Smoke Damage Cleanup Hints

Safety

• Gather the safety items you need to work with smoke damage. Even old smoke odor can cause harm, so it is important to protect your clothes, hands and lungs. Use gloves, protective clothing and a gas mask. Dispose of any food left in the house. Smoke can make food toxic.

Clear the Area

• Remove all the furniture from the house. If your damage is isolated to just one room, you may need to clean the entire house. Smoke damage is pervasive and can affect all the rooms. Store the furniture so you can concentrate on cleaning the room first. You will clean up the furniture using a different method. Remove the curtains, carpet and pad, and any other fabric elements in the room.

Clean the Stains

• Mix a strong water-soluble detergent with water. Dilute according to the directions on the label. Heavy and oil-based stains will require a stronger concentration. Concentrate on porous surfaces for the best result. Wash the ceiling and walls with scrubbing brushes. For stronger stains, spread the detergent directly on the walls and wait 10 to 20 minutes. Scrub a small patch at a time. Rinse and repeat as needed. Clean the floor with a disk machine with a hard brush or pad. Clean aluminum and glass with glass cleaner and a soft cloth.

Clean the Odor

• Uniformly apply an enzyme solvent with an airbrush to all walls and ceilings to rid the house of smoke odor. The solution will spread as a foam. Seal the room and leave for 40 minutes. A non-pathogenic cleaner works over time so the results will not be instantaneous. Wait for 24 hours for the odor to be gone before beginning restoration.