With spring coming to a close, it finally means you can trade your fireplace for summer barbecues. But before you do so, you may need to deal with the soot left behind. While fireplaces do provide warmth and comfort during the winter, they often leave behind a black residue that can damage your walls and furniture. Below is a helpful guide to understanding soot damage, how to clean it, and when to turn to a professional furniture cleaner for help.

Soot Damage & How a Professional Can Help

How Do Homeowners Clean Up Soot Damage?

Unfortunately, soot can easily lift and transfer from one room to the next when handled without the proper cleanup protocol, including wearing protective eyewear, a mask, long sleeves, and long pants. You should also thoroughly ventilate the room, so you and your family aren’t inhaling high levels of soot particles during the cleanup process.

Once the prep is taken care of, you can use a vacuum hose to suck up loose soot from surfaces around your home. Keep in mind that direct contact can smear the soot, so it’s a good idea to keep the hose a half-inch from the mess. Additionally, a chemical dry sponge or a dry-cleaning sponge—for high oxygen fires—or a wet sponge—for low oxygen fires—can be used to clean the mess from walls and floors. Be sure to test a small area first, before making sweeping passes with the sponge to ensure it doesn’t make matters worse. 

How Can a Professional Help?

If your home has incurred significant smoke and soot damage, the cleanup job is best left to a professional. During this task, they will use proven techniques to remove soot from one area at a time, including your walls, ceilings, furniture, and other surfaces, making sure not to spread or smudge the sensitive material. Ultimately, trusting your soot removal to a professional furniture cleaner will ensure your personal belongings are restored to their original condition.

Whether you’re looking for assistance with soot cleanup, carpet cleaning, or tile and grout cleaning, you need a reliable furniture cleaner with the right skills and tools for the job. Superior Cleaning, Inc., in the Midcoast region of Maine strives to provide the best residential carpet cleaning service in the area. Trained in the latest techniques, their team uses high-quality cleaners that will leave your home looking clean, beautiful, and welcoming. Give them a call today at (207) 522-1419 or visit their website to schedule service and learn more about their team.