How to Clean Black Soot from Walls

8/7/2023 (Permalink)

Whether a fire causes your home or business to be covered in black soot, a cooking accident in your kitchen leaves you with severe soot damage, or a rogue candle goes haywire, your walls require upkeep and maintenance to ensure they are successfully cleaned after damage. But what are the steps for cleaning black soot from walls?

Soot is defined as “a black substance formed by combustion or separated from fuel during combustion, rising in fine particles, and adhering to the sides of the chimney or pipe conveying the smoke.” In other words, soot is the product of incomplete combustion; since it’s a sticky substance, it tends to adhere to the location where this incomplete combustion occurred. There are a variety of sources that can contribute to soot appearing on your walls, including but not limited to:
Candles.
Fireplaces.
Exhaust from a car in a garage, which is adjacent to the affected wall.
Space heaters.
Dust, dirt, and cooking oils.
External factors such as smoke from a nearby factory.

Inhaling soot can cause health effects, which is why it’s important to contact a cleanup and restoration company like SERVPRO of Utah County as soon as you find any in your living space or business. Not only can it disrupt your daily home or business activities, but it can prove a safety hazard as well.

Tips to Clean Your Walls

• Ventilate the area to remove excess soot and odor.
• Wear household dish gloves, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants to avoid direct soot or ash contact with skin. If contact occurs, wash off soon as possible.
• Wear a dust mask such as an N-95.
• Use a dehumidifier to control moisture in the air.
• Use a dry chemical sponge to remove as much as soot as you can. This will help prevent soot from embedding deeper into the wall, where it can show up as a permanent stain.
• Follow with a low-alkali detergent, then rinse.

 If all fails , you know who to call . When SERVPRO of Utah County goes out rest assure that SERVPRO of Utah County will get the job done. If water damage is present, SERVPRO of Utah County professionals will implement a water damage restoration process, using dehumidifiers, air movers, and other equipment as needed.
 Upon arrival, SERVPRO of Utah County technicians will perform a walk-through of the affected area, including inspection and testing of adjoining rooms to the damage. This is a critical step, as it will help determine the best course of action to remediate your soot and other fire damage.