Soot? Now What?

4/24/2017 (Permalink)

Soot? Now what?

Did you have a fire???

Did that fire leave you with an awful black mess all over your belongings???

Are you questioning why this has happened and what to do now???

Well hopefully I can help you with your questions and concerns.

So, what is soot damage, anyways?

Well that is a very good question! Soot by definition is, “a black powder that is formed when something is burned.” 

Obviously, we already figured out that the soot came from something that has burned, or we wouldn’t be in this current predicament, now would we!

But seriously, soot is nothing to play with, especially when it is involving your home.

When you have a fire, soot is the carbon particles that become airborne, leaving your property in disarray.

So, there is soot, is it safe to be around?

After you have a fire, you may have lots of emotions going through you right now, and you may be concerned about the soot that has taken over everything and if it is safe for you and your family.

Immediately after a fire, soot residue will settle onto your possessions.

 In certain instances, soot can be very toxic and hazardous to your health.

Soot contains elements of the burned material and during soot removal you should avoid exposure. Exposure to soot residue could be detrimental to your health: causing respiratory distress and other medical emergencies.

Your next thought may be:  to clean or not to clean?

If you are the type of person with patience and the drive to get something done, you may want to try your hand at cleaning your own belongings. Just remember safety always comes first!

It’s important to make sure you have the right protective gear when dealing with soot removal, such as: gloves, protective eye wear, face mask, and protective clothing.

Also, you should make sure you have proper ventilation to help clear the air of any soot and odors. (A box fan in the windows will help).

When cleaning your soot damage home, using soap and water, you should always start with the top of the room and work your way to the bottom of the room, making sure to wipe all knick- knacks along the way.

Additionally, using your vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter, vacuum your upholstery, lamp shades, and carpet. This prevents the soot from being blown back into the areas you already cleaned.

For your clothing and linens, wash several times in your normal liquid detergent.

If your soot problem is a little too much too handle, you may want to call in the professionals!!! 

SERVPRO of Cayce/ West Columbia and Lexington, will pretest to determine the degree of the damage, and then use the specific equipment and cleaning products required to clean and protect the diverse types of surfaces in your home.

Depending on the amount of soot, SERVPRO of Cayce/ West Columbia and Lexington, may be able to reduce the cost of recovery by cleaning lighter soot deposits found on some surfaces, eliminating the expense acquired with repainting or refinishing.

In other cases, SERVPRO of Cayce/ West Columbia and Lexington, will clean and get your structure prepared to paint, this process allows the paint to better adhere to the surface, as well as deodorize.

Things NOT to do when you have soot damage!

• Don’t attempt to clean any electrical appliances that may have been close to a fire, heat, or water without consulting an authorized repair service.
• Don’t use any canned or packaged food or beverages that may have been stored near the incident.
• Don’t turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet. The wiring may be damaged.

For more valuable information on soot and fire damage please visit http://www.IICRC.org/what-after-smoke-damage-has-happened-a-140.html or don’t hesitate to call SERVPRO of Cayce/ West Columbia and Lexington!