Tony Macaluso

Chairman, IICRC Odor Control Technical Advisory Committee

Q: Can you highlight your most memorable odor removal project and why it stands out?

A: My first trauma scene remediation and the safety, or lack thereof, regarding personal protection equipment (PPE) and how the biological odors can penetrate into your clothing and your skin without utilizing the PPE.

Q: What are the most common missteps or misconceptions you see related to odor removal?

A: The most common misstep is that individuals often go into odor projects with preconceived thoughts/notions as to what is causing the odor, e.g., there are pets in the home, therefore, that is the source of the odor when it may not be a factor. Also, not acting as a private investigator, i.e., asking questions, surveying the surrounding areas, etc.

Another misconception is that we have this chemical or piece of equipment that magically takes care of the odor. Odor removal often requires a combination of techniques, i.e., source removal, cleaning, recreating the conditions of odor penetration and encapsulation (sealing). Every job is unique and may not require all these steps, which are in accomplished in sequence.

Q: What are the top tools odor removal professionals should have in their toolbox?

A: First and most important is training in understanding how individuals perceive odors and, too, what is a “real” and “psychological” odor. As to the tools: All odor control chemicals/equipment are in my toolbox, e.g., bacterial enzymes; water- and petroleum-based and vapor phase pairing agents; oxidizing agents/gases such as ozone and hydroxyl generators, chlorine dioxide, etc. Depending on the type of odor and the surfaces affected, it may require and combination of these at various stages of the project.

Q: What are your top predictions and/or hopes for the future of odor removal?

A: Businesses and homeowners today are more aware and concerned not just about the discomfort of a bad odor environment but also about their health. There are odors in all aspects of our industry, whether it is in cleaning, restoration or construction. My hope is that companies, in order to become successful, will realize the importance of understanding odor control and further their education.

Q: What key resources do you turn to for continued education in odor removal?

A: Articles within journals such as R&R, Cleanfax, Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, and EPA; Cannabis Business Times; IAQ.

About Tony

Tony Macaluso has been in the cleaning and restoration industry for more than 40 years. He is certified as a Master Textile, Master Fire and Water Damage Restoration Technician and Senior Carpet Inspector with the IICRC, and currently serves on their Technical Advisory Board as Chairman of their Odor Control Committee.

Jeff May

Principal, May Indoor Air Investigations

Q: Can you highlight your most memorable odor removal project and why it stands out?

A: I was called into a law office to figure out why for months no one had been able to sit in the conference room for lunch without getting a headache. There was a slight unpleasant odor that was affecting the occupants. I spent an hour looking around but finally settled on the large oval conference table, the top of which reeked like a dirty sponge. There was a telephone book on the table that had not been moved for months, and I had one of the employees sniff it: first the top, which had no odor, and then the bottom, which stunk from the table surface. She shrieked and confirmed that the odor on the bottom of the book was the same as the room odor. Dirty sponge odor is caused by butyric acid (and has the odor of vomit) from bacterial degradation of fat. The acid can be neutralized by a base like ammonia. I wiped the table with an ammonia-containing window cleaner, and the next day the employees were able to enjoy lunch in the conference room again. Based on this experience I developed the aluminum foil/paper towel test to identify surface odor sources; just fold an odorless full sheet of paper towel in half twice, place it on a surface and cover it with aluminum foil held in place by removable blue painter’s tape. Remove the test after a day or two, fold it up as quickly as possible, enclosing the paper in the foil. Then partially open the packet outdoors and sniff the paper. Tests on several surfaces can be done, labeled and compared to each other.

In another case of an odor problem, a building owner recognized the odor detected by new tenants in their rental as the body odor of prior tenants. The odor from people is also due in part to fatty acids. I recommended fumigating the heating system with ammonia to neutralize the odor.

Another interesting project that I was not directly involved in was one brought to my attention by a former student. He was trying to help the owner of a convenience store into which no one could enter without experiencing eye and throat irritation. It was soon discovered that an employee in an attempt to clean the HVAC vents had sprayed them with an oven cleaner containing sodium (or potassium) hydroxide, a powerful base used to eliminate grease. Irritating particulate residues from the cleaner were being distributed through the HVAC system. Both the manufacturer of the cleaner and I suggested fumigating or fogging the store with vinegar, an acid that would neutralize the irritating base. After the fumigation, the store reopened without a problem.

Q: What are the most common missteps or misconceptions you see related to odor removal?

A: The biggest misstep is not identifying the source before beginning remediation. We have had clients replace boilers and re-line chimneys when only simple repair was needed. Some companies are claiming that fogging in a room with some chemicals such as enzymes can eliminate odors caused by mold from within closed-wall cavities. This is not true. The musty-odor molecules can diffuse through wall materials and make a room stink, but the fog droplets are too large to enter a closed wall cavity.

Q: What are the top tools odor removal professionals should have in their toolbox?

