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Smoke contains harmful gases, particles, and residues that cling to everything they contact. Smoke also can leave an unpleasant odor. The worst thing you can do is ignore it or try to clean things without the proper equipment or knowledge; just because you might not know what kind of smoke damage has happened in your home. Smoke damage cleaning needs to be done quickly before the smoke reacts with surfaces such as drywall or paint in your home. If you have a fire in your house and need someone to come and clean up, the United Water Restoration Group of Daytona Beach are experts who will return your home safe, clean, sanitized, and smelling fresh again. Here’s are some tips for you to do on your own that will help you fix the house as nothing happened.
First, find out how bad the smoke damage is. If it’s too severe, we recommend that you call our smoke damage restoration team at (386) 677-1856 to professionally fix the problem.
Cleaning up smoke can be easy, in moderation. You need to use some of the following items. Keep in mind, when cleaning smoke you must be gentle and slow. Rushing the process can make it worse!
First, after the fire has been suppressed and there is smoke damage, turn off the air conditioning and open all doors/windows. This will help promote airflow and remove the smokey smell. You can use fans to help with this. Both of these methods will speed up the removal of the lingering smoke process.
If you want to clean the house, it is important to do so safely. Wear protection like a respirator if there is a lot of soot in the area and wear clothes that protect your skin like long pants and sleeves. You should also wear gloves and eye protection. When you are cleaning, make sure that you put down floor protection and take away any furniture that is not damaged.
If the smoke-damaged area is tiny, then it might be okay just to cover furniture with plastic or sheets. But if you are cleaning an entire room, it’s best to remove all furniture so nothing becomes contaminated. Seal off rooms unaffected by the soot or smoke. This will help minimize the spread of soot and smoke. Try not to make a mess on the floor that can track into other rooms.
You will need a vacuum with an upholstery attachment to remove the soot and with strong suction power, like a shop-vac. Also, use a brush, but be careful not to scrub too much because then this can make the stains worse.
Dry-cleaning sponges will help to remove the stains from smoke and soot. You should never use water or soot cleaner before using a dry-cleaning sponge. This will make the stain worse and near impossible to remove!
Start by wiping on one side and then turning away from it to the other side. When your sponge is dirty, cut off the parts that are dirty and reuse it or purchase a new sponger. DO NOT scrub the wall as this can make stains worse!
When you have removed all the soot, then you can use other cleaning products. Use a clean rag with any of the following: soot remover, rubbing alcohol, vinegar, or paint thinner. Clean all surfaces of your house and even if there is no noticeable smoke damage. Next is to combine some dish soap with hot water. Use a rag and wipe away any other marks, nothing too abrasive! Repeat these steps until the damage has faded. Keep refreshing your rags/sponge and get clean water for each surface. Once finished, give everything one last wipe with a clean rag and water!
Use a dry rag and fans to speed up the drying process. Smoke odors may take a few days to dissipate. If there are any materials that may absorb the smoke, remove them from the room into a secure location. Anything that is a soft material – such as a couch, curtains, and carpet – you can steam clean to remove the smoke damage.
Do not use artificial scents to mask the smoke smell, this will stop the fabrics from breathing. A good reminder is to change your HVAC filter, so it can filter out the maximum soot and smoke from the air.
If your home has smoke or soot damage, it can be hard to clean. If the problem is only in one room, you might be able to do it yourself. But if you want a lot of help cleaning smoke and soot damage from your house, call the United Water Restoration Group of Daytona Beach! These people are experts in fire and soot damage restoration. We use IICRC-certified techniques and state-of-the-art equipment. Give our restoration technicians a call at (386) 677-1856.
