How to Get Rid of Smoke Damage in Your Home

The National Fire Protection Association estimates about 350,000 residential fires occur each year. Besides fire damage, there’s also another serious type of damage that is hardly talked about after a fire. And that is smoke damage.

Smoke may not destroy objects or property the way fire does, but it still has some devastating results. Common effects include a persistent choking odor and coating items in soot.

Fortunately, the results of smoke damage can be eliminated completely from your home. Before calling in the professionals, try the following steps to get your house back to how it was before the fire.

What Kinds of Smoke Damage Can Happen to Homes?

Before you know how to remove smoke damage, you need to know what type of damage you have. Smoke damage can be categorized into three:

Wet Smoke: This kind of smoke is thick and sticky and produced when rubber or plastic is burned
Protein Smoke: Burned organic items such as food cause this smoke
Dry Smoke: Burned firewood or papers produces this smoke

Keep in mind that wet smoke is easier to get rid of and thinner than dry smoke.

How to Clean Up Smoke Damage in Your Home After a Fire

Is the smoke odor still lingering in your space? Here are some smoke damage restoration tips you’ll want to consider.

Ventilate the House

As soon as it is safe for you to enter your house again, open all the windows to let fresh air in. For excess smoke, install fans close to doors and windows to blow the smoke outside.

Clean the Air Ducts

Your HVAC system can get contaminated by smoke, which can lead to system failure. Cleaning the ductwork eliminates the smoke smell and is crucial to preventing your HVAC system from malfunctioning.

Take Out All the Furniture

Take out the area carpets, pillows, blinds, covers, and sheets, as well as other textiles or home furnishings like clothing and bathrobes. They must be cleaned or dry-washed outside to prevent them from reabsorbing the smoky odor.

Depending on how much they were exposed to the smoke, bedding might not be able to be cleaned effectively and may have to be replaced.

Deep Clean the House

Fragrances won’t permanently remove the smoke smell. You need to deal with the issue from the source.

Deep cleaning of all surfaces and items that have suffered smoke damage is the best technique to get rid of soot and the smell of smoke in a house. Remove soot by brushing it away, vacuuming, and cleaning it with solvents.

For significant smoke damage or need extra help, call professional cleaners can help.

Expert Smoke Damage Restoration for Homeowners and Businesses

Smoke damage is a difficult cleanup process that requires effective execution to be successful. For an expert cleaning job, get in touch with HomeTown Restoration.

We offer the expertise, tools, and knowledge to save and repair your house after smoke damage. From cigarette smoke to lingering smoke odor after a fire, look no further. We serve Carlsbad, Oceanside, Vista, Escondido, Temecula, Murrieta, Rancho Bernardo, Del Mar, Mira Mesa, La Jolla, San Marcos, and Fallbrook.