The Complete Guide to Odor Removal in Detroit (2025) | HazWash™
Why Odor Removal Matters in Detroit Homes & Businesses
⚠️ Odors Are Never “Just Smells”
Lingering odors are often signs ofbiohazards, hiddencontamination, or compliance issues. Ignoringthem risks health problems, failedinspections, and property value loss.
In Metro Detroit, HazWash™ has seen odor issues across homes, apartments, hotels, funeral homes, rental properties, and industrial facilities. It’s almost never “just a smell.”
Health Risks:
Pet urine & feces release ammonia and bacteria that aggravate asthma and respiratory issues.
Smoke & soot embed carcinogens deep into walls, furniture, and HVAC systems.
Decomposition odors often carry bloodborne pathogens and bacteria.
Legal & Liability Issues:
Landlords risk failed inspections and costly fines if units aren’t made habitable.
Businesses risk lawsuits, health code penalties, and reputation damage.
Mishandling hazardous odors (like sewage or decomposition) can trigger EPA or DOT violations.
Financial Impact:
Odors can tank property values or scare away tenants.
Commercial properties can lose thousands per week in lost revenue.
DIY or unlicensed cleanup often fails inspection, doubling costs when professionals are called in later.
👉 Bottom line: Odor removal isn’t cosmetic. It’s about health, safety, compliance, and protecting property value.
Common Causes of Odor Problems in Metro Detroit
Odors always trace back to a source. Unless that source is removed or neutralized, the smell will keep coming back.
🐾 Pet Urine/Feces
Ammonia, bacteria in carpets & walls
🔥 Smoke/Fire
Carcinogens in drywall & HVAC
⚰️ Decomposition
Bloodborne pathogens, biohazards
🌱 Mold/Mildew
Musty odors, airborne spores
🐀 Rodents
Droppings, carcasses, insect infestations
🧪 Chemicals
Solvents, fuels, hazardous fumes
💡 👉 Key takeaway: Sprays, candles, or air fresheners don’t remove odors — they only mask them. True odor control means eliminating the source.
DIY Odor Removal: What Really Works (and Why It’s Risky)
Many families and landlords try DIY odor removal before calling professionals. While some methods can provide temporary relief, they’re limited — and often unsafe without training.
🕵️ Step 1: Find the Source
Odors often hide inside materials:
Soaked into drywall or trapped between studs
Embedded in subfloors or insulation
Hidden behind paneling or encapsulated after water/fire damage
Dead animals sealed inside walls or crawlspaces
⚠️ Encapsulation (painting/sealing over odors) may hide the smell for a while, but the only true fix is to remove the contaminated material.
Pro tip: A thermal scanner can sometimes locate recent decomposition (like rodents) inside walls — but older cases require professional inspection.
💧 Step 2: Use Strong Oxidizers
Skip the enzyme sprays — they’re mostly marketing hype. The real workhorse is hydrogen peroxide. It breaks down organic matter that causes odors. Without destroying this residue, smells always come back.
🌬️ Step 3: Advanced Treatments (Use with Extreme Caution)
When odors run deep, DIYers sometimes turn to advanced methods. But these tools can be dangerous if used incorrectly.
Ozone Machines — Powerful oxidizers that penetrate odors. Require full evacuation (people, pets, plants) during use. Improper use can damage lungs and materials.
Hydroxyl Machines — Safer than ozone. Can run while people, pets, and plants remain present.
Fogging with EPA-Registered Disinfectants — Kills airborne pathogens and neutralizes odors. Requires full PPE, a respirator, and immediate evacuation after setup.
Gassing Off — Professional-grade treatment. The property must be vacated for 12–24 hours. Requires full PPE, respirator, and strict compliance.
⚠️ Important: Without training and certification, these methods can harm your health, damage property, and leave you liable for improper chemical use.
👉 HazWash™ technicians are IICRC-certified in odor removal, BBP-trained, and HAZWOPER40-certified to legally use PPE and operate these systems. That’s how we ensure odors are eliminated permanently, safely, and in full compliance.
👉 Stop DIY here: If odors persist after “deep cleaning,” or if the source involves biohazards,chemicals, or structural materials — it’s no longer safe.That’s when HazWash™ steps in with certified odor remediation.
The HazWash™ Certified Odor Removal Process
At HazWash™, odor removal isn’t guesswork — it’s a step-by-step certified process designed to ensure odors are removed permanently and safely.
1) Inspection
Identify odor source — carpets, subfloors, HVAC, or hidden walls.
2) Containment & PPE
Stop cross-contamination. Full OSHA PPE for hazardous odors
3) Source Removal
Carpets, drywall, subfloors removed if contaminated.
4) Air & Surface Treatments
Hydroxyl, ozone, fogging, and oxidizers neutralize residues.
5) Verification
Testing + compliance documentation. Proof for landlords & businesses.
👉 Stop DIY here: Ifodors persist after “deep cleaning,” or if thesource involves biohazards, chemicals, orstructural materials — it’s no longer safe.That’s when HazWash™ steps in with certified odorremediation.
Cleaners vs DIY vs HazWash™ — What’s the Difference?
Not all odor removal is created equal.
🚫 DIY & Cleaners
- Mask odors temporarily
- Unsafe without PPE (ozone, fogging)
- No compliance or documentation
✅ HazWash™ Certified
- Follows IICRC-certified odor process
- Removes odors permanently at the source
- Provides compliance docs for liability protection
👉 Bottom line: Cleaners cover smells. DIY risks your health. HazWash™ eliminates odors permanently, safely, and legally.
📞 Call us today at +1-248-985-8774 for a free odor inspection and estimate.
📞 Call us today If odors persistafter “deep cleaning,”for a free odor inspectionand estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions About Odor Removal in Detroit
A: Those only mask odors temporarily. Once the spray fades, the smell returns. HazWash™ eliminates odors at the source with IICRC-certified methods.
A: Pet urine and feces, smoke and fire damage, trauma and decomposition odors, mold and mildew, rodent infestations, and hazardous chemical odors.
A: Yes — but some treatments (like ozone or gassing) require temporary evacuation. Our hydroxyl systems are safe to run with people, pets, and plants still inside.
A: Most treatments are completed in 8–24 hours, depending on severity and method. Some advanced treatments require a 12–24 hour evacuation.
A: Yes. We provide free on-site odor inspections and explain exactly what the process requires before work begins.
A: No. HazWash™ operates with unmarked vehicles and discreet crews. From the outside, it looks like a routine service call, not a biohazard cleanup.
Discreet, certified odor removal in Detroit — safe for homes, rentals, and businesses.