How to Clean Smoke Damage on Walls and Ceilings from Your Indianapolis Home

8/31/2017 (Permalink)

How to Clean Smoke Damage on Walls and Ceilings from Your Indianapolis Home

Cleaning smoke stains off walls and ceilings can be a difficult task. Even if the fire was minor like a cooking fire, the smoke can quickly discolor your ceilings and walls. Since smoke rises, the smoke usually damages your ceilings first as the smoke spreads across the ceiling leaving smoke residue. While smoke can usually be cleaned easily off metal and smooth surfaces like counters and ovens, ceilings and walls are not so easy to clean.

The Difficulty of Cleaning Smoke from Walls and Ceilings

The problem with smoke damage on walls and ceilings is that they are not completely smooth and usually quite porous. This means that smoke can penetrate the walls and ceiling making the removal and cleanup very difficult with standard cleaning supplies. With ceilings, many homes have textured ceilings like popcorn ceilings which make the cleaning even more difficult. Even if your ceilings are completely smooth and painted with glossy paint, cleaning them can be awkward leaving you with sore arms and a sore back before you’re halfway through cleaning them.

Smoke Spreads Quickly Through a Home

Even with a little great fire on your stove top, the smoke from the fire can spread quickly throughout your home beyond the kitchen walls and ceiling. If your central air conditioner or heat is running, the smoke can spread through the vents causing smoke damage in other rooms. The smoke residue can stick to the air ducts constantly reminding you of the fire every time your air conditioner or heater turns on.

The worst outcome is when smoke spreads to your furniture, drapes, clothes, carpets and other cloth items in your home. Getting smoke out of cloth fabrics can sometimes be as easy as washing them but most often require further commercial grade cleaning and deodorizing. Smoke can also penetrate electronics and appliances. With electronics, you can’t use any household cleaners or sponges as they will further damage the electronics. So what is one to do if you suffer smoke damage in your Indianapolis home?

How to Clean and Remove Smoke Damage from Your Home

Whether your home suffered extensive fire and smoke damage or just minor, the best thing to do is call professional fire damage restoration experts like those at SERVPRO of Indianapolis West. Using household cleaners won’t usually work and sometimes can make the damage and stains even worse. At SERVPRO of Indianapolis West, they have the experience, expertise, commercial grade cleaners and tools to properly and effectively remove any fire or smoke damage and restore your home as if nothing ever happened. Call SERVPRO of Indianapolis West today at 317-243-3149 to learn how we can help with fire, smoke, water and mold damage.