While the fire might cause the most irreparable damage, the smoke that comes from the fire can also cause significant damage, including smoke stains. While some smoke stains can never be removed, if you are fast, you may be able to clean and remove other smoke stains to salvage your carpet and walls.
Protecting Yourself
When cleaning soot from walls, you will need to protect yourself. Put on a pair of rubber gloves and safety glasses to protect yourself from the charred remains of your home. Open the windows and use fans to make sure that the area is well-ventilated to protect yourself from fumes. Place a cloth on the floor so that you do not stain the floor. Use an old or inexpensive cloth that you will then replace.
Removing the Soot
You must avoid getting your walls wet and always use a cleaner that is not water based. Use a chemical dry-cleaning sponge to scrub the walls of soot. When the sponge has become covered in soot, rinse it out and allow it to dry before cleaning the wall more.
Removing the Stain
Next, add rubbing alcohol to a soft cloth and use this to wipe down the wall. Keep wiping the stain until it is gone, and then allow the wall to air dry.
Cleaning Your Carpet
Like with your walls, your carpets need to be cleaned as soon as possible to prevent permanent stains from setting in. Use a terry towel to remove all wet materials. Then, use a vacuum to vacuum up any dry debris.
Once you have removed as much of the debris and stain as you can, apply a dry-cleaning solvent to the carpet with a terry cloth. Keep blotting the stain until it is apparent that you will not be able to remove any more of it. Then, you will be able to evaluate whether the carpet can be repaired or will need to be replaced.
Removing Difficult Stains
Sometimes, you will need to get the carpet a little wet if nothing else will remove the stain. Use one teaspoon of dish detergent and one cup of water to create a solution that you should then apply to your terry cloth. Then, press the terry cloth down on the stain to absorb and remove it. If you are not able to remove the stain, it might have permanently set in, and you will likely need to have your carpet replaced. Call a professional such as Serclean Inc to see if they can salvage your carpet, walls, and other aspects of your home.
The post Act Quickly to Remove Smoke Stains from Your Carpet and Walls appeared first on Preventing Mold Damage After A Flood.
