When experiencing a house fire, you are not only dealing with the flames themselves. You also have to consider the fumes it creates. Even after putting off a massive fire, it is more likely to find the smoke staying in the building for a longer time.

How Dangerous Is Smoke from a House Fire?

Smoke from a house fire can be severely hazardous. Not only does it cause eye irritation and respiratory problems, but it could also lead to death, especially for the weak ones. Smoke during a fire could kill you in many ways.

The toxicity of the smoke depends on the material being burned. Burning up a piece of paper is less toxic than burning up plastic or furniture. It all depends on the temperature and condition of the fire.

The odor of the smoke is an excellent indication of how toxic it is. It is safe to inhale the smoke odor when you cannot detect a bitter or sweet smell. Meanwhile, smoke with a sweet or bitter scent is highly toxic and harmful.

How Can a Fire Smoke Affect Your Home?

The toxic fumes from a house fire can go into your home. If the fire is not put off, the toxic smoke could spread quickly and easily.

When your home is exposed to toxic fumes, a good deal of damage can be done. The poisonous fumes will not only cause eyes and respiratory problems, but they could also affect the structures inside your house.

Fire smoke can damage the insulation of your home. It can also damage the wall, floors, windows, and others. Even if your home looks new, it could also suffer from toxic fumes.

How Can You Clean Smoke Damage?

The cleanup project after a fire is one of the biggest and most complex cleanup projects. That is because smoke damage can range from minor to severe.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to smoke cleaning. The best way to approach your recovery is to identify the level of damage and determine the best cleaning solution.

Nevertheless, the importance of hiring professionals at this stage cannot be understated. If you do not have any experience with smoke damage, you hire professional cleaners who have.

You can take some steps to clean the smoke damage. Below are some helpful tips to follow.

1 – Turn Off the Power

To clean the smoke damage in your home, you have to turn off the power first. You should also turn off the water and gas systems. It’s also best to turn off the air conditioner or heating system to prevent the smoke from spreading. Then, deal with the smoke damage after turning off the system.

2 – Remove Contaminated Materials

To avoid the spread of the smoke, you should remove the contaminated materials first. Clean them off. Also, do not forget to remove materials that are not easily movable. You might have to throw some overly damaged items out.

3 – Clean the Floor

You can use a wet vacuum cleaner to clean the floor. The wet vacuum cleaner will suck up the water on the floor. When the water on the floor is dried, you should use a carpet cleaner to clean it.

4 – Take Down the Wallpapers

After cleaning the wall, you should take down the wallpapers. Take a look at the wall first and see if it is damaged or not. You should get a professional to help you out with this if it is. In case the wall is not damaged, you should clean it with soap and warm water.

Conclusion

House fire smoke is one of the worst and deadliest things that could happen. It can be toxic, it can damage the structure of your home, and it can spread to other parts of the house. Preventing and stopping a house fire is not enough. You also need to make sure that you follow the smoke damage cleanup. Ultimately, the best way to clean up the smoke damage is to hire professionals.

If you have experienced fire damage in Utah and you need professional help in fire restoration, we have you covered. AAA Restoration is your 24/7 fire and water damage restoration company. Contact us at (801) 263-9990 to schedule an appointment.