After any fire, smoke and odor removal are an important part of the clean up. You may get used to the smell, but it can be a reminder of a very traumatic time whenever you return from a vacation or business trip. And your guests will always notice. Even a small kitchen fire calls for professional treatment.
Besides the smell, smoke and soot are corrosive and can even damage metals and electronics. So it’s vital to know where to look and how to properly clean away smoke, soot,and ash. If not taken care of immediately, various compounds penetrate so deeply into porous building materials that they can never be removed. Trying to mask odors, whether from fires, mold, or pet stains are at best a temporary solution.
Smoke Travel
We normally think of smoke as always moving upward, but actually it can travel in unexpected ways. And that includes a tendency to go towards cooler areas not involved in the fire. It affects drapery, furniture, bedding and mattresses, clothes, and even carpet. It will settle in ductwork, where heating and air conditioning fans will distribute tiny particles throughout the building. Just think about how cigarette smoke used to permeate everything.
Types of Smoke
Different kinds of fires produce different kinds of smoke depending on the burning temperatures and what’s burning. The main types are dry smoke, wet smoke, and protein smoke. Each behaves differently and requires different treatments for proper removal. Most smoke is corrosive, damaging the surface of just about any kind of metal, and that includes both the insides and outsides of personal electronics, household appliance, and business machines.
Lingering Smoke Odor
Just about every type of smoke includes compounds that penetrate into porous materials such as fabrics, wood, drywall, and even unglazed ceramics. That occurs quickly, and it will soon have penetrated so deeply that neither extraction techniques nor neutralizing treatments can reach it. From there it will slowly “outgas,” causing lingering odors that can last for years.
Professional Smoke and Odor Removal
You should be starting to see why experience and expertise are so important in smoke odor removal. Special processes, compounds, and equipment are necessary if further damage and ongoing problems are to be avoided. And that work needs to be done as soon as possible.
The world-leading organization IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification) sets standards for the cleaning and restoration industry. Any service you hire should be licensed, insured, and hold IICRC certifications in whatever work you need done.
Surface Cleaning
A thorough wiping, often with specially formulated cleaning solutions, can take care of smoke and soot on non-porous surfaces and belongings. The latest in chemistry has also produced odor removal products that can penetrate and neutralize odors in porous materials. They are usually followed by applying some sort of sealant as the process is rarely 100% effective. Also keep in mind that smoke and other odors may penetrate too deeply for this type of treatment.
Blasting
“Blasting” is often used as part of the fire damage restoration process. It’s not what it might sound like — it’s named after sand blasting, not explosions! Soda blasting uses the same baking soda compound you may already be using to keep odors out of your refrigerator. It’s sprayed with enough force that it removes char while absorbing odor-causing chemicals. Dry ice blasting is also effective, and evaporates so that there’s no clean up afterward.
Ozone and Hydroxyl
Producing ozone using a very bright ultraviolet light or high-voltage electricity is also effective in removing odors of just about any type, as the reactive ozone breaks down their compounds. It is sufficiently hazardous, however, that the building can’t be occupied during treatment and must be thoroughly ventilated afterward. Another type of generator also uses UV light, but creates hydroxyl instead. These generators must be kept close to the various odor sources, but can be safely used while the building is occupied or other restoration work is being performed.
