How Should I Clean Soot Off of Walls & Cabinets?
House fires, even small ones, can be devastating. Once the fire has been extinguished, the cleaning can begin. Soot from the fire will have clung to surfaces around the home, including the walls and cabinets. Removing the soot must be done in a way that will also get rid of the smoke odor. Otherwise, your house will look clean but it won't smell clean. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Fans
- Mask
- Vacuum
- Rubber gloves
- 1 gallon hot water
- 1 cup ammonia
- 2 tbsp. dish soap
- Sponge
Instructions
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1
Ensure that there is proper ventilation in the room you plan to clean the soot from. Turn on fans and open any windows. If you are sensitive to the smell of smoke, wear a mask.
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2
Place a floor nozzle attachment on your vacuum and use it to vacuum up as much of the soot as you can off of the walls and cabinets. If you need to get into any cracks or crevices, switch to the crevice tool attachment.
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3
Put on a pair of rubber gloves, and mix 1 gallon hot water with 1 cup ammonia. Add 2 tbsp. of a liquid dish soap that is listed as a degreaser. This cleaning solution will get rid of any residue left behind by the soot.
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Wipe the residue-covered walls and cabinets with a sponge that has soaked up some of the cleaning solution. Work your way from the top of the walls and cabinets down toward the bottom, re-wetting the sponge as necessary.
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Allow the walls and cabinets to dry, then run a finger across the surface of the walls and cabinets.
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Clean the walls and cabinets with a chemical sponge if the surface of the walls and cabinets still feels greasy. You will also need to do this if the room still smells like smoke. Chemical sponges used for cleaning soot are sold through cleaning supply stores.
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Tips & Warnings
Trisodium phosphate can also be used on walls and cabinets to remove soot. Keep in mind, however, that trisodium phosphate is made up of harsh chemicals and should be used with caution.
You can rent an ash vacuum from a home improvement store if you do not wish to take the chance of dirtying your everyday cleaning vacuum.
Never reenter your home to begin cleaning after a fire without first receiving permission from your local fire department.
Do not use a brush attachment on your vacuum to remove the soot. The brush will only push the soot around, allowing it to seep into any pores and cracks in the walls or cabinets.
