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Soot is a residue that can be on any surface in your home. It can come from sources such as your furnace system, a fireplace, candles you burn, and other combustible sources that don’t burn clean.
Some soot is dangerous, such as from a fire or furnace puff-back. Skin contact with these types of soot should be avoided, as they may contain hydrocarbons that are classified as human carcinogens. Outdoor soot is even regulated by the EPA, classified as a criteria pollutant. Soot is usually handled by restoration professionals as it is often a by-product of a disaster event, although it may be minor, such as extra smoke from a fireplace. But many types of soot, such as found in your kitchen or from candles, light soot, can be handled with regular restorative cleaning. Just be smart when deciding to clean soot from surfaces. Wearing appropriate personal protective equipment is a must when restoration pros do it, so keep that in mind and wear protective gloves, eye protection, and anything you need to keep the soot residues off of your skin and out of your lungs. The first step with soot is with simply dry wiping. It may come off the surface easily, especially if the surface is non-permeable. You will still need to wet clean that surface for final residue. Most likely, the soot needs to be cleaned with hot water and detergent, since it is often greasy. Applying some detergent solution and allowing approximately 10 minutes of dwell time should loosen the soot and you can wipe it away. There are also special cleaning products for soot-type greasy soils. The same cleaning principles would apply. But if the soot is on a vertical surface, your approach needs to be more careful. Clean from the bottom and move up, just a few inches at a time. If you start at the top and work down, any wet residue that runs down the wall may create permanent stains. So manage the moisture and soot removal from the bottom going up, and you won’t have this issue. If, after cleaning, soot stains remain, it may be time to think of repainting. Of course, soot cleaning is really something that restoration pros can handle. Do the right thing. Call your favorite restoration company. After all, it pays to call a pro! Dirt and grime can be found in most places and are part of life. The goal most of us have is to keep all of it outside, where it belongs. But inside it comes, sometimes with a vengeance. In the air. On shoes. Tracked in by pets.
But what about dust? Is dust a simple type of soil that floats in the air, that you can see hanging in the sunlight coming in a window? That’s a common belief, yet you would be surprised at what composes dust in your home. Dust can be pet dander, skin cells, dust mite excrement, flooring materials breaking down, and, of course, just regular fine soil that has made its way into your home. Much of this may be allergen triggers for those in your household, so keeping your home as dust-free as possible is important. It’s a simple matter to dust a surface, but another one entirely to do it thoroughly and to remove dust from those hard-to-reach areas. Sometimes, our dusting efforts actually create more problems, as we might simply put the dust in the air or just move it around. Here are a few best practices to consider. As you work, think of your own lungs and perhaps wear a mask appropriate for dusting. If you have allergies, this is very important. Tip #1: To keep dust in its place, start at the top of a room and work your way down. Top to bottom. If you don’t collect all the dust with the cleaning cloth you are using, it should fall down, and you can get it as you keep working. Tip #2: It’s always best to use a moistened cloth rather than a dry cloth, if the surface can be cleaned with moisture. This way you easily collect the dust as you work. Turn the cloth over or rinse it out often. You want to remove dust, not redistribute it. Tip #3: For hard-to-reach areas, many might just skip cleaning. Don’t do that. Think smart. You can use long-handled dusters that collect dust and don’t sweep it away. You can use flat-mop type dusters for the sides of appliances. Also, think about vacuums with attachments to suck up the dust under furniture or behind heavy items that can’t easily be moved. Of course, the best option is to call your favorite cleaning company and let them handle the entire job, giving you time to do something you enjoy. After all, it pays to call a pro! 575-937-4385 Dust(less) Best Practices
Dirt and grime can be found in most places and are part of life. The goal most of us have is to keep all of it outside, where it belongs. But inside it comes, sometimes with a vengeance. In the air. On shoes. Tracked in by pets. But what about dust? Is dust a simple type of soil that floats in the air, that you can see hanging in the sunlight coming in a window? That’s a common belief, yet you would be surprised at what composes dust in your home. Dust can be pet dander, skin cells, dust mite excrement, flooring materials breaking down, and, of course, just regular fine soil that has made its way into your home. Much of this may be allergen triggers for those in your household, so keeping your home as dust-free as possible is important. It’s a simple matter to dust a surface, but another one entirely to do it thoroughly and to remove dust from those hard-to-reach areas. Sometimes, our dusting efforts actually create more problems, as we might simply put the dust in the air or just move it around. Here are a few best practices to consider. As you work, think of your own lungs and perhaps wear a mask appropriate for dusting. If you have allergies, this is very important. Tip #1: To keep dust in its place, start at the top of a room and work your way down. Top to bottom. If you don’t collect all the dust with the cleaning cloth you are using, it should fall down, and you can get it as you keep working. Tip #2: It’s always best to use a moistened cloth rather than a dry cloth, if the surface can be cleaned with moisture. This way you easily collect the dust as you work. Turn the cloth over or rinse it out often. You want to remove dust, not redistribute it. Tip #3: For hard-to-reach areas, many might just skip cleaning. Don’t do that. Think smart. You can use long-handled dusters that collect dust and don’t sweep it away. You can use flat-mop type dusters for the sides of appliances. Also, think about vacuums with attachments to suck up the dust under furniture or behind heavy items that can’t easily be moved. Of course, the best option is to call your favorite cleaning company and let them handle the entire job, giving you time to do something you enjoy. After all, it pays to call a pro! 575-937-4385 |
ATTENTION:This is Cody The Carpet Cleaner. Please be aware that I offer a high-end cleaning service. I understand that as a student or renter price is very important, but this is not a "Quicky-Budget" option. I perform a minimum of 7 steps to insure quality results.If your primary goal is quality please give me a call 575-937-4385. Thank You. Archives
June 2024
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