Smoke Removal From Your Kitchen

9/22/2020 (Permalink)

Damage from a fire in your kitchen can be significant and devastating. The smoke is a major issue as well, as its residue and odor are very hard to get rid of. In the event of an oven or stove fire in your kitchen, you can be left with a mess that requires the help of professionals to handle. The acidity of smoke and soot can make them difficult to remove, and also contain particles that are harmful to breathe. It is going to be essential to clean the smoke damage completely out of your kitchen as soon as possible, especially if anyone in your home or business suffers from asthma or other respiratory issues.

There are a few things a home or business owner can do themselves to remediate smoke damage by using household cleaners or substances that can often be found in a cupboard, such as rubbing alcohol, vinegar, and degreaser. The only other items you will need are hot water and a dry-cleaning sponge, so you may want to purchase a couple of the sponges to have on hand, just in case. 

If a fire occurs in your kitchen, open all windows once the fire has been put out, even if it’s cold outside - ventilation is essential. Use fans to get air moving and turn off your HVAC system to prevent the spread of the smoke, soot, and all harmful particles. 

Make sure you wear protection for yourself, such as long pants and long sleeves. Gloves and eye protection are important, as well, since you will be freeing soot as you clean. Lay down floor protection and remove furniture that is not damaged. You may be able to cover items with plastic if the area affected is small, but if it’s the whole kitchen it will be wise to simply remove everything and seal off undamaged areas. If the damage is too severe for you to handle, be sure to contact a professional. 

Remove loose soot particles with your shop vac. If you don’t have access to a shop vac, you can use a regular vacuum cleaner and its attachments.  

The next step is to wipe up soot and smoke stains using your dry-cleaning sponge. These sponges have special chemicals in them to lift stains, so they are ideal for this kind of project. Never use water or cleaners before you use this sponge, or you will spread the soot all over, making it impossible to remove. As the sponge gets discolored, you can slice the used parts off with a knife to get a fresh start, but make sure you are always using a clean portion of the sponge. 

You can now use a clean rag and any cleaning agents you have on hand. Soak your rag in the preferred cleaner and wipe all the walls throughout your kitchen, even if you don’t see soot or smoke damage. After this, soapy water should be used to wipe down everything, including light bulbs, so be sure to refresh your water throughout the process. Once you’ve finished, you will want to wash everything down with clean water to finalize this project to remove smoke from your kitchen. After your kitchen is clean, you will want to dry all the surfaces and run your fans, too. 

Cleanup after a fire can be very involved, so in order to save time and get your kitchen back to normal, you can call a professional for help. Here at SERVPRO of Huron/East Seneca Counties, we have all the necessary training and equipment needed to help you recover your kitchen from smoke damage. We can get your home or business Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned!