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How to Clean Smoke Damage on Walls and Ceilings
See through the smoke with this simple cleaning guide
Get quotes from water and smoke damage repair specialists near you
No obligation · 100% free
Get quotes from water and smoke damage repair specialists near you
No obligation · 100% free
SKILL LEVEL
Easy
COMPLETION TIME
2 hours
COST
$10–$50
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What you'll need:
TOOLS
- Vacuum cleaner with hose attachment
- Extension pole
SUPPLIES
- Safety goggles
- Safety gloves
- N95 mask
- Bucket
- Soot sponge
Dealing with smoke damage can feel overwhelming, especially when your walls and ceilings are covered in soot. But the good news is, you can often fully remove the damage and restore your living space to its original appearance. This simple guide will explain how to clean smoke damage on walls and ceilings to help you DIY your way to a solution.
Prepping to Clean Smoke Damage
Before you start cleaning, make sure you have all of the above-mentioned tools and supplies at the ready. You should also protect yourself from fumes and soot by wearing a long-sleeved shirt, safety gloves, safety goggles, and an N95 mask. Finally, cover any nearby furniture with a dropcloth so it doesn't get dirty during cleanup, and consider removing and disposing of smoke-damaged furniture to make room to work.
Ventilate the Room
Photo: Olga Rolenko / Moment / Getty ImagesStart by opening windows to get fresh air flowing. You should also turn off your HVAC system to prevent soot from seeping into your ducts and other areas in your home. This step can also help protect you from inhaling smoke particles while expediting the cleaning process.
Assess the Damage
Assess the smoke damage to identify all areas affected by soot. In some cases, the soot is difficult to see and might look like a shadow, so take time to inspect every potentially affected area. This process is usually easiest when there’s plenty of daylight to illuminate your walls and ceilings.
Vacuum Loose Soot
Photo: Virojt Changyencham / Moment / Getty ImagesBefore applying a cleaning solution, use a vacuum with a HEPA filter and a hose attachment to vacuum up any loose soot on the floor and furniture. Hold the hose about a half-inch away from the soot, vacuuming from the top down since some soot is likely to travel downward during vacuuming.
Scrub the Area With a Soot Sponge
Next, use a dry soot sponge, also called a chemical or dry-cleaning sponge, to lift soot away from the wall. Make sure you don't wet the sponge, as it will inhibit its cleaning ability. Instead of rubbing the sponge on the walls and ceiling, use light, quick downward strokes to lift the soot. Once the sponge becomes discolored, switch to a clean side or slice away the dirtied part to reveal a clean surface and resume cleaning.
Mix a Cleaning Solution
Photo: Catherine Falls Commercial / Moment / Getty ImagesIf you can't remove all of the soot using the dry sponge method, mix a cleaning solution of one cup of bleach, one tablespoon of Trisodium Phosphate (TSP), and one gallon of water. Since TSP is caustic, wear gloves and goggles during this step.
Apply the Cleaning Solution
Dip a microfiber cloth or regular sponge (not the soot sponge you used previously) into the solution and gently scrub the affected area using a circular motion. Work from the top down. Rinse the sponge or cloth frequently under a faucet or in a clean bucket of water to avoid redepositing soot on the walls and ceiling while cleaning.
Rinse and Dry the Area
Photo: baona / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty ImagesOnce you clean off all of the soot, dip a cloth or sponge in clean water and give your walls and ceilings a final rinse. Keep the windows open and turn on any nearby fans to expedite the drying process. You can also turn your HVAC system back on.
Mistakes to Avoid When Cleaning Smoke Damage
Cleaning smoke off walls and ceilings is a pretty straightforward process, but there are a few common mistakes to avoid.
Not ventilating the room: Soot is dangerous to breathe in and spreads easily. If you don’t ventilate your space while you’re using your soot or chemical sponge, you’ll put yourself at risk of inhaling the soot and also make more work for yourself in the long run.
Oversaturating the walls: Once you get to the point of using your wet sponge and TSP cleaning solution, be careful not to oversaturate the walls. Putting too much cleaning solution on at once will lead to paint bubbles and drywall damage, and it may even promote mold growth over time.
Cleaning the wrong surfaces: Make sure you know what type of paint you have on your walls before you start scrubbing. Avoid using a wet sponge on flat or matte paint, as you’ll damage the paint and may end up just rubbing soot further into the material. For these paint finishes, use a dry soot sponge and then prepare to paint over the smoke-damaged walls.
Failing to call in a pro for extensive damage: DIYing minor soot cleaning is simple, but if you have heavy soot accumulation or fire damage, suspect the fire may have caused structural issues, or can’t seem to get rid of smoke odors, call in a local smoke restoration company right away.
Extent of Fire or Smoke Damage from Household Fire
Not all fires cause total destruction, and the amount of damage impacts how much you’ll pay for restoration. More often than not, you’ll see smoke damage but little to no fire damage. Only a small percentage of fire restoration projects focus on repairing structures that have burned down completely.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
In many cases, you can clean light or moderate smoke damage yourself using the method mentioned above, but this is best if you’ve only had a minor fire or just have minor smoke damage from a nearby wildfire. If you have extensive smoke or fire damage, save yourself the trouble and call a fire restoration company for the best and safest results. They can often get the work done much more quickly, and they can employ methods like ozone smoke removal to eliminate tough odors.
Additionally, consider hiring a professional if you or someone in your home has a respiratory issue. Smoke remediation costs are well worth it in these cases, as soot can cause further complications. Hiring a pro to treat smoke damage to ensure everything is removed will keep you and your family safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Water and smoke damage repairs reviews from real Angi homeowners in Columbus, OH
4.8★ avg. • 2 total reviews
- Eric T.
Corey Carr was great. I had damage from a recent storm and needed to have my mast and other components replaced. The project entailed coordinating with AEP, and Corey helped make a stressful situation a lot less stressful. I really appreciated his dedication to service and the job very well done.
Mr. Electric of Columbus - Dawn G.
This service was great. My air conditioner went out during the heat spell that we had. My husband has health issues and they came out that night and at 9:30pm the air conditioner was fixed and running. We are sooo very thankful, this is the company I will be using from now on and would...
Mr. Mechanical Ohio - Julio V.
Positive experience. As previously stated, the replacement/repair could not be completed (no fault of the plumbing tech) b/c misinformation was rec?d by property management maintenance. Thanks to the plumbing tech for your efforts. Appreciate you!
The Waterworks - Brent C.
Carpet repair done well. Scheduling was easy. Showed up on time.
BR Flooring Installation - Mike Z.
As usual with ECO, tech Jordan was outstanding, very professional, very knowledgeable, and very thorough with repairs made to tankless water heaters. Very highly recommend ECO!!!
Eco Plumbers, Electricians, and HVAC Technicians - Austin Y.
I would recommend this company to anyone! He showed up on time, was friendly, completed a very difficult repair on our dryer vent cover, was responsive, and pricing was extremely fair and competitive. I would have him back to do any of our repairs or cleanings without hesitation!
U.S.A. Dryer Vent, LLC - Micki B.
Everything from initial contact to completion was absolutely top notch. We contacted the business during off hours to leave a message, and the owner still reached out to feel out the issue within minutes. We were scheduled and repaired within 48 hours. I cannot say enough about the...
Supreme brick & chimney - Donald L.
Ace Fireplace Services came to the rescue for my chimney repair. They were quick to pinpoint the issue and worked their magic to fix it. My chimney is now in excellent shape, and I'm a satisfied customer.
Ace Fireplace Services - Angie M.
When we had the winter freeze, I called Quantum Waterworks Waterline & Drain Cleaning Services and within 1 hour I received an e-mail and he sent someone out the next day and he was on time, he was nice and did the job quickly and cleaned up after himself. We had a leak in our kitchen from...
Quantum Waterworks Waterline & Drain Cleaning Services, LLC - Heather M.
On time, clean and finished fast. Windows seem sturdy and the finish is good. Caulking was done with no smudges. Would recommend.
Window Depot USA of Central Ohio
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