After a fire, soot gets trapped in carpeting and it must be cleaned out.
Surfaces or items unharmed by the water damage left behind by firefighting efforts can be saved. Make sure you address the damage immediately. After all, mold can begin to grow just 24-48 hours after water damage occurs!
If fire damage is left to sit for more than a few days, you may lose the ability to clean and save your structural materials and valuables. Depending on what materials burnt in the fire, soot can have a damaging effect on the walls of your home or business.
Different kinds of fires call for different kinds of cleaning techniques. High-oxygen fires are generally dry and result in dusty soot. In contrast, low-oxygen fire deposits are greasy and wet.
It’s important to act fast. Contact your insurance company. They may have a team they recommend for smoke and fire restoration cleanup.
In the meantime, here are some instructions you can follow to tackle mess soot leaves behind on your own.
What You’ll Need to Remove Soot from your Home
How to Remove Soot from Carpet
To prepare for soot stain removal, remove large chunks of soot on top of the carpet. Using a spoon, remove remaining lumps of soot from the carpet.
The next step is to apply an absorbent such as baking soda or talcum and vacuum after an hour.
Use your clean cloth & hydrogen peroxide to lift the remaining soot stain.
Remove the solvent by blotting with a clean cloth until absorbed.
Make sure it’s dried properly, to prevent microbial growth
Repeat until the stain disappears
We don’t recommend scrubbing as this can spread stains deeper into carpet fibers.
How to Remove Soot from Hard Surfaces
Surfaces should be cleaned thoroughly, since residue can affect paint application later.
Dry sponges are used in high-oxygen fires, but not in slow-burning low-oxygen fires because they could create smears which cause the soot to spread.
All materials are not created equal: Porous VS Non-Porous
How to Remove Soot from Fabric
Springle an absorbent such as baking soda, talcum powder, or cornstarch on the stain and vacuum after an hour.
Use your clean cloth & hydrogen peroxide to lift the remaining soot stain.
Remove the solvent by blotting with a clean cloth until absorbed.
Make sure it’s dried properly, to prevent microbial growth
Repeat until the stain disappears
Again, NO SCRUBBING!
Why Hire a Professional
Regular carpet cleaners have deodorants which could mask odors. This is a problem because after a fire, smoke odors are a health concern and should be cleaned and treated.
Kitchens must be cleaned thoroughly after a fire. The kitchen cabinets and their contents must be removed to allow access to hidden areas damaged by water and soot.
Smoke damage can continue long after the fire goes out. When left untreated, odors from smoke damage can overwhelm your nostrils during environmental changes. A fire and smoke restoration professional will take the steps to prevent these odors from lingering in your home.
Where surface staining cannot be removed, we always recommend you hire a professional in your area. Call your insurance agent and ask if they have any recommendations for a Fire and Smoke Restoration specialist in your area!
Gone untreated, environmental changes such as a sudden dip or rise in relative humidity will quickly remind you there was a fire in your home or business. Trust the STOP Restoration to evaluate the soot damage and create a custom cleanup and restoration plan for your property.
STOP Carolina Restoration is a veteran owned business. We are licensed, bonded, and insured and our technicians are fully vetted for your peace of mind. Trust our team to get the job done right, the first time.
Contact us today for a free evaluation of the soot and smoke damage in your home. We’ll create a plan that suits your budget and needs.
