Minimizing Smoke And Soot Damage After A Fire In Boston

Fires are not always avoidable, but there are ways to minimize the damage that results from them. The two main damages resulting from a fire are smoke and soot damage. Smoke penetrates walls, floors, furniture, and clothing and discolors various items. Soot is complex and incredibly toxic to clean without the proper safety precautions or chemicals. The water used to put out the fire can make the soot worse. It can create a sticky substance that can be harder to remove and cause more damage. Although smoke and soot damage are not entirely avoidable, there are ways to minimize them after a fire.

What Smoke and Soot Damage Looks Like

Smoke and soot cleanup is no joke. Although a bit of soot or smoke discoloration is easy to clean, smoke and soot cleanup on a large scale is an overwhelming task. Soot is formed when carbon is not combusted during a fire. It can contain materials such as metals and dust that can be toxic if inhaled. Water can increase the soot damage it causes, making soot sticky and oily. Soot from a fire can cause a wide range of damage, from ash to char. Smoke seeps into cracks, crevices, and fibers, which leaves behind odors and colors that can last for months or years. It can also cause intense discoloration and can be corrosive in some conditions. Wet smoke arises from low-heat fires, typically involving the combustion of plastics or rubber. This kind of smoke is thick, black, and sticky. It settles into your home’s surfaces and is more difficult to clean than regular smoke, which requires professional help. 

Consequences of Ignoring Soot

Smoke may seem simple enough to remove from your house. You can open windows and air out your home to clear the air and remove the smell, but that does not mean the soot leaves with it. Some might believe that soot is simply a surface issue, and it can go untouched for a time, but it goes much deeper than it appears. It begins damaging your home and possessions almost instantly. First, your appliances and porous materials begin to discolor and stain, which may be permanent. Then, your counters, grout, and furniture begin to become discolored. They turn yellow, and if left long enough, some of these stains may also be permanent, especially for lighter-colored materials. Finally, if left for long enough periods, metals can tarnish or rust, walls may also begin to yellow, and flooring, silverware, and other precious materials might be permanently damaged. The potential for permanent damage should invoke a sense of urgency in homeowners to seek professional help.

There are numerous ways that smoke and soot can damage your home, but it is clear that the longer smoke and soot are allowed to linger in your home after a fire, the more damage they can do to your home. Don’t hesitate to call our team at Bostonian Cleaning to help you in your time of need. They are experts at cleaning and restoring homes to their original condition, and you can have peace of mind that your home will be well taken care of. Knowing that your home is in good hands can help alleviate some of the anxiety that comes with fire damage.