Smoke damage cleanup

8/18/2021 (Permalink)

One of the most common disasters is fire. The smoke and soot that cover the surfaces of a home and its property, contaminating both, are difficult to clean and require a professional company to accomplish the task with minimal loss.

Dry wiping and cleaning is our first course of action for most surfaces. Technicians use feather dusters and cloths where the contamination is a non-greasy residue and light-to-medium in amount. For thicker layers, they use dry sponges or specialized vacuums to clean surfaces.
 
Wet wiping and cleaning is our next step when dry cleaning does not remove everything. SERVPRO technicians use damp sponges and cleaning fabrics to clean off moderate-to-heavy residues with water or a mild detergent if needed.
 
Spray and Wipe is our preferred method when we need to prevent color bleeding or to fade in items like drapes and curtains. Restoration crews use spray bottles for better control of the amount of cleaning agent used on them.
 
Foam cleaning uses an agitated cleaner to apply the chemical agent with less water. Technicians force air into the cleaner which then exits the spray bottle as a foam similar to what you see in a car wash. We use this method on upholstery fabric which shrinks and pulls away from its frame if it becomes too wet.
 
Abrasive cleaning is the technique we use on rough surfaces like marble and rock. Since the surface is not affected by liquid, we use a cleaner along with a brush (plastic or wire bristles) to remove every trace of heavy smoke and soot residues. If the surface is metal, like some kitchen countertops, technicians may use a steel wool pad rather than a brush.
 
Immersion cleaning is our final method. We can only use this on items that are not affected by moisture and have a very heavy residue. Technicians fill a tank with a cleaning agent and then immerse the item in the tank. They then use sound waves to generate bubbles and force them across or through the surface of the item. This method is effective, but if it does not work, we discard the item. This is ultrasonic cleaning.
 
Restoring your home and property to a preloss condition is not simple, but hiring the right service can make the process much easier for you. SERVPRO of Litchfield / West Phoenix has decades of training and experience to do just that for you. Call us today at (623) 594-6033 to get started.