Turnovers are the most common call
Landlords and property managers usually find crack residue at move-out: yellowed or brown-stained ceilings, sticky film on windows and blinds, burn marks on counters, scorched spoons, glass stems, steel wool and a persistent stale odor. Families also call after a relative's long-term use, motel, hotel and extended-stay operators call about rooms, business owners call about restrooms and back rooms, and dealers or fleet owners call about vehicles.
Whatever brings you here, we approach the work without judgment and keep the details private.
What the residue does to a unit
Smoke rises and condenses. Ceilings and upper walls in the room where smoking happened usually carry the heaviest film, followed by light fixtures, ceiling fans, window glass and blinds. Return-air grilles and filters pull smoke through the system, and carpet, pad, curtains and mattresses absorb it.
This is why a quick repaint and carpet shampoo rarely solves the problem. The film needs to be removed, and saturated soft goods usually need to go.
Materials we evaluate on every crack job
Textured ceilings deserve a note: because they are hard to wash evenly, the practical answer is sometimes removal and refinishing by a drywall contractor. We flag them during the walkthrough so you can plan for that before the unit is listed again.
- Popcorn and textured ceilings, which trap film and are difficult to wash
- Mini-blinds and vertical blinds, which are often easier to replace than clean
- Carpet, pad and tack strip
- Kitchen cabinets, range hoods and the tops of refrigerators
- Bathroom exhaust fans and grilles
- Interior doors, closet shelves and window sills
Our work, from ceiling to floor
- Paraphernalia out first Pipes, stems, screens, lighters and burned items are collected and bagged. Any needles found go into sharps containers.
- Soft goods decision We review carpet, pad, blinds, curtains and furniture with you and remove items that hold heavy film or odor.
- Dry removal Surfaces are HEPA vacuumed to lift loose particles before liquid touches them.
- Degreasing wash Ceilings, walls, trim, cabinets, fixtures and glass are washed with degreasing detergents and rinsed, working downward so dirty water does not fall on cleaned areas.
- Fixtures and vents Light fixtures, fan blades, switch plates and vent covers are removed or wiped individually, and filters are replaced.
- Ready for trades We leave clean, dry surfaces so your painter and flooring installer can take over.
Odor: removing the source first
Lasting odor control starts with taking out what holds the smell: film on hard surfaces and saturated soft goods. Once the source is gone, a stain- and odor-blocking primer applied by your painter often finishes the job on walls and ceilings.
Deodorizing equipment can help as a supplement. EPA notes that ozone may mask odors but has little scientific support for removing them, and that high concentrations must only be used where no people or pets are present. If ozone is part of the plan, the space stays unoccupied until it is cleared.
Before we get there
- Do not prime or paint over stained surfaces yet.
- Leave the carpet in place for us to evaluate.
- Keep the HVAC fan off if it is practical to do so.
- Tell us if you have found any syringes.
Referrals and related pages
Ductwork cleaning goes to an HVAC contractor, and drywall, flooring and cabinet replacement goes to your usual trades. Property managers who handle these turnovers often should see our page on biohazard cleanup for property management. For powder rather than smoke, see cocaine residue cleanup.
We work in Nashville and throughout Middle Tennessee.