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Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

3 Reasons to Not Make Soot Cleanup a DIY | SERVPRO® of Western Dutchess County

6/25/2018 (Permalink)

Call 845-831-3600 to have SERVPRO help you with your soot cleaning!

From revamping your patio to remodeling the kitchen, DIY home improvements are integral to many homeowners’ weekends. However, even the handiest of homeowners should know that not everything should be tackled on your own.

If your home has been subject to fire damage, it’s tempting to start the cleanup process right away—but because there are many nuances to soot removal, this hastiness can often hurt more than it helps. That’s why we’ve compiled three reasons soot cleanup should never be a DIY project:

1. There Are Different Types of Soot. Because every fire is different, soot can vary greatly in its composition. While some soot has a dry, powdery texture, others will be thick and liquid-like. Appearances can be deceiving, and many homeowners are surprised to find that they don’t know what type of soot they’re dealing with before they interact with it. Tackling soot without knowing what type is on your hands can lead to spreading it further, running the risk of causing more damage to the home.

2. Soot Contains Toxic Chemicals. Fires require things such as carbon dioxide, oxygen and nitrogen, but there are also chemicals released from every material that the flames came into contact with. Materials such as plastics, textiles and paint are extremely toxic once heated, and soot contains them all. Because of this, improper soot cleaning can cause these toxins to be re-released into the air and infiltrate the home with chemicals.

3. Soot Won’t Stay Put. Soot travels through the air, meaning it won’t remain contained to the fire’s original area. Soot travels into crevices, adheres to ceilings and can even infiltrate HVAC systems. Additionally, materials such as fabrics, upholstery and carpets can attract soot from other parts of the home. While it might be tempting to launder these items and scrub down the walls right away, improper cleaning can lead to ruining your belongings beyond repair.

If your home has been damaged by a fire, don’t risk causing further damage with DIY cleanup. SERVPRO® of Western Dutchess County has a team of fire restoration professionals that can get your life back to normal, faster.

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