Soot Removal From Carpet

Soot damage can occur in many situations around the house, not necessarily only after a major fire. Anyone with a wood burning heater or an open fire would be well aware that it is possible to find spots of soot lying on the carpet. There are some important steps to take when you notice a soot stain on the carpet so that you avoid making the stain worse. Here are a few tips on how to get fire soot stain out of carpet that covers what you shouldn't do as well as what you should.

There are some things you should make sure you don’t do, keep them in mind while conducting your clean up operation. Firstly, don’t use a vacuum with a rotating brush connection as this will only grind the soot deeper into the carpet pile. Secondly, don’t try to clean the stain by using water because this will simply spread the soot and embed it firmly into the carpet.

Your first step with any soot removal process but particularly when performing soot removal from carpet is to use the vacuum cleaner, but be sure to keep the end of the nozzle at least a quarter of an inch above the surface you are cleaning. If you don’t have a vacuum a stiff brush can be employed to sweep the soot up. Sweeping should be done with quick flicking motions as you remove the soot onto a newspaper.

Once the bulk of the soot has been removed you should then begin to repair the soot stain that is left. Use a citrus degreasing solvent by applying it directly to the stain allowing it to settle in before blotting the stain off with a dry towel. Repeat the process as necessary until the stain has disappeared.

Once the stain has been removed you can rinse the affected area with cold water and then apply a fan to the wet area so that it dries quickly.

There is another product that may be used to absorb the excess soot and it is known as a soot sponge. Unