How To Clean Smoke Damage

9/6/2018 (Permalink)

An example of sponge cleaning soot damage.

A fire produces smoke, we all know this, but did you know there are two different types of smoke?  Smoke can either be wet smoke or dry smoke.  Wet smoke occurs when it is a low heat fire, can have a pungent odor, be sticky and smear. These webs can be more difficult to clean.  Wet smoke usually occurs from plastic or rubber burning.  Dry smoke occurs when paper or wood burn.  This comes from a fast burning fire at a high temperature.   Due to their differences, they also leave different types of residue.  To make sure your smoke/soot damage is effectively cleaned, SERVPRO of Oxford/Batesville/Clarksdale will test the soot to see which type of soot damage occurred.  The results of testing will help us to identify a cleaning procedure to proceed with.  In most cases we use a dry, sponge method or what we call wet wiping.  Some more severe cases require both methods to be used.  If you have suffered a fire and want help cleaning up, call SERVPRO of Oxford/Batesville/Clarksdale at 662-281-1881 to help.