Clearing the Smoke After a Fire

Burning things leave different types of residue and odors, which makes fire reclamation and restoration difficult. Techniques that remove smoke and smell from some substances don't work on others, and vice versa. Knowing what does and doesn't work and what to use on various surfaces and materials is often beyond the skill set of most homeowners, which is why insurance companies usually recommend hiring experts.

But let's say you had a small fire that only affected a single room—for our example,we'll use your kitchen. There's no structural damage…the fire was out before the fire trucks arrived—just a lot of soot everywhere and an awful smell from the fire. What's more, you didn't file an insurance claim because the damage is pretty much limited to the smoke and soot, and you figure the clean-up costs are going to be less than your deductible. So, you either have to hire and pay for the help out of your own pocket, or do it yourself.

Here's what you'll need if you choose the latter option:

• Wet/dry vac. Preferably a unit that can handle wet and dry substances.

• Dry-cleaning sponges. These are special sponges that do a great job of cleaning soot from just about anything. You can find them in art-supply (they're also great for keeping artwork clear of dust and whatnot while it's being created), cleaning, and paint supply stores. Expect to pay around $4 to $5 each.

• Tri-sodium phosphate, or TSP. This is a caustic chemical commonly used as an all-purpose cleaning agent. It's a powerful degreaser and cleaner and makes short work of things like grease and soot. You can use TSP to clean clothing, walls, floors, and some furniture. Pine cleaners will work, too, and are typically less caustic. As such, using them will take a little longer.

• Bucket for mixing the TSP or other cleaner. Get at least a gallon-size one.

• Sponges, rags, mop, and so on for cleaning hard surfaces.

• Rubber gloves, both for wearing while mixing cleaner and during cleanup. Oils from your fingers can mix with soot and smoke to further damage everything you touch.

• Vacuum cleaner with edge attachment. You'll use this for getting into hard-to-reach nooks and crannies.

One of the first things you want to do is get fresh air circulating through your house. This will lessen the smoke smell, but it won't get rid of all of it.

If it's dry outside, open all windows and doors to grab as much breeze as possible. If things are soggy from the water used to hose down the fire, you might want to run some fans or a dehumidifier as well. Be sure to check the status of the electrical wiring and outlets in the damaged room before you plug in anything. And, keep central air or heat turned off until after the room is cleaned. This will help keep soot from circulating through your house.

Next, figure out your game plan. It's usually best to work from the top down, as fire debris tends to float downward, which means you'll probably want to tackle hard surfaces like the ceiling and walls first.

Before you do, use your wet/dry vac to remove all dry soot and any chemical residue from fire extinguishers that is underfoot. You don't want to track this stuff through your house. If you're vacuuming carpets or rugs, hold the nozzle of the vac slightly off the surface to avoid working the soot further into the fabric. Cover soft surfaces with plastic after you're done to protect them from accumulating soot that's still circulating in the air and from dirt that might be tracked in by inspectors or workers.

Next, remove loose soot from hard surfaces with the dry-cleaning sponges. Unlike regular sponges, these are used dry (hence the name). Wipe the ceiling first, then do the walls. Start each stroke at the top and work down. As you work along, the sponge will collect soot. You can use a knife to skim it off the sponge and expose a new cleaning surface.

The extra-soft surface of dry-cleaning sponges work well on many surfaces, but not all. For example, they aren't good on oil-based paint, acrylic paint, or vinyl wallpaper, and they also aren't very effective for removing the soot from grease fires. You'll need to use a regular sponge and TSP or a similar cleaner on these surfaces.

Work quickly, but be thorough. The more soot you're able to remove, the faster the smoke smell will dissipate.

Use your sponge and cleanser to wipe down all the surfaces in your cupboards, pantry, and other storage areas. Throw away any open food packages as you go. The smoke makes it unfit to eat. Dishes, glassware, and cooking utensils can be washed as you normally would.

If there are soft surfaces such as curtains, carpet, or rugs in your kitchen, you might want to consider hiring a professional fire restorer. Incorrect cleaning methods here can hurt more than help, as the oils in soot easily damage these materials. Vacuum up as much soot as you can from a distance of about an inch or two from the surface you're cleaning. Then cover it up and let someone else tackle it.

Excerpted from The Complete Idiot's Guide to Common Household Disasters © 2005 by Paul Hayman and Sonia Weiss. All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. Used by arrangement with Alpha Books, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

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