How do I Remove Soot and Ash from my Bloomingdale Home?

5/20/2020 (Permalink)

Fire restoration is involved with a high-risk of inadvertently causing further harm.

Minor to Moderate Housefires in Bloomingdale can Leave Behind an Excessive Amount of Ash, Smoke Residue, and Soot

What is the best way to remove soot from walls?
Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to fire damage for Bloomingdale residents. The composition of soiling on your walls depends on the type of materials that burned. Different smoke compositions require different methods of cleaning. SERVPRO technicians undergo extensive training to identify the different types of smoke or soiling that may coat your walls and ceilings.

How can I test what type of smoke residues are on my home?
    •    Identify what materials burned in the fire- are they synthetic (plastic) or natural materials.
    •    Examine the wall and brush it lightly to see if soots fall away or spread around. This method can tell you whether you are dealing with wet or dry soots.
    •    Using a dry sponge lightly wipe a small area to see if soots come away easily. If they do not, you may need to use a solvent.
    •    Choose a small, discrete section of wall and test how well the soiling responds to water. Water-based soiling responds well to water. Oil-based soiling responds negatively.

What are the methods of cleaning useful on wet or bonded smoke deposits?
Hot smokes can bond with surfaces under high temperature and conditions. Bonded-soils are challenging to remove as damages can enter paint-grains or even the drywall underneath. To release bonded soots, SERVPRO technicians employ the use of chemical solvents. Over a few hours, solvents dissolve bonded soots into the solvent solution. They can then be removed easily by rinsing both solvent and soots from the wall. In some cases, repainting the affected area may be necessary.

Fire restoration is involved with a high-risk of inadvertently causing further harm. Contact SERVPRO of Carol Stream / East Bloomingdale at (630) 830-6236.

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