Soot Damage Cleaning – How to Do It Yourself
Fires can be devastating to homes and businesses. While larger events require professional fire damage restoration, smaller incidents like smoke and soot can also cause lingering damage. Luckily, soot damage cleaning is fairly easy for homeowners to do. However, it’s important to be safe during the process and take your time.
Before you use any water-based cleaners, start by removing as much soot as possible with a dry chemical sponge or “magic eraser”. This will help remove several layers of soot and make it easier to clean the remaining stains. Be sure to wear protective gloves during this step. Soot contains a lot of carbon-based impurities and can be very dangerous to your health if inhaled.
Once you have removed as much of the oily soot as possible, mix a solution of 4 to 6 tablespoons of trisodium phosphate (or TSP) per gallon of warm water. This will be the cleaning solution that you will use to clean the remaining stains on the surfaces. Be sure to follow all safety instructions for using TSP, especially around pregnant women and children.
Be sure to protect the floors with plastic sheeting or old blankets to prevent any accidental water damage during soot damage cleaning. Ventilate the area while you are working to avoid inhaling soot particles and to help dissipate any lingering smoke odors. You may also want to cover or remove any belongings that were in the room of the fire to avoid further damage and allow for easier cleaning. soot damage cleaning