How to Clean Smoke Damage on Walls and Ceilings
See through the smoke with this simple cleaning guide
- Vacuum cleaner with hose attachment
- Extension pole
- 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.
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
Yes, most homeowner’s insurance companies cover smoke damage if it stems from a covered issue, like a house fire or a wildfire. If you’re unsure, you can read through your policy or call your provider immediately after the event to see if the damage is covered. Make sure to document all of the damage, including damage to furniture and other items, when you file an insurance claim so you can be properly compensated.
Living in a house with smoke damage could be safe on a temporary basis, but it depends on the severity and type of smoke damage. If you have major smoke damage or soot present from a fire, you should relocate to keep you and your family safe. Breathing in soot can cause respiratory issues, and it can contain carcinogens, so move out until you get professional remediation done. Your insurance company may cover the cost for alternative housing while your professional works.
In many cases, professionals can completely remove certain types of smoke damage from walls and ceilings, but it’s only possible if the damage is minor. For more extensive damage from major fires, you’ll likely need to replace the damaged materials entirely. Some items, like upholstered furniture, are much trickier to clean and might need to be replaced even if the smoke damage is minimal.
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