Having a house fire is already devastating. Not only because of the traumatic experience it can bring but also because it can be very destructive. It can destroy your home and personal belongings. However, dealing with fire doesn’t end after extinguishing it. You still have to deal with a smoke-damaged home. Smoke contains acid that can corrode materials like metal and etch glass, which can be more destructive if left unattended. 

Even the smallest fire that was extinguished quickly can still damage your possessions. It may have traveled throughout your home and affected your upholstery, carpet, walls, ceilings, clothing, and even the very structure of your home. In order to repair the smoke-damaged home, you have to clean up the smoke from your home. There can be many things that need to be done and cleaning off a smoke-damaged home can be a daunting task. Furthermore, smoke damage should be dealt with as soon as possible, because delaying it can make the matter worse. 

Here are the steps you can take to clean your smoke-damaged home. 

How To Clean Smoke-Damaged Home

Safety First

When it comes to cleaning fire and smoke-damaged home, safety comes first. Once the fire is out, you might be tempted to clean your home immediately. But, you have to remember that cleaning off the fire and smoke-damaged home requires health and safety precautions. So, before entering your home, talk to a fire marshal to know whether it is safe to re-enter your home. When entering, make sure to wear protective clothing such as masks, gloves, eye protection, and boots.

Evaluate the Items That Are Damaged

After gaining access to your house, examine the condition of your possessions and decide which ones need cleaning and which ones should be thrown away. Besides the extent of the damage, consider the costs involved when determining what can be saved. The experts at Superior Restoration can assist you in identifying which items can be cleaned, replaced, or discarded in a smoke-damaged home.

Ventilate The Area

Whenever you can, open windows and doors to let fresh air circulate and use fans to improve airflow in the smoke-affected room of your home. This will help remove smoke particles and decrease the smell of smoke. If it’s humid outside, close the windows and use a dehumidifier instead. Alternatively, you might need to position multiple fans inside the room.

Clean Smoke-Damaged Contents

Before cleaning the fire and contents of a smoke-damaged home, protect the unharmed areas with a drop cloth. When you are done, you can begin working.

• Walls and Ceilings

To clean walls and ceilings that have been affected by smoke damage, start by getting rid of the tiny particles of soot that stick to them. There are a few ways to do this. First, you can use a vacuum cleaner by hovering the nozzle slightly above the surface and moving it back and forth until you remove all loose particles. Another option is to use a dry chemical sponge to wipe away the soot stains on the walls and ceilings. Repeat this process until all the particles are gone. Another effective cleaner for smoke-damaged walls and ceilings is Trisodium Phosphate (TSP). Mix 1 tablespoon of TSP with 1 gallon of warm water in a bucket, then use a sponge to wipe your walls and ceilings.

• Upholstery and Textiles

Start cleaning smoke damage from upholstery, textiles, and carpet by removing the soot. Soot can stain very easily on these materials, so it is important to remove them as soon as possible. Use a vacuum cleaner to do it. Remember not to use any brush attachments as they can push and force the soot and dirt further into the materials. When done, you can begin deodorizing these items. There are different ways of deodorizing textiles and upholstery. You can either use dishwashing liquid or bleach to clean them. For stubborn odors, it is best to hire professionals. They will use an ozone treatment technique that will completely remove the smell of smoke from your textiles. 

• Wooden Furniture

Cleaning wood furniture is a bit complicated and you would want to do it gently to prevent stripping the stain and varnish. Start removing the soot by wiping the surfaces with a dry chemical sponge. Be sure not to scrub the surfaces too hard because it can grind the soot particles deeper into the wood. Then, use a wood cleaner to clean off the entire surface. When done, wipe the furniture with a clean damp cloth and allow it to dry.  Restore the wood with polish.

Contact Professionals At Superior Restoration

The best course of action to take when it comes to mitigating the effects of smoke damage is to contact professionals. Though the steps above may be helpful, they don’t guarantee complete restoration. Fire and smoke damage restoration companies such as Superior Restoration have the right equipment and knowledge to clean and restore your home and personal belongings to their pre-loss condition. 

We, at Superior Restoration, provide fire damage restoration services. We have skilled technicians that can quickly respond to any emergencies. For fire damage restoration services, contact our local office today, Water Damage Riverside.