Smoke damage can impact your home or business even if there was not a fire. Smoke damage clean up is especially challenging since odor removal may compound the problem.
First and foremost, make sure the heat or air conditioning is turned off. This prevents the smoke and soot from circulating into additional areas. Also, turn off ceiling fans. You may even want to tape the switches off to prevent others from turning them on out of habit.
Next, open the windows and doors. Set a reminder to close them at a certain time. Place portable fans in the open doors and windows to help suck out the smoke.
Now you can begin cleaning up the soot. Use a heavy-duty vacuum or a regular home vac. Either way, you will need to use the suction hose. However, do not press down on the soot. Instead, hold the suction hose above the soot to prevent rubbing it into the surface because smeared soot is even more difficult to remove.
Next, get gloves, a sponge, and warm water to gently wipe away soot from the affected surfaces and items. You can go back and wipe down again with a small amount of Dawn soap in the water. Be sure to dry the wiped down surfaces with a dry cloth or by placing additional fans directed at the wet areas.
Fabrics like drapes, bedding, clothing, and towels can be run through the washing machine several times. If they remain smoky, bring them to a dry cleaner to be professionally laundered or have your local restoration company work on your linens to restore their condition. Homeowners insurance may cover the cost of these services.
Lastly, remove odors on the property. This can be done with various odor treatments or through a professional restoration team. Place an air scrubber in each room impacted by the smoke or fire damage. If the air scrubber is not removing the odor well enough, you can also utilize a hydroxyl machine.
To freshen up, try spraying a heavy-duty, professional strength Febreze, such as 9D9. Now your property is smoke-free and ready to use again!
