How To Clean Soot Off Walls

• What is soot?
• The dangers of soot exposure
• The challenges of cleaning soot off walls
• Bring in professional cleaners for fire restoration
• Get in touch

Soot stains on your walls following a fire are not just unsightly – they can put people at risk of serious health problems and become more difficult to remove overtime. They must be cleaned up immediately by professional cleaners.

Here at ICE Cleaning, our comprehensive fire damage cleaning services can quickly restore your property to a safe, clean environment. Our fully accredited technicians are available nationwide, 24/7, 365 days a year. If it’s an emergency, they can be on-site within hours.

Keep reading to find out the best ways to clean soot from walls.

What is soot?

Soot consists of the carbon particles produced during the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons and fossil fuels like wood, oil, and coal. When the carbon particles settle on surfaces, they discolour it and cause a foul smell.

It is particularly difficult to clean because the particles are very fine and embed themselves deep in porous materials, such as upholstery. Soot can also attach itself to every surface. As soot is acidic it can be corrosive, and might damage your property and possessions.   

Soot stains can be caused by lots of different things like burning candles or using a fireplace, but big stains following a fire must always be left to specialist cleaners.

The dangers of soot exposure

When soot is inhaled, ingested, or enters the body via the skin and eyes, it can lead to a range of serious health problems including:

• Difficulty breathing
• Headaches
• Nosebleeds
• Asthma attacks
• Coronary heart disease
• Cancer

All the soot must be removed from your property, including any in hard-to-reach areas, to protect your health.

The challenges of cleaning soot off walls

Removing soot from your property can be an extensive, long process

First, you will need to cover up nearby surfaces and possessions, including the floor, to protect them from soot stains. Then you need to vacuum the walls carefully before cleaning the particles from the affected surfaces.

The surfaces will then need to be rinsed, dried, and vacuumed again. Removing soot from walls can be particularly laborious as soot can cover such a large area.

It’s dangerous

Cleaning soot high up on the wall can be hazardous if you don’t use a ladder or other piece of equipment that can help you safely reach these areas.

Removing soot in general is dangerous as you will come in close contact with it and will be more likely to inhale or ingest the particles. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is required to keep yourself safe like gloves, a face mask, and safety glasses.

Some of the cleaning chemicals required can be harmful, too, such as trisodium phosphate which is a popular solution for soot removal. This compound can be poisonous when swallowed, ingested, or spilled on your skin.

Soot removal is a complex process

There are lots of different methods to choose from, all of which are designed for different surfaces. Porous surfaces like drywall need dry methods, whereas non-porous surfaces may require wet cleaning solutions. The wrong method may be ineffective and can even make the situation worse.

For example, when you use a soot sponge you need to do quick strokes, whereas can smear the soot into the surface.

Some cleaning products and methods can damage certain surfaces, too, like cleaning soot off painted walls incorrectly may strip off the paint. Cleaning soot off brick can be especially tricky as it is a porous surface that might get discoloured by cleaning products.

Cleaning fire damage yourself can be expensive

You will require a range of specialist tools and products like industrial-grade vacuums with HEPA filters, and without professional expertise you might not use them in the most effective way.

Bring in professional cleaners for fire restoration

Fire damage cleaning specialists will have the equipment and training required for a safe, thorough clean. They will also be qualified to work at height and can remove every trace of soot from your home, including soot in difficult to reach areas.

Cleaners can tackle the entire fire restoration process, too, like soot and ash removal, waste collection, and odour neutralisation. They will give you peace of mind that your property will be safe again.

Specialists can work quickly, as well, to minimise the potential damage the soot causes. They will save you time and money during what may be a very difficult period.  

Get in touch

Our technicians have many years of experiencing providing our fire restoration services. They can create a bespoke plan of action for your property as well as complete any other services you may require after a fire, like mould remediation.

Contact our friendly team today on 0208 066 0360 or send them an email at enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk to book your free site survey and get a no-obligation quote.