House Fires & Soot: Damage Restoration by the Professionals

When the colder months blow through, many of us begin to light fires in our homes or outdoors. While most of these fires are contained, they can get out of hand sometimes, especially if not built and watched properly. House fires can be costly and devastating to our homes and families- in fact, nearly 15,000 people were injured from fires in 2016 that cost roughly $10.6 billion in property damage. And, not only that, like any natural disaster, fires leave a long lasting effect on our homes. After the fire trucks leave, we return to our homes to find the stench of smoke and water, the visual impact of fire, and of course, soot. Soot everywhere.

Removing soot after a fire is an extremely difficult task- both dry and oily soot cling to the walls, floors, ceilings, and other surfaces around the home. So what’s the best way to get soot out of your home? Today we’re going to tell you three ways that we, The Steam Team, take care of your home following a fire.

Cleaning the Walls and Ceilings

Taking care of your walls and the structure of your home following a fire is of utmost importance. First and foremost, determining what kind of soot is where will help you to decide the best method of cleaning. With dry soot, you’ll be able to vacuum the areas it covers- but on the other hand, with oily soot, you’ll need to use a degreasing agent in order to fully remove its remnants.

Start with the walls first, working through them one small area at a time and leave the ceilings for last.

Professional Tips for Furniture and Floors

The best way to begin caring for your flooring and furniture after fire damage is with a mild soap, washing the soot away. If you’re dealing with more extensive damage, it’s best to call in the professionals because when soot is left behind it can be harmful.

The Steam Team has been serving the Austin area through thick and thin for several years now. Give us a call any time!

4 Tips for Professional Cleaning in Austin

Fortunately our flooring throughout our homes lasts for years and years to come, but unfortunately this makes stains (over time) inevitable. You’re probably familiar with this scenario: shattering as a glass of wine tumbles to the floor. The spill splashes everywhere- the carpet, the couch, your clothes… Don’t panic! We’ve got just the tips for you.

Don’t Leave Anything Behind

The biggest problem homeowners face when they’re dealing with stains is the amount of residue left behind from the initial incident. The best way to avoid lasting stains or anything permanent, is to ensure that nothing is left behind after the spill. If you’re dealing with a solid mess, you can easily pick it up with any utensil, paper towel, bag, or even cloth and then blot away anything that may be remaining.

Do NOT Scrub

So often we see stains that have been scrubbed further into carpet fibers or grout because of how they were handled initially. It’s extremely important that you never scrub spills or messes because it will only push them further into the flooring -- always, always, always blot away any excess!

Use Homemade Cleaner

Be sure to use a cleaner that will work with the mess you’re dealing with. Homemade cleaners aren’t always going to do the trick, especially for stains like pet urine. However, a generally good solution to use for most spills or messes is made by combining 1 tsp. dish soap, ¼ tsp. white vinegar, and 4 cups warm water.

Call The Professionals

No stain is too tough for The Steam Team to tackle. As a professional cleaning and restoration company, The Steam Team is highly trained, knowledgeable, and equipped to take care of spills and stains just like these. When it comes to the toughest ones, we’ve been known to get them right out.

So, when it comes to your carpets or any other flooring, don’t hesitate to give us a call today- either for that stubborn stain, or a professional deep-cleaning. We guarantee that you’ll be floored by our results!