Soot particles can be hazardous, and tough to clean

2/26/2020 (Permalink)

Though tempting to do the work yourself, you may cause more damages if you don't know exactly what to do.

Once the fire is extinguished, there will be smoke and soot residues left over that will need to be dealt with.  But, precautions will have to be taken when dealing with smoke and soot.

Soot is the product of incomplete combustion of materials during a fire.  Soot is very acidic, and could be hazardous to breathe in great quantities.  A mask (or better yet, a respirator) should be worn anytime you plan to spend extended time in and around these areas.

If you see soot or smoke damage on walls or ceilings, do not touch it.  The oils in your fingers touching the soot could possibly set the stain in drywall, thereby making it almost impossible to clean – these walls will have to be painted.

Tracking soot from a room that has soot and contaminating a room that did not already have soot is a common issue.  Homeowners in a haste to move personal belongings from a smoke damaged room to a clean room can bring soot particles with them, creating a larger area to clean and disinfect.

If you have suffered smoke damage from a fire, it’s best to call the cleaning experts at SERVPRO Bedford Park/Burbank.  They have the knowledge and expertise to contain the spread of soot, from the evaluation of the damage through to the final touch ups of cleaning.  Call 708-430-3600 to set up an appointment right away.