After a fire, many homeowners want nothing more than to get their homes back in a comfortable living condition. This means addressing any smoke and soot damage that your furniture and other belongings have. If you’re looking for DIY solutions for soot stains on furniture, you should check out these tips for cleaning smoke damage on several surfaces throughout your home.
Upholstered Furniture
Upholstered and other fabric-covered furniture pieces take some of the biggest hits when exposed to fire. Unfortunately, the soft fabric materials provide an efficient spot for smoke odors and soot to ingrain themselves. You can start to salvage this furniture by carefully vacuuming across the fabric surface with a vacuum brush. To lift stains and improve the scent, you can sprinkle the upholstery with baking soda and leave it to absorb for at least 24 hours. Then, come back to your furniture, vacuum up the baking soda, and repeat this process as many times as necessary.
Covered Furniture
You’re in luck if your furnishings feature removable covers. These fabric covers may absorb most of the smoke, and you can wash them much more easily than traditional furniture upholstery. Add the soiled covers to your washing machine and clean them in cold water. You can also try adding a cup of white vinegar to the cycle to help remove stains. Hang your furniture covers to dry outdoors or in a well-ventilated space.
Leather Furniture
Leather furniture can also be difficult to treat due to its delicate finish. Leather furniture scratches easily, so avoid using brushes, sponges, or stiff cloths on this surface. Start by vacuuming away as much soot and debris as possible with a flat attachment. Clean the leather as gently as possible with a compatible leather cleaner or conditioner. Consult your local furniture seller on the best products for your leather furniture. If smokey odors persist, use the same technique from upholstered furniture and apply baking soda for 24 hours.
Wooden or Plastic Furniture
Wooden and plastic furniture has a stronger surface, which means you can apply a bit more elbow grease to the soot removal process. When cleaning wooden furniture, remember to follow the grain of the wood to avoid scratching the surface. Vacuum away any initial soot and debris, then use a damp cloth or a wood or plastic cleaning solution to pull soot from the grains. Make sure that you give wooden furniture time to dry completely in a well-ventilated area so that it doesn’t attract mold.
Use these tips for cleaning smoke damage on furniture if you’re tackling soot removal at home. The furniture recovery process can be taxing on homeowners, no matter how much fire and soot damage they’re dealing with. The safest and most effective way to tackle fire cleanup and restoration is to contact a professional. You can rely on our soot removal services here at Aloha Restoration, Co. for efficient, professional furniture and home cleaning in the Chicagoland area.