A: Ozone (when properly used) is great for removal of some odors. I had a skunk in my garage and the space reeked. Skunk odor is caused by butenyl mercaptan, a sulfur-containing molecule readily oxidized by ozone. After 10 minutes of treatment, the odor was gone. Unfortunately, other odor molecules (including those from some species of mold growth) are not affected by ozone.

One very simple way to identify some hidden odor sources is to place a window box fan on exhaust; assuming other air sources such as doors and windows are closed, the exhaust reduces the air pressure in a room and causes odor infiltration to increase. Then all cracks and openings (especially at electric boxes) can be sniffed to locate the odor source. If the temperature in the space is different from the surrounding spaces, an infrared camera can be used to locate air-infiltration openings. I used this technique to find a pencil-sized hole in a floor/wall joint that forced a mother to move her son into another bedroom. The powerful odor that made the room uninhabitable was coming from a nest full of dead and decomposing bees discovered in the small roof of a bay window in an exterior wall of the dining room directly beneath the son’s bedroom.

About Jeff

Jeff May, MA, CMC, principal of May Indoor Air Investigations (www.mayindoorair.com) has over 30 years of experience investigating moisture, mold, odor and indoor air quality problems in thousands of offices, schools, and residential buildings. Along with his wife Connie, he is the co-author of My House is Killing Me! (Ed. 1, 2001, Ed. 2, 2020); Jeff May’s Healthy Home Tips (2008); My Office is Killing Me! The Sick Building Survival Guide (2006); The Mold Survival Guide: For Your Home and for Your Health (2004), all published by the Johns Hopkins University Press.

Sean Scott

Author, The Red Guide to Recovery – Resource Handbook for Disaster Survivors

Q: Can you highlight your most memorable odor removal project and why it stands out?

A: The most memorable smoke odor removal project I was involved with was a high-rise retirement building where a kitchen fire in one apartment unit affected multiple floors and apartments. Here the smoke entered the elevator shafts, hallways, HVAC system, as well as electrical and plumbing pipe chases throughout the building. We had to contain numerus unaffected areas, work in confined spaces at certain times and chase the smoke paths throughout the entire structure. The challenges of working in a multistory building where most of the residents could not be relocated, and the logistics of working in a high-rise with only one freight elevator made the process extremely tedious and complicated.

Q: What are the most common missteps or misconceptions you see related to odor removal?

A: One of the most common missteps is the failure to identify and/or locate odor sources. Oftentimes odors can make their way into concealed spaces far from the fire origin. For example, fires that occur in attics often create enough pressures to push odor down into walls where holes are drilled for electrical wires, pipes or ductwork. In situations where exterior roof overhangs are enclosed with soffits, pressurized smoke can get trapped and be a constant odor issue if the soffits are not exposed and cleaned. In addition, if an attic space becomes charged with smoke, the framing lumber can adsorb soot and absorb smoke odors. If the surfaces of this type of exposed lumber are not cleaned and treated properly, the smoke odor will likely reoccur off and on for many years to come. The same holds true for fires in basements or crawlspaces.

Another misstep is the over reliance on oxidizing gases such as ozone or hydroxyls. Although these gases are effective in neutralizing certain VOCs, they also create potentially toxic byproducts. Oxidizing gases need to be used in conjunction with media blasting, HEPA vacuuming, air filtration, encapsulants and other restorative processes. A common misconception is the use of deodorizing fragrances used in foggers or wet spray applications. These types of chemicals don’t really “deodorize” or remove smoke odors per se but rather re-odorizes them with a pleasant fragrance. In reality, chemical fragrances like these do little more than deceive the sense of smell for a period of time until the fragrance dissipates.

Q: What are the top tools odor removal professionals should have in their toolbox?

A: 1) Proper personal protective equipment to protect themselves and their workers from exposure to toxic combustion byproducts. This includes proper respirators, coveralls, eye protection, etc. 2) Knowledge of how to properly restore a wide range of materials in varying conditions and know what can and cannot be restored. 3) Different types of media and blasting equipment for source removal on lumber, masonry or other building materials. 4) Hydroxyl generators to help neutralize odor gases. 5) HEPA vacuums to remove debris after media blasting as well as soot, char and ash. 6) Air scrubbers with an assortment of filters, i.e., activated carbon, HEPA, ULPA, etc. These are used to remove particulate in the air.

Q: What are your top predictions and/or hopes for the future of odor removal?

