After a fire in your home or at your commercial property, you might feel as though the danger is behind you. But there are still hazards after the fire is out. Cleaning up smoke and soot damage after a fire is more than just a messy hassle. It also introduces health risks. These risks occur both during the cleaning itself and for anyone who is in the area afterward if the cleaning hasn’t been done properly. Hiring professionals to do the smoke and soot cleanup protects you and anyone else who spends time in the fire-damaged area.
What Is Smoke and Soot Residue?
The answer to this question might seem obvious. However, assuming that cleaning up smoke and soot is the same as cleaning up any other kind of mess leads people to try to do it themselves, which can make the problem worse.
For example, there are different kinds of smoke. When plastic and rubber burn, they leave behind what is sometimes called “wet smoke.” Paper and wood leave “dry smoke” residue. Burned synthetic items create a sticky residue.
Challenges in Cleaning Smoke and Soot
People often try to clean wet smoke residue by wiping it away, but this just tends to smear it. When it comes to dry smoke residue, it’s easy for particles to fall into cracks, crevices and other places that are hard to reach.
The residue of synthetic items tends to stick to anything that touches it. Soot can be very difficult to remove from any surface. With each of these substances, professionals understand what’s required to clean it. They also have the products and tools necessary to do the job.
Soot and Smoke Health Risks
There are two levels of hazards when it comes to soot and smoke health risks. One is associated with immediate contact. Exposure to the toxins in smoke and soot can lead to eye and skin irritation as well as respiratory issues.
The second level is the long-term effects. If you try to clean up smoke and soot damage on your own, chances are that you will spread it around and push it deeper into surfaces instead of getting rid of it. It may circulate in your HVAC system and off-gas from your furniture. This can cause health problems in the months and years ahead.
Children, older adults, and people who are immunocompromised are particularly vulnerable. However, even healthy adults can have health issues as a result of prolonged exposure to smoke and soot residue.
Professionals have the skills and the equipment to thoroughly clean up soot and smoke residue and to restore your property to its prior condition. To preserve your health, this is a job that’s best turned over to the pros. When you need smoke and soot removal services in Troy, OH, contact Complete Detail Cleaning & Restoration.
