Smoke can cause permanent damage to your property.

Did you know that fire smoke leaves an acidic film behind?

After the fire has taken place, smoke will settle on any surface that it touches, leaving behind an acidic film. If not dealt with promptly, this smoke may cause permanent damage.

If the necessary actions aren’t taken, the smoke will soon penetrate your furniture, walls and carpets, causing discolouration. You may also notice a lingering odour.

The smell of smoke can be difficult to remove – it’s likely that you’ll need professional help. Here at ICE Cleaning, we offer a specialist smoke odour removal service to neutralise unwanted smells in your home.

Whilst waiting for our team of experts to arrive, there are several steps you can take to prevent the situation from getting worse. These include:

• Removing all unwanted curtains and furniture

While we may be able to salvage certain belongings, we’d recommend throwing out any items – such as clothes, fabric curtains or furniture – which can be easily replaced.

• Wiping over solid surfaces

You can run a damp cloth over solid surfaces, like your kitchen table or worktops, to remove excess smoke particles. However, you’ll still need specialist equipment to eliminate the smoke damage completely.

• Ventilating the property

Open any windows and doors for regular intervals during the day to allow fresh air to circulate. This will force the contaminated smoke particles out of your home, creating a clean environment.

Smoke, soot and ash pose a range of health threats.

The health effects of fire smoke should not be underestimated. Smoke inhalation is the primary cause of death in the UK, with 75% of house fire victims passing from the effects of smoke rather than the fire itself.

The same goes for soot and ash. Soot and ash pose a number of risks, from respiratory issues to skin conditions. Whether you’re old or young, no one is immune.

What’s the difference between soot and ash?

Ash refers to the solid remains of a fire. Ash particles are dense, meaning they’re too heavy to be moved around by the smoke, so you’ll find it where the actual fire took place.

Soot, on the other hand, is an oily, light-weight, substance that can be moved, therefore it’s likely to have spread around different rooms within the property. Soot is the build-up of black or dull brown particles of carbon and tar.

What are the risks?

The average soot particle is 2.5 microns – small enough to enter your lungs without you even knowing.

According to PuroClean, soot can also enter your body through your skin or eyes. This means you should take strict measures to avoid contact with soot at all costs, else you may develop skin irritation or even skin cancer (Science Learning Hub).

If soot particles manage to enter your body, they can cause severe breathing difficulties. Those with asthma should take extra precautions to protect their health.

Ash particles are bigger than soot particles, so they’re unlikely to reach your lungs. However, exposure to ash may still lead to respiratory issues. Similarly, ash particles present an imminent threat for those with existing conditions, including bronchitis.

There are 3 steps you can take to limit exposure to harmful substances:

• Avoid skin contact

If you can, remove yourself from the property until it’s safe to re-enter. If you must enter your home, avoid skin contact where possible. Make sure to wash your body immediately should contact arise.

• Wear a mask

You should wear a proper face covering whilst in the property to avoid inhaling or ingesting dangerous soot or ash particles.

• Cover your body

The same applies for your body. Wear gloves and long-sleeved clothes to avoid contamination if required to enter the building.

We can safely restore your home as close to its original condition as possible.

We understand the extent of health risks associated with smoke and fire damage, so have perfected our range of services to suit your needs.

With access to specialist tools and equipment, we can deal with the entire aftermath. From odour neutralisation to the removal of debris, our fire restoration services provide an all-in-one solution for all levels of fire damage.

What’s more, all of our technicians are fully qualified and prioritise safety at all times.

We will not enter your home until the local authorities have confirmed that the property is structurally safe. Once we have the go-ahead, we’ll carry out a full risk assessment to determine the extent of the fire damage and develop a plan of action.

During the fire damage restoration process, we may ask you to evacuate the site. This ensures all parties remain safe and protected throughout the clean. Any technicians that enter the property will be dressed in full PPE.

Get in touch with a member of our professional support team.

To find out more about our fire damage clean-up process or discuss your options with one of our experts, get in contact today.

You can either give us a call on 0333 577 5805 or send your details to 0333 577 5805 and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours.

Based in London? Check out the fire damage services available for your area here.