A: First, my hope is that restoration practitioners and the insurance industry would become more educated on the toxicity of structure fire smoke and combustion byproducts and take the necessary measures to protect their workers’ health. I predict that in the near future, people will realize that many of the toxic substances created in structure fires, such as dioxins, heavy metals, PAH’s, PM 2.5, etc., have caused or contributed to illnesses, diseases, and deaths of firefighters and fire investigators worldwide. Once restorers realize just how toxic post-structure fire environments are, I believe that many of the current restoration practices will drastically change. I also predict that independent environmental professionals (IEPs) will begin to play a critical role in fire restoration and smoke deodorization. Currently, mold and asbestos are recognized as serious respirable hazards. IEPs provide pre-remediation air and surface sampling, detailed remediation protocols and final clearance testing to verify that the remediation process will be successful. Seeing as many of the toxic substances, chemicals, VOC’s and particulate matter present in post-structure fire environments can be far more hazardous to human health than mold or asbestos, it stands to reason that the role of the IEP is long overdue. IEPs will be instrumental to the success of fire restoration and deodorization processes.

Q: What key resources do you turn to for continued education in odor removal?

A: Primarily R&R Magazine where veteran restorers share their lessons learned in the form of articles and posts. The IICRC is the best organization for in-depth training and certification on odor removal processes, and techniques.

About Sean

Sean Scott has over 41 years’ experience in the restoration and construction industry and has published numerous books, papers and articles including Secrets of The Insurance Game and The Red Guide to Recovery – Resource Handbook for Disaster Survivors.

Andrea Stenberg

Emergency Services Production Cleaning Manager, Paul Davis Restoration of Portland & Vancouver, Washington

Q: Can you highlight your most memorable odor removal project and why it stands out?

A: It was a beautiful historic home that belonged to a well-known World War II veteran in my community that had an oil furnace puff back and coated everything with this stinky, sticky, oily soot. The home itself had a lot of historical contents, including musical instruments from the early 1900s that had original cork and leather components on them. Hitting them with strong odor encapsulants and ozone was not ideal. It was at this job that I met a lot of experts in the field of historical preservation that taught me a lot about cleaning these items without harming any of the original materials. Using things such as lemon oil, sliced apples and baking soda with very specific techniques was not my everyday cleaning style! It was a privilege to learn from the experts and take along those skills to help many more people in my career path that makes that home the most memorable to me.

Q: What are the most common missteps or misconceptions you see related to odor removal?

A: One of the most common misconceptions I have observed is that ozone will take care of all odors. As much as I wish this were true, it is just not the case! Ozone is great, but it does not remove the source and often cannot penetrate oily residue odors or rooms with high humidity. Ozone can even damage materials if not used properly or used excessively. One of the most common missteps I have observed is not confirming odor eliminating product fragrances with the customer prior to using the product. One of the worst results you can ask for from an odor removal project, aside from not being able to remove the odor, is mixing your cleaning solution with a fragrant odor encapsulant, cleaning the whole structure and finding out that your customer is nauseated by the fragrance in the encapsulant. Always make sure your customer is part of the process for selecting anything that produces a fragrance in the home.

Q: What are the top tools odor removal professionals should have in their toolbox?

A: You should have a commercial ozone generator that can handle jobs up to at least 15,000 cubic feet. You should also have a hydroxyl generator, an essential oil vapor-producing generator, several odor encapsulants with various scent options, pet odor eliminators, air scrubbers, charcoal filters for your scrubbers and a thermal fogger. There are a lot of different types of odors and a lot of ways to treat each one. It is important to consult with your product vendor to confirm the best option for odor elimination before you make these purchases for your business.

Q: What are your top predictions and/or hopes for the future of odor removal?

A: I am looking forward to more natural based products and tools that we can safely use in the home without disrupting our customer’s lives more than just our presence does. As the products evolve, vendors are creating odor eliminating solutions that are less harmful to surfaces and can be used in any living spaces using technology and cleaning solutions such as UV light, essential oils or other natural products. Not only are these products safer, but our customers are more comfortable having them used in their home. The ozone generators are evolving to be smaller, lighter and easier to handle for technicians in the field as well. It is exciting to see how our amazing vendors continue to “Wow!” us with their amazing products. It is one of my favorite areas to explore at any restoration trade show or convention I visit.

Q: What key resources do you turn to for continued education in odor removal?

A: My top resources for continued education on odor removal are from my local vendor representatives that keep their products up to date. Meeting with reps from Jon Don, Aramsco, Fireline, Odor X and many other vendors that provide the products that our companies use is a huge part of my continued success with odor control and keeping my customers satisfied with their odor removal service. Reading articles, stories and staying in touch with my network of restoration professionals also provides real insight on what works and what didn’t work for all types of odor control situations. Our industry has a lot of knowledge on all things odor, always reach out to your network and your product vendors for advice.

About Andrea

Born in southwest Oregon, Andrea Stenberg moved to the Vancouver, Wash., area in 2017. She has been in restoration since 2014 and in industrial cleaning since 2007. With multiple credentials in her field, Stenberg prides herself in training others with her field knowledge to assist in the growth of her company and team at Paul Davis Restoration of Portland/SW Washington. Stenberg is the 2021 recipient of R&R’s annual Ladder Award.