Besides the physical damage that a house fire can cause, there is something else that homeowners need to be concerned about – smoke damage. The truth is smoke damage can often be the most serious consequence of a house fire. That is because smoke damage can be very harmful to both human and pet health.
You see, smoke damage in a fire damaged house doesn’t just include bad odors, it also contains particles that are harmful to your health when breathed in. That is why it is so important to remove smoke damage from a fire damaged house.
That is also why it’s recommended to use a professional fire damage restoration company if you’ve had an extensive house fire. Yes these companies can be expensive, but it’s worth it for the safety and good health of your family.
The Effects of Smoke Damage in a House
Smoke damage can cause visible discoloration in walls and furniture, but there may also be smoke damage that is not visible. So if you have had a large house fire, there could be damage that you don’t immediately recognize such as in the air ducts or behind the walls. A professional restoration company will be able to identify this damage and remove it to help ensure your family’s good health.
The reason it is important to get rid of ALL smoke damage is because of how dangerous it can be. Smoke damage consists of tar and carbon and if these substances are inhaled over time they can damage our lungs. Another issue with smoke damage is that it produces carbon dioxide which is a harmful gas that when inhaled actually expels oxygen from the blood. That means breathing in carbon dioxide can keep necessary oxygen from valuable organs like the brain and heart.
No matter what size fire you have, you should have an expert come in and check the carbon monoxide levels in your home!
The Health Risks of Smoke Damage
Just to drive home the point of how dangerous smoke damage in a fire damaged house can be, here are other health issues related to breathing in smoke pollution:
Respiratory Issues
Remember, smoke pollution isn’t always visible. You won’t necessarily see gray clouds of smoke floating around your home. Dangerous smoke particles can be in the carpet, in the drapes, in the furniture and more. When you breathe in those particles they can damage your lungs and your sinuses and make breathing difficult.
Skin Damage
Having dangerous smoke particles in your home won’t just potentially damage your lungs; it can also cause skin irritation that can’t be alleviated with skin lotion. You will want to thoroughly clean everything in your fire damaged house!
Eye Irritation
Another common effect of smoke damage in a fire damaged house is red, watery, itchy eyes. This can cause a lot of discomfort and also cause your vision to become blurry.
How to Clean Smoke Damage from Your House
Again, it is highly recommended that you hire highly trained and properly equipped professionals to remove smoke damage from a fire-damaged house. But if you have suffered a minor house fire, you may decide to try to remove the smoke damage yourself. However, if the damage proves too extensive or the process too daunting, you might consider the option to sell a fire-damaged house to a buyer who specializes in these types of properties.
Materials Needed
If you do decide to attempt that you will need all of the following:
- Fan
- Bucket
- Hot water
- Regular Sponge
- Chemical sponge
- Clean rags
- Vinegar
- Rubbing alcohol or paint thinner
- Degreaser or commercial spot remover
- Shop-vac with upholstery attachment (or a really good vacuum)
Step 1: Protect yourself & surroundings
First, protect yourself. You should wear a respirator along with long pants and sleeves, gloves and eye protection. You should also lay down floor protection and remove furniture and other objects that are not damaged.
Step 2: Ventilate
Next, you will want to ventilate the area extremely well – that means opening any nearby windows and also turning on as many fans as you can to promote airflow. Do NOT run your HVAC system as this could spread the smoke and soot that is in your home.
Step 3: Vacuum
After ventilating the area, you should use your vacuum, ideally a shop-vac, to vacuum up as much of the loose smoke particles as you can. You should use the vacuum’s brush attachment and lightly brush it around the area. Be careful, pressing the attachment forcibly against the particles can cause stains.
Step 4: Lift stains from walls
It is time to use the chemical sponge to lift stains from the walls. Remember to always use the chemical sponge before using soot cleaner or water. If you make the mistake of using the soot cleaner first, you could spread the smoke particles and make it much harder to remove with the sponge. Again wipe gently, if you press too hard you will drive the soot deeper into the surface and make it harder to get rid of.
Step 5: Clean the walls, furniture & flooring
The next step after using the chemical sponge is to begin using your liquid cleaners, which can include vinegar, rubbing alcohol, paint thinner and commercial soot and smoke removers. Soak a clean rag in your cleaner of choice and begin wiping the damaged wall or furniture or flooring.
Step 6: Wipe all surfaces again
You should plan to wipe all surfaces – even those that do not appear to be damaged. After you have wiped the entire room and everything in it, go back over everything with a clean rag and fresh water.
Step 7: Dry all wet surfaces
Now it is time to dry the room and everything in it with a clean rag. You could also use fans during this step to help the drying process go faster.
Additional Steps
If you still smell smoke, look around the room and identify anything that could absorb odor and remove it. Don’t use scents to cover up the smell; these don’t remove the problem!
You may also want to have carpets professionally steam cleaned to help remove the smoke odors. Another option would be to use an ozone generator in the room, which could also help remove the smoke odor.
What To Do When You Don’t Want to Clean Smoke Damage
Cleaning up smoke damage from a minor fire involves a lot of tedious, time consuming, hard work. When you are finished, there is no guarantee that the smoke odor and particles will be gone. Cleaning smoke damage from a larger house fire is even more difficult and hiring professional fire restoration companies can be expensive.
This is why many homeowners decide to sell their fire-damaged house and start over in a new home. If you have a fire-damaged house and are interested in selling, We Buy Fire Damaged Houses will buy your house for cash.
We Buy Fire Damaged Houses is a leading buyer of houses damaged by fire. The company has built a strong reputation for offering owners of fire-damaged homes a great price and industry leading customer service. Fill out the form below to learn more.