes to electronics are corrosion, insulation, and magnetization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Corrosion is the deterioration of metal as a result of oxidation. The corrosive nature of soot may have an impact on the structural integrity and lifespan of critical components.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1ffZOvsY.jpeg\" alt=\"Inside look at smoke damaged electronic\" class=\"wp-image-33995\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Soot can coat surfaces and insulate internal parts, resulting in extreme overheating and leading to early failure or even fire. If these components overheat, they emit poisonous gases into the air as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Smoke has a magnetic charge, which is known as magnetization. Many people are unaware that smoking generates a magnetic charge. This can cause significant problems with electronic devices, including causing the device to short-circuit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to Clean Smoke Damage from Electronics<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Smoke can wreak havoc on your electronics\u2019 interior components and can cause them to melt. This may prevent the electronics from operating properly, making them useless. Smoke and soot remain after a fire, so removing these residues should be done carefully, or you risk causing further harm to your electronics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Qqf4X8wA.jpeg\" alt=\"a laptop with a cloud of smoke\" class=\"wp-image-33996\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s best not to use cleaning agents containing bleach, ammonia, acetone, ethyl acid, or vinegar on your devices. These cleaning agents can create a dangerous gas, and they may react with the plastic in your device\u2019s case to cause more damage. After you\u2019ve assessed the smoke damage of your electronics, try any of the following methods to restore electronics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Cotton Ball and Rubbing Alcohol<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is an oldie but a goody! Try using a cotton ball and rubbing alcohol \u2013 dabbing the wet cotton on the exterior of the device. Then, wipe it down with another dry cloth or let it air dry for several hours before attempting to turn it back on. Never soak any electronic components in alcohol. Repeat if necessary. Alcohol will kill most bacteria that cause smoke odors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s best to complete this process outside since sometimes there may be lingering vapors from the cleaning solution itself. You don\u2019t want them getting into your lungs while trying to get the cigarette smell out of electronics! It\u2019s important to note, IPA or Isopropyl Alcohol is 99% is safe and effective for consumer use to clean personal computers and electronic devices. A cloth or cotton swab can be applied with alcohol to the electronic parts that need to be cleaned, but be sure not to leave any fibers on the device components.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Air Compressor<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You may use an air compressor to blow out the dust and ash that is causing the odor, moving the air through the device to ensure it reaches every crack, vent, and port. You shouldn\u2019t apply too much pressure since you might damage or dislodge a component. This method should be attempted outside so as not to distribute the buildup within your house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Baking Soda<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Baking soda is another good cleaning solution for smoke-damaged electronics. Just sprinkle some baking soda on top of the affected area, and let it sit overnight to absorb any remaining odors before you brush off excess powder from the device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/lNHRQIE.jpeg\" alt=\"spoon\" class=\"wp-image-33997\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Lemon Juice and Salt<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can even try lemon juice and salt! Mix equal parts of both ingredients, then drizzle and rub the mixture on the\u00a0<em>exterior (only)<\/em>\u00a0of your device (beware: lemon juice has corrosive byproducts that might remove paint!) Let it sit overnight, so juices have time to absorb any odors. Wipe off excess salts in the morning with a dry cloth before powering up electronic devices again.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Dryer Sheets<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another cleaning method is to use dryer sheets. Simply take unused dryer sheets and place them inside the device overnight so they can absorb any cigarette smell inside of it. This cleaning solution should help reduce odors in your electronic devices after some time, but you might need to repeat this process several times before noticing a difference!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Natural Air<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some people like to place their smoke-damaged electronics outside in a sunny spot on a nice day, too, with hopes that sunlight will help rid devices of cigarette smell. If the weather is nice and you live in a safe place, you can even leave the device outside for a few days. Just be careful because heat and prolonged sun exposure can cause damage to screens and electronics.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/dfFDO_nI.jpeg\" alt=\"a laptop on the grass\" class=\"wp-image-33998\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Send the Electronics Back to the Manufacturer<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If all else fails, you can always send your affected devices back to the manufacturer for cleaning and repair. Especially if it\u2019s still under warranty, they\u2019ll be more than happy to help! Just \u2018throwing out\u2019 old electronics is not recommended since they contain heavy metals and can release toxic fumes and other hazardous chemicals into the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Restore Smoke Damaged Electronics with These Great Tips!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If none of these cleaning solutions work, then at least try removing batteries from the affected device for 24 hours (if possible). This helps because sometimes components like circuit boards need time to cool down before you attempt cleaning again, especially if liquids were spilled onto the electronics recently. Once all parts are completely dry, power up damaged devices one by one, checking each time for smells or other issues before turning on the next device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The cleaning methods mentioned in this article are simple and can cut down on the time you spend cleaning your electronics. The last thing you want to have to do is dispose of a damaged device! With these easy-to-follow cleaning tips, you\u2019ll keep those nasty cigarette smells away from your electronic equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For professional restoration services, PuroClean Romeoville\u2019s team is trained to handle smoke and soot damage from small to large jobs. Are you in Naperville, Romeoville, Plainfield or the surrounding areas? Give <strong>PuroClean Romeoville<\/strong>\u00a0a call to begin the restoration process. \u00a0Our certified technicians are available 24\/7 at\u00a0<a href=\"tel:+18007757876\">(815) 905-2225<\/a>\u00a0to handle your emergency restoration needs.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Smoke from a small fire or cigarettes can be extremely harmful to most electronics. Even if the electronic device still looks as good as new, it could have internal damage<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":700,"featured_media":20177,"template":"","blog-category":[],"class_list":["post-20176","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/romeoville-il-puroclean-romeoville\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/20176","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/romeoville-il-puroclean-romeoville\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/romeoville-il-puroclean-romeoville\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/blog"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/romeoville-il-puroclean-romeoville\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/700"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/romeoville-il-puroclean-romeoville\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/20176\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/romeoville-il-puroclean-romeoville\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20177"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/romeoville-il-puroclean-romeoville\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20176"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"blog-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/romeoville-il-puroclean-romeoville\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog-category?post=20176"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}