Wildfire Smoke Office Cleaning Portland: Crew Checklist

RKA Cleaning does office cleaning in Portland and cleans offices after a wildfire smoke event. This page is for the office manager who finds a film on every desk. Wildfire smoke office cleaning Portland offices need after a smoke event is a 1-time job with no contract. This page covers smoke from outside. A fire inside the building needs a restoration contractor.

Where smoke settles in an office

Fine particles come in through open doors, gaps around frames and the fresh air intake. The film lands on desks, window sills, blinds, supply and return grilles, cabinet tops, carpet, fabric chairs and the entry mats. Smoke odor removal Portland offices ask for covers carpet, fabric seating and curtains.

The HVAC filter loads faster during a smoke event. EPA recommends MERV 13 or higher filters during smoke events in schools and commercial buildings, with extra filters on site.

What the crew does after a smoke event, in order

1. The crew keeps exterior doors closed. It opens a door only to enter or exit.
2. The crew lifts the entry mats, HEPA-vacuums the floor under them and the mat face, then rotates them.
3. The crew works top down: cabinet tops, light fixtures, grilles and vent covers, walls near vents, then blinds.
4. The crew wet-wipes every horizontal surface with color-coded microfiber: desks, sills, ledges, monitor stands, phone bases.
5. The crew HEPA-vacuums carpet and fabric seating in slow passes.
6. On hard floors the crew mists, HEPA-vacuums, then wet mops.
7. Restrooms and the kitchen get the normal office scope.
8. The crew logs the filter condition and any door that does not seal for the HVAC vendor.
9. The crew bags the used cloths and takes them out with the trash.
10. The crew sends the digital checklist and timestamped photos to the account manager.

The order follows the EPA page on wildfire smoke indoor air quality. Mist before you sweep, “Follow with wet mopping”, and use a HEPA-type vacuum. Do not dry sweep. RKA’s ProTeam HEPA vacuums capture particles down to 0.3 microns. PM2.5 particles are 2.5 microns or smaller. The crew uses EPA Safer Choice certified products. Carpet extraction is a separate line in the quote.

The Oregon OSHA smoke rule and your office

Oregon OSHA rule OAR 437-002-1081, Protection from Wildfire Smoke sets the duty. It applies when workers face PM2.5 of 35.5 µg/m3 or above (AQI 101). The rule exempts enclosed buildings “in which the air is filtered by a mechanical ventilation system”. The employer must also make sure that “windows, doors, bays, and other exterior openings are kept closed”, except to enter or exit. An office manager controls both: the doors and the filter.

EPA changed the AQI scale in May 2024; the rule’s PM2.5 values did not change. The table uses the new AQI values.

Source: Oregon OSHA fact sheet FS-92, August 2026.

The cleaning company is also an employer under this rule when its crew works outside. Section (3) says the exposure check “must be performed at the start of each shift, and as needed”. Read how a cleaning company meets Oregon OSHA rules.

How we set the price for a smoke clean

RKA gives no price over the phone. RKA walks the office, about 20 minutes, then sends a written quote. The quote includes labor, supplies, equipment and insurance, with no hidden fees. A 1-time smoke clean needs no contract.

What moves the number:

• Square footage.
• The carpet share of the floor.
• The count of grilles, blinds and sills.
• Whether the doors stayed closed during the event.

The Portland cleaning rates guide lists $35 to $85 per hour per technician. A restoration bid for smoke damage cleanup covers a different job, a fire inside the building, and a different price.

What you get after the visit

Every RKA job runs under the CleanAssure Standard: a dedicated crew, documented SOPs, digital quality reporting, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Every visit ends with a digital checklist and timestamped photos sent to your account manager. The maintenance log notes the filter condition and any door that does not seal. If an item fails your inspection, the crew does a 24-hour re-clean at no charge. Proof of insurance ($2 million general liability, bonded) is available on request.

FAQ

More on our FAQ page.

how do i clean my office after wildfire smoke

Wet methods only: mist hard surfaces, HEPA-vacuum, wet mop, and wipe flat surfaces with a damp microfiber cloth (EPA). Or send RKA the square footage for a quote.

does wildfire smoke get inside office buildings

Yes, through open doors, gaps and the fresh air intake. The Oregon rule exempts an enclosed building when a mechanical system filters the air and the doors stay closed (OAR 437-002-1081 (1)(a)(A)).

what does oregon osha require for wildfire smoke

At PM2.5 of 35.5 µg/m3 or above (AQI 101), the employer must monitor the air, train staff and offer N95 respirators. Enclosed, filtered buildings with closed doors are exempt (OAR 437-002-1081, FS-92).

how much does office cleaning after wildfire smoke cost

RKA quotes after a 20-minute walkthrough, and the Portland cleaning rates guide lists $35 to $85 per hour per technician. The price includes labor, supplies, equipment and insurance.

Book the clean before staff return

Send the square footage and a photo of 1 desk. RKA will walk the office and send a written quote. Wildfire smoke office cleaning Portland offices need is a 1-time job, with evening and weekend hours. See our Portland page. Get a free quote, call (971) 600-0752, or email [email protected].