Why You Shouldn’t Try To Clean Up Soot After A Fire In Your Poughkeepsie Home

9/24/2020 (Permalink)

Turn to the fire damage experts at SERVPRO of Western Dutchess County to get your property back to normal effectively and efficiently.

Fires can be devastating even if they're small, and our instincts want to make it go away as fast as we can and start the cleaning ourselves. However, if your home has been subject to fire damage, this hastiness can often hurt more than it helps. Depending on the type of fire (grease, protein, furnace malfunction, etc), there are many differences in how the clean-up should be approached:

1. There Are Different Types of Soot. Because every fire is different, soot can vary greatly in its composition. Some soot has a dry, powdery texture, others will be thick, some are greasy. Looks can be very deceiving in this situation and the best cleaning results come from a restoration company with experience and specialty products to handle it, no matter the type. Tackling soot without knowing what kind it is on your hands can lead to spreading it further, making for a larger cleanup and potentially causing further damage.

2. Soot Contains Toxic Chemicals. Fires require things such as carbon dioxide, oxygen and nitrogen, but there are also chemicals released from every material that the flames came into contact with. Materials such as plastics, textiles and paint are extremely toxic once heated, and soot contains them all. Because of this, improper soot cleaning can cause these toxins to be re-released into the air and infiltrate the home with chemicals.

3. Soot Won’t Stay Put. Soot travels through the air, meaning it won’t remain contained to the area where the fire occurred. It will journey into crevices, adheres to ceilings and infiltrate HVAC systems. Additionally, materials such as fabrics, upholstery and carpets can attract soot from other parts of the home. While it might be tempting to launder these items and scrub down the walls right away, improper cleaning can lead to ruining your belongings beyond repair.

If your Poughkeepsie home has been damaged by a fire, don’t risk causing further issues with DIY cleanup. We understand how every fire damage is different and will formulate a custom plan of mitigation and restoration. SERVPRO® of Western Dutchess County has a team of experienced fire restoration professionals that can get your life back to normal, faster.

Call us 24/7, we’re always here to help!