After a fire, the structure looks like the worst of it is over. It isn't. Smoke residue is acidic, and it keeps etching finishes, corroding electronics, and yellowing paint for weeks. The restoration process is really about stopping that slow burn.
Secure first, clean second
Board-up, tarping, and air filtration happen in the first 24 hours. The goal is to make the structure safe, stop weather from making things worse, and start scrubbing the air before soot settles into every porous surface.
Improper cleaning smears soot into porous surfaces and voids most insurance content claims. Call a professional before you wipe anything down.
Soot type changes everything
Wet smoke from synthetic materials behaves nothing like dry smoke from a fast, oxygen-rich fire. Protein smoke from a kitchen fire is nearly invisible but coats every surface in an oily film. Each one requires a different cleaning chemistry, and using the wrong method drives the residue deeper.
- Wet smoke: sticky, smeary — needs specialized degreasers, not dry sponges
- Dry smoke: powdery — dry cleaning sponges and HEPA vacuuming
- Protein smoke: nearly invisible, oily — requires alkaline cleaning of every surface
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