How To Clean Smoke Damage

12/14/2022 (Permalink)

Fire damage to kitchen

If your home has been through a fire, you may be wondering how to clean up the smoke damage. While this isn't always easy to do on your own, there are a few important steps that can help speed up the restoration process and make sure your home is back in good shape as quickly as possible.

Assess the damage

If you've suffered a fire or any other kind of damage at your home, it's important to get an expert to assess the damage. A professional will be able to tell you what types of cleaning products are needed and give advice on whether repairs are necessary. The following are some things that should be looked for:

• Soot and smoke stains
• Fire damage
• Water damage from firefighting efforts or flooding (in case there were sprinklers)
• Mold growth, which could indicate that there was mold before the fire started and indicates moisture problems in your house's structure
• Electrical damage

Contact your insurance company

Once you've decided that the damage is too severe for you to clean yourself, it's time to contact your insurance company. The best way to do this is via phone or email; don't try calling them in person because you'll probably be put on hold for hours. Once you're connected with an employee of the insurance company, make sure that they understand that there has been a fire and that your home needs professional attention.

If everything goes well, they should send out a representative from their team who will assess the damage in person. 

Remove any non-salvageable items

The first step to cleaning up a smoke-damaged area is to remove all items that are damaged beyond repair. If you aren't sure if it can be salvaged, leave it alone and call a professional to come assess the damage.

Clean walls and ceilings first.

First, you will want to clean the walls and ceilings. Use a damp cloth for the walls and a sponge for the ceiling. 

Once you have finished cleaning your walls and ceilings, move on to cleaning any other surfaces in your home that were affected by smoke damage.

Clean floors at the end of the job

Cleaning floors at the end of the job is a good idea, as it ensures that any dirt or dust is picked up before you move on. However, cleaning floors can be dirty work, so wear gloves and a mask. You may also want to invest in some coveralls and rubber boots if you're going to need to get down on your hands and knees while cleaning.

Clean with a damp mop or vacuum cleaner, depending on how much debris there is on your floor. A vacuum cleaner will remove any loose particles; however, if there are stains left behind by smoke residue then these need to be removed by hand-scrubbing with soap and water before using either method described above.

Clean kitchen surfaces

• Clean up all food and food stains.
• Clean up any grease or oil spills.
• Clean up any spilled liquids.
• Clean up any food particles that may be present in your kitchen, as well as dirt, dust, and other foreign matter.

It's important to clean this area thoroughly because smoke damage can be caused by bacteria or mold on surfaces in your home if they weren't cleaned properly soon after the fire occurred

Clean upholstery and carpet

If you have a wet vacuum, use it to clean upholstery and carpets. If you do not have a wet vacuum, try using a damp paper towel instead. If that doesn't work, try using a spray bottle filled with water instead.

Clean wood furniture and panels.

• If the wood is painted, you can use a damp cloth to wipe off any excess soot.
• If the wood is unfinished, you can use a damp cloth to wipe off any excess soot.

Smoke damage is highly visible, but it can also be hazardous to touch or inhale; make sure any lingering smoke or soot is cleaned up by a professional restoration company like SERVPRO of Jacksonville Westside/Orange Park.

SERVPRO of Jacksonville Westside/Orange Park specializes in cleaning up all types of smoke damage and has been helping people recover from fire disasters for many years. To learn more about our services, call (904) 269-9282 today!

The key to removing smoke damage is a thorough cleaning of all affected spaces. This will ensure that the odor doesn’t linger. The best way to get started with this process is by contacting your insurance company immediately so they can send out an inspector. They will assess the damage and work with their network of professionals to restore your home back to normal, fast!