How to Clear Your Home of Wildfire Smoke

First, consider a true-HEPA air purifier.

Wildfire smoke predominantly consists of particles that are smaller than 10 microns, and true-HEPA air filters are exceptionally good at removing particles of that size from the air. Wirecutter’s top picks from Coway are well-priced, effective and reliable.

If you have central air and heating and want a cheaper option, consider upgrading to one of the furnace and air-conditioning filters Wirecutter recommends. Go for versions with as high a MERV rating (“minimum efficiency reporting value,” a measure of how well a central-air filter removes particulates from the air) as your system fan and filter slot can accommodate.

It may seem obvious, but close your windows.

Most of the time, outside air contains fewer particulates than indoor air, so open windows are a good idea. But in wildfire conditions, that isn’t the case. Closing your windows will help keep smoke from entering your home in the first place. Minimize entrances and exits through exterior doors as well.

Even fine smoke particles eventually drop out of the air and settle on surfaces, including floors. Damp-mop your floors to pick them up rather than vacuuming, which can simply blow them back up into the air. Wirecutter picks for dust mop and wet mop do a great job and are inexpensive, durable, ergonomic and washable.

Wearing a respirator mask can help you protect yourself while these longer term fixes are underway. Wirecutter found specific models of N95 respirators that are versatile in fit, reliable in performance and widely available once the initial wave of shortages early in the Covid pandemic passed.

Smoke particles also settle on your clothes, skin and bed. If you’ve spent time outdoors in the smoke, change into clean clothes when you get home. Wash your sheets more often than normal, too. Take a quick shower before you go to bed. And after the smoke clears and the fires subside, clean everything.

Read more about Wirecutter’s recommendations for wildfire smoke