Fire Damage Restoration: Removing Smoke And Soot

After a house fire in Lapeer, you can be left with more than a bad memory. Fire damage restoration includes the removal of bad smoke odors and hard-to-remove soot. You can alleviate some of the smell by opening a few windows and using a few tricks, but ultimately, smoke odor removal will require the help of fire damage repair specialists. If your home suffers from the aftermath of a fire and you find it difficult to remove the smell of smoke, contact Aladdin’s Cleaning And Restoration in Lapeer.

Tricks To Remove Smoke Odor

• Fresh coffee grounds can absorb unpleasant odors. First, put coffee grounds into a few coffee filters and tie them closed. Spread the filters over different parts of the furniture making sure to hit each part. Let them sit for about a day and then clean up. 
• Dryer sheets perfume the air but don’t have lasting power.
• Natural lemon juice mixed with water in a 1:4 solution is an effective way of getting rid of cigarette or smoke odor.
• White vinegar cuts through odors naturally. Try wiping down furniture, washable walls, floors, etc. with white vinegar. Also, try placing several bowls of vinegar around the room with the smoke damage, leaving them there for several days. 
• Baking soda is another natural odor-absorber. Try sprinkling liberal amounts of baking soda over furniture, floors, etc. Leave a few bowls of baking soda around the room for several days to help absorb the odors.

Professional Smoke Odor Removal

Stubborn smoke odors wil require professional expertise. Odors from fire damage require special handling to protect the health and safety of those who occupy the property. Damaged materials must be removed in order to treat the odor and should only be handled by skilled professionals like those at Aladdin’s Cleaning and Restoration, with the proper protective equipment.

After the source of the odor has been removed, additional odor treatments may be necessary to release trapped or absorbed odors from soft goods and porous surfaces. For example, ozone generators that may help in reducing or even eliminating smoke odor from your house. The skilled Aladdin’s team will identify the most effective treatment for your odor problem. 

According to the Red Cross, cleaning up microscopic smoke particles after a fire is a complicated process. Although you will want to wash off the soot and stains right away, you need to understand the nature of fire damage. Be aware of the benefits, and dangers, of the available products.

To remove soot and smoke from walls, furniture and floors, you can mix a mild soap, detergent or household cleaner with some trisodium phosphate. However, you should wear rubber gloves. Products containing trisodium phosphate (TSP) can reduce odors in fabrics. TSP is caustic so be careful! Read the label for directions and safety instructions. You also must rinse surfaces with clear warm water and dry thoroughly.

Other Cleaning Tips From The Red Cross

• Consult a professional fire damage repair company about replacing drywall and insulation that has been soaked by water from fire hoses. It can not be dried out and maintain structural integrity or resistance to mold and mildew.

• Pots, pans, flatware, etc. should be washed with soapy water, rinsed and then polished. Dispose of any food that was unsealed. 

• Follow public health guidance; use of masks, gloves and boots. Wet debris down to minimize breathing dust particles.

Comprehensive Fire And Smoke Damage Restoration Services In Lapeer

If your home has suffered from a fire, contact Aladdin’s Cleaning and Restoration in Lapeer for comprehensive fire and smoke damage restoration services. Our fire damage repair specialists offes on-site and off-site damage cleanup, packouts and contacts storage. For fire damage, smoke damage, soot or odor removal, let our team of fire restoration professionals help you.