How can you repair your home after smoke damage?
Fire damages objects it comes into contact with, but the smoke it produces can quickly contaminate a much larger area, leaving behind an oily film that coats any surface it touches. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Services recommends that homeowners with extensive smoke damage take the time to consult with a professional fire restorer, since restoration services are often cheaper than the cost of repairing and replacing items on your own. If the smoke damage is minimal, however, it's possible to repair some of the damage yourself. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Removing Smoke Odor
1. Open your windows, install a circular fan or bring portable box fans into the home to reduce the smoke stench.
2. Replace attic insulation that shows signs of smoke damage, as insulation absorbs odors.
3. Dampen pieces of cheesecloth and place them over the intake and outtake vents in your home. The cheesecloth will capture any residual soot in the air, preventing it from circulating in your house.
Repairing Smoke Damage
4. Clean brass and copper items, such as bathroom fixtures, immediately with brass or copper cleaner. A smoke film can permanently damage brass and copper in as little as 24 hours.
5. Vacuum away as much residual soot from carpets and upholstery as possible with the wet-dry vacuum. Hold the vacuum nozzle slightly above soft surfaces to prevent pushing soot further into the fabric.
6. Cover the carpets and upholstery with plastic sheets after cleaning. This prevents you from tracking additional soot onto the carpet and also prevents soot within the air from resettling onto carpets and upholstery.
7. Wipe down hard surfaces, such as your ceiling, walls and counters, with a sponge. Dry-cleaning sponges are preferable for this job. If the fire was a grease fire, however, use a regular sponge dipped in tepid water to wipe down soot-covered surfaces.
8. Submerge smoke-damaged curtains and clothing overnight in 1 gallon of warm water mixed with 1 cup of dishwashing detergent. Drain and wash the items the following day. For items that can be bleached, mix 1 cup of chlorine bleach with 1 gallon of water and 4 to 6 tbsp. trisodium phosphate. Soak the items overnight, rinse with clean water and dry.
Tags: brass copper, carpets upholstery, residual soot, smoke damage, smoke damage, your home
