How We Detect Odor
Odor starts when materials enter the air. Some materials, known as volatile materials, evaporate easily to form a gas and then blend into the air. These types of materials include propane, perfume, and water. Other materials are non-volatile and do not evaporate easily, if at all. They include steel, sand, and cloth. The evaporation of such materials leads to odorous particles filling the air. The sense of smell is activated when an air borne molecule enters the nose and comes in contact with special coated cells called the "olfactory epithelium." As these particles pass through various receptors, a series of complex biochemical reactions begin. Signals are sent to the brain, which in turn, processes the information and interprets it as a specific odor.

Odor is Important
People respond positively or negatively to odors. An odor may be pleasant to one person but unpleasant to another. Odors also provide signals. A foul odor, for example, may signify danger, such as a fire or gas leak. People also associate odor with the quality of work. It is common for customers to associate no smell with an area that has been cleaned. Odors trigger an emotional response. If an owner experienced a fire in his or her home, even a faint trace of smoke odor will remind the owner of the event. When a homeowner requests assistance to help remove odors from his or her home or business place, it is crucial to get the job done efficiently and to the customer's satisfaction. Thus, it is important to know and use the most thorough and current methods for mitigating "bad" odors.

Mitigating "Bad" Odor
Odors do not cause secondary damage to surfaces; the acids or other impurities in the air are actually the culprits. Regardless of this fact, the mitigation of odor is extremely important to customers. If an odor still exists after cleaning, many customers will assume the work was not done properly. Odor mitigation is the key to returning a living environment back to normal in a home or place of business. Since it is impossible to completely eliminate some odors, there are ways to clean the odor so that it will never again be detected.

• Remove the Source
  Fire Damage - scrape charred or other melted items.
  Water Damage - move affected items from the room, and remove all surface water using a dehumidification agent.
• Clean Everything
  Use a masking agent whenever possible.
• Clean the Air
  Use a machine such as a HEPA air scrubber to remove particles. The HEPA air scrubber will remove particles down to 0.3 microns in size. The process begins when the air scrubber draws in air and traps the particles in its filters. With continual filtering, eventually the odor molecules will be removed from the air. It also helps cut down on re-soiling and it speeds up cleaning time. The HEPA air scrubber is 99.997% effective.

If the odor persists, allow some time to pass. Odors often dissipate. Mitigating odors takes patience, but is a valuable piece of the restoration process.

The process of removing particles from the air is the only true method of odor restoration. An odor can be masked for some time by using an air freshener or fragrance, but it is easier and more cost efficient in the long run to use restoration as a way of cleansing the air.

If the odor persists, give it some time. Odors have an effect on our lives, whether it is positive or negative, so it is important to know and understand the process of mitigation to assure owners contentment in their homes or places of business. If you are faced with odor questions, contact your local ServiceMaster Clean franchise, or find your local provider by visiting www.findservicemaster.com.

Misconceptions About Mitigation

• You should wait to mitigate.
  Damage worsens the longer it sits or remains. By mitigating as soon as possible, not only does it prevent damage from settling in, but it also saves the customer money.
• Any honest company should be able to give an exact price quote over the phone.
  Two customers may describe the same type of damage over the phone, but in all actuality, there could be a significant difference in damage between the two. In order to be fair and possibly save the customer money, even an honest company will wait to give an exact price quote until they have reviewed the damage.