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You probably have a lot of questions about cleaning up smoke damage. Smoke is very bad because it has gases and particles in it that stick to things. The smell can also be bad. The best thing you can do is clean the smoke as quickly as possible before it reacts with surfaces like drywall or paint. United Water Restoration Group of Tampa are experts in removing smoke from your property and giving it back to you clean, safe, sanitized, and smelling fresh again. Here are some tips from our experts on how to remove smoke damage yourself!
First, you need to check if the damage is big. If it is too big for an at-home fix, then we recommend that you call our smoke damage restoration team at (813) 305-7538.
Most people have what they need to clean up small amounts of smoke damage. The following is a list of things you will need if you want to do it by yourself:
If there is a fire, you need to open windows that are all over the house. You can turn off your HVAC unit so it does not spread smoke and soot. You can also use large fans to help encourage airflow in the place where the fire is burning. This will make most of the bad smell from a fire go away quickly.
If you want to clean a house, you need protection. Wear a respirator if there is soot in the air. Put on long pants and sleeves to protect your skin. You should also wear gloves and eye protection. When you clean, make sure that you put down floor protection and take away furniture that is not damaged.
If the area is small, 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 from the soot or smoke. Seal off rooms that were not affected by the smoke damage. This can prevent the spread of ashes into another room. Try not to make a mess on the group that can be tracked into other rooms.
Soot and smoke can be hard to get off. You will need a vacuum with an attachment that is used for upholstery. You should use a shop-vac that has strong suction power. Use the brush attachment, but be gentle and avoid scrubbing, which could make stains worse.
A dry-cleaning sponge will help you get off stains from smoke and soot. You should use a dry-cleaning sponge before you use any other cleaner. Combining these can cause the stains to worsen.
Gently wipe the wall without putting too much pressure on it. Do not scrub the stains or you may spread them deeper into the wall. Grab a new sponge or cut off the dirty parts of the current one when you need to. Be gentle! Anything abrasive can cause the stains to travel deeper into the walls.
Once the soot is gone you can start cleaning with your choice of cleaner. It is best to use a clean rag, and it is important to choose one of these cleaners: soot remover, rubbing alcohol, vinegar, or paint thinner. Wipe all surfaces with the cleaner. If there are any other marks on the walls they need to be cleaned too. You should do this until you have removed all traces of smoke damage. Keep refreshing your rags/sponge and get clean water after every time you clean an area. Some spots may take more time, but once finished run a clean rag over each spot one last time.
Smoke can cause damage to things in the house. Smoke odors may take a few days to go away, but you can use fans and dry rags to help speed up the process. If materials in your house might get damaged by smoke, like furniture or curtains, move them into another room and steam clean them with water and soap.
Make sure you change your HVAC filter! This will allow for maximum filtration. Also, as much as you might want to use a fabric refresher, don’t! These will not allow the fabrics to naturally breathe, so the smokey smell will linger longer.
If smoke or soot is in your home, you can attempt to clean it. If the damage is extreme, then contact our experts who can professionally remove any smoke damage occurrence contact United Water Restoration Group of Tampa. Our people are experts in fire and smoke damage restoration. They use IICRC-certified techniques and state-of-the-art equipment. Give our smoke damage restoration experts a call at (813) 305-7538.
