Your walls and ceilings have a yellowish-brown film. You notice a sticky residue on surfaces, and a lingering smell seems to be everywhere, even after cleaning.
You've probably tried wiping down surfaces with your usual household cleaners, only to find the film smears or quickly reappears. The smell persists, and it feels like you're just moving the problem around. It's not that you weren't cleaning enough; it's that typical cleaners aren't designed to break down the specific compounds in smoke residue.
Smoke residue is primarily composed of sticky nicotine and tar particles that bond tightly to surfaces. These compounds are oil-based and require a strong alkaline degreaser, like Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) or a similar heavy-duty alkaline cleaner, to effectively dissolve and lift them. Standard cleaners are often too mild to break these bonds, leaving behind the film and odor.
Smoke residue isn't just on visible surfaces; it's often circulated throughout your home by your HVAC system, settling in less obvious places. Professionals understand the chemistry required to break down tar and nicotine, and they have the tools and techniques to thoroughly clean all affected surfaces, including walls, ceilings, and inside cabinets, preventing the residue from migrating and the odor from returning.
Everyone who cleans for Broom works for Broom — hired, trained, and background-checked by us, not sourced from a gig app or contractor marketplace. That training includes this specific problem: the right product for this surface, the correct dwell time, and what causes damage when used incorrectly. The same cleaner returns every visit, building familiarity with how your home specifically accumulates this kind of buildup. When you mention it in the quote form, your cleaner arrives prepared — not discovering it once they're inside. ##
Your home's surfaces are clean and free of the sticky, yellowish film, and the lingering smoke odor is gone. We use targeted alkaline degreasers and specific techniques to dissolve and remove the residue, restoring the freshness of your living spaces.
For homes with significant smoke residue, a one-time deep clean is essential to remove the accumulated film. After this initial reset, recurring visits can maintain a clean, odor-free environment.
Walls - cleaned significantly more thoroughly
Ceiling - cleaned significantly more thoroughly
Vents - cleaned significantly more thoroughly
Addressed in your cleaning plan when smoke residue is flagged.
Addressed in your cleaning plan when smoke residue is flagged.
Can all smoke residue be removed?
Most surface smoke film can be removed with specialized cleaning. However, very heavy, long-term smoke damage, especially if it has deeply penetrated porous surfaces like drywall, may require repainting to fully eliminate.
Will the smell come back?
Once the tar and nicotine film is thoroughly removed from all surfaces, the source of the odor is gone. Proper cleaning prevents the smell from returning.
Is this safe for my surfaces?
We use appropriate alkaline degreasers and techniques that are effective on smoke residue while being safe for most painted walls, ceilings, and hard surfaces. We always assess surfaces before cleaning.
Smoke residue covers every surface in a home — it's not a spot treatment situation. Tell us about it in the quote form and we'll scope the right approach for your home before the first visit.
Tell us about the smoke residue in your home so we can build the right scope into your plan.
We'll ask about the extent, the surfaces involved, and what matters most. Your cleaner arrives prepared for what the home actually needs.
We solve this across the Denver metro - Arvada, Lakewood, Littleton, Centennial, and more. See all service areas