How and what to wash walls after a fire

It can be very difficult to deal with a fire’s aftermath, particularly when it comes to repairing the damage. Washing the walls—which may be covered in soot, smoke stains, and residual smells—is one of the trickiest jobs. You can effectively clean your walls and return them to their original state by following the instructions in this guide.

It’s crucial to first identify the kinds of walls you have because various materials call for different cleaning techniques. The method for cleaning can differ depending on whether you have painted drywall, plaster, or wallpaper. For a thorough job, we’ll go over the best methods and supplies to use for each type.

You can remove the remaining soot and stains with the correct equipment and cleaning supplies. We’ll offer pointers on how to set up your area, choose the right cleaning supplies, and steer clear of typical blunders. You can help eliminate the evidence of fire damage and revitalize your walls by adhering to these guidelines.

Step Description
1. Remove Soot Use a vacuum with a brush attachment to gently remove loose soot from the walls.
2. Clean with Detergent Mix a mild detergent with warm water. Use a sponge or cloth to scrub the walls, starting from the bottom and working your way up.
3. Rinse Walls Rinse the walls with clean water to remove detergent residue. Wipe down with a clean, dry cloth.
4. Treat Odors Apply a mixture of vinegar and water to the walls to help neutralize smoke odors. Allow it to sit for a few minutes before wiping it off.
5. Repaint if Needed If stains persist, you may need to repaint the walls. Use a primer designed for smoke damage before applying a fresh coat of paint.

Features of soot removal

Soot is a viscous substance made up of fragments from partially burned materials.

The only techniques needed to remove it from surfaces are forceful ones.

After a fire, the first step in treating the walls should always be to prepare ways to shield people from dangerous materials that remain inside the burned rooms.

  • Gloves are put on the hands.
  • The face is protected by a respirator or gas mask.
  • Hair is covered with a scarf.
  • Choose the oldest clothes that you don’t mind getting sooty and then throwing away. But it must cover the arms and legs.

You must get ready the following equipment in order to remove carbon and soot:

  • A plastic bowl.
  • A vacuum cleaner, high power.
  • A large amount of rags.
  • Special chemical sponges, which can easily be used to clean the room after a fire.
  • A good broom.
  • Hard brushes.
  • A clean spatula.
  • A wide brush, about 30 millimeters.
  • A roller and a special tray for it.
  • Special chemicals.

Advice: To speed up the evaporation of soot from the rooms, open all windows and doors to allow drafts.

How to get rid of garbage after a fire

Most items usually lose their usability after a fire. Furniture that has burned or scorched cannot be saved.

When tidying the space:

  • Collect all charred garbage and take it out of the affected rooms.
  • Do not rush to throw away carpets, curtains for doors and windows, floor coverings, if they are not badly damaged by the fire: even if they have a terrible smell, they can be saved. Soot from curtains and drapes can usually disappear after washing, but it is better to clean carpets and carpets with all sorts of chemicals.

Advice: Nothing can completely remove the odor of smoke from books since they absorb it so well. For the most part, they simply must be thrown away.

  • Burnt wallpaper is also considered trash; it needs to be removed from the walls with a spatula.
  • We"ll have to throw away various plastic interior decorations, such as skirting boards, cornices.
  • Replace hopelessly damaged windows and doors.
  • If the furniture is only saturated with smoke, you can try to take it out into the fresh air, and then leave for some time to air.
  • However, most often the fumes are absorbed quite deeply into the wood or skin, because of this, it will be possible to get rid of it only with the help of good specialists.

How to dry clean a room

Dry cleaning is the first step in a room’s thorough post-fire cleaning. Smoke and soot from relatively clean floors tend to rise to the top and settle on the room’s ceiling and walls. These areas need to be covered with clean film, and any joints need to be taped shut.

Following that, you can start cleaning the entire space:

  • All walls and ceilings are completely cleaned of any remaining dirty wallpaper or paint.
  • Soot is removed from all surfaces with a powerful vacuum cleaner. Particular attention should be paid to cracks.
  • All dirt is swept onto the floor with a broom or a stiff brush. In this case, all movements should be straight and sharp.

Recommendation: Avoid wiping soot on the walls as this will make it difficult to get rid of it from the space.

  • Further cleaning is carried out with special chemical sponges, which are impregnated with a special composition that helps to wash away soot and all the soot. Work should be carried out from top to bottom, while cutting off the clogged layer by layer from the sponge if necessary.

You can move on to wet cleaning once the apartment has been thoroughly dry cleaned.

How to wash walls after a fire

To complete these tasks, you will require:

  • Containers for water.
  • Clean rags.
  • Special detergents, which can be:
  1. liquid dishwashing detergents;
  2. regular soda.

To get the composition ready, you’ll need

  1. two tablespoons of regular baking soda;
  2. two glasses of fairly hot water.

Light motions are used to wash off soot from top to bottom, repeatedly switching to a fresh solution. It is necessary to repeat the process multiple times. A hard brush dipped in the cleaning solution is used to remove any leftover dirt.

Recommendation: Keep in mind that wet cleaning should only be carried out following dry cleaning, following the removal of the majority of the dirt using brushes or a vacuum. The soot will only rub deeper into the surface if you begin cleaning the area right away, making removal impossible.

Following this type of cleaning, a sealant is applied to the walls in order to neutralize any ingrained soot, and all surfaces are then primed (refer to Priming walls and everything on this issue). Cleaning all surfaces thoroughly and airing out the apartment won’t always be enough to get rid of the burning smell completely. It is likely that more air filtration will be needed.

Cleaning your walls after a fire is essential to getting rid of soot, smoke residue, and lingering smells. After vacuuming the walls to remove any loose debris, use a mild detergent solution and water to wash the walls. You may require a more potent cleaning solution or perhaps a specialist cleaner for more stubborn stains. To stop mold or mildew from growing, make sure you rinse and dry the walls completely.

How to clean the air

Ozonizers are used by specially designed cleaning companies to assist in air purification. These devices are available for rent from numerous companies.

After a fire, all of the items in the room can be cleaned using ozone, which is a reasonably potent disinfectant. It is very easy to use: depending on the level of air pollution, turn the unit on for a few hours or days each week.

In the event that the ozonizer’s cost is prohibitive, you may:

  • Put pots of hot water on the stove.
  • Leave them to boil for several hours.
  • Hang thick towels throughout the apartment, which have been previously soaked in diluted vinegar. They must be changed periodically.
  • You can turn on hot water in the bathroom and open the door wide open.

Once the fire is out of the apartment, you can make a special chemical composition to get rid of Gary’s smell.

They take the following in exchange for this:

  • Soda food – 40 grams.
  • Hydrochloric acid -40 grams.
  • Ammonia (10%) – 40 milliliters.
  • Strong glass container.

Guidelines for getting ready the solution:

  • Soda is poured into the container and ammonia is added.
  • Everything is carefully mixed.
  • Hydrochloric acid is gradually added.

The ammonium chloride container soon begins to emit dense white smoke, which effectively removes Gary’s odor from the rooms. After leaving the mixture for a day, the apartment is carefully ventilated.

Smelloff is a quicker and less energy-intensive way to get rid of smoke and fire odors. This tool eliminates the smell entirely rather than just masking it.

Spraying SmellOff with a spray gun or applying it with a sponge or roller on a surface that has been previously cleaned—even inaccessible areas—is required to achieve the desired result.

After a fire, wall cleaning is essential to restoring your space and making sure it’s safe and hygienic. First, use a dry cloth or a vacuum with a HEPA filter to carefully remove any soot and debris. This action aids in stopping the particles from spreading further.

Next, use an appropriate cleaner to clean the walls. A solution of water mixed with mild detergent works well for minor soot. Consider using specialist smoke damage cleaners for more tenacious stains or smoke odors. To prevent damage, test any cleaner on a small, discrete area first.

In order to get rid of any remaining cleaning agent residue, finally give the walls a thorough rinse with clean water. Before applying any finishes or repainting, let the walls completely dry. Cleaning your walls properly not only makes them look better, but it also guarantees that there are no dangerous residues left behind.

Video on the topic

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Veronica Gerasimova

Interior designer, author of books on the design of residential premises. I will help you make your home not only functional, but also beautiful.

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