Cleaning Tips for Bay Area Businesses During Wildfire Smoke Season

Wildfire smoke season is a reality for Bay Area businesses. When air quality drops and smoke fills the region for days at a time, the impact on your facility goes well beyond what you can see or smell. Fine smoke particles settle into every corner of a building, affect air quality long after the fires are out, and can cause real health issues for employees and customers if not addressed properly. Here's what businesses can do to stay ahead of it.

Understand What Smoke Actually Leaves Behind

Wildfire smoke isn't just an outdoor problem. Fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, is small enough to pass through standard building ventilation and settle on surfaces throughout your facility. These particles carry toxins, irritants, and carcinogens that don't disappear on their own. Even after outdoor air quality returns to normal, indoor surfaces and HVAC systems can continue circulating smoke contamination for weeks.

Seal Up the Building During Active Smoke Events

When air quality is poor, keep windows and doors closed as much as possible. Switch your HVAC system to recirculation mode so it isn't pulling outside air in, and check that any gaps around doors, windows, and vents are sealed. This won't eliminate infiltration entirely but it significantly reduces how much smoke gets in.

Upgrade Your Air Filtration

Standard HVAC filters aren't designed to catch the ultra-fine particles in wildfire smoke. During smoke season, upgrade to MERV-13 filters or higher, and consider running standalone HEPA air purifiers in high-occupancy areas like open offices, waiting rooms, and break rooms. Change filters more frequently than usual during prolonged smoke events, as they'll clog faster than normal.

Clean High-Touch and Porous Surfaces Thoroughly

After a significant smoke event, wipe down all hard surfaces including desks, countertops, shelving, and equipment with a damp microfiber cloth. Pay extra attention to soft and porous surfaces like upholstered furniture, carpet, and window treatments, as these absorb smoke particles and hold onto odors. Vacuuming with a HEPA vacuum is essential here since a standard vacuum will just redistribute particles back into the air.

Flush and Service Your HVAC System

Your ductwork collects smoke particles during a prolonged event and will keep recirculating them every time the system runs. After a significant smoke period, have your ducts inspected and cleaned and replace all filters before switching back to normal operation. Skipping this step is one of the most common reasons businesses continue to notice smoke odors and air quality issues well after outdoor conditions improve.

Know When to Call a Professional

For moderate to severe smoke infiltration, especially in buildings that stayed open during poor air quality days or have older, less efficient ventilation systems, professional cleaning and air treatment is the most reliable way to restore a healthy indoor environment. Ozone treatment, hydroxyl generators, and HEPA air scrubbing can address what surface cleaning alone can't reach.

As a Bay Area company with over 35 years of experience, SMRWC & BOMIC understands the seasonal challenges local businesses face. Our restoration services include smoke remediation and air quality treatment for commercial properties. Our building maintenance team can help you put a seasonal cleaning plan in place so your facility is prepared before smoke season hits, and our residential cleaning services bring the same level of care to homeowners dealing with smoke infiltration at home.

Don't wait until the smell is overwhelming to take action. The sooner you address smoke contamination, the easier and less costly it is to resolve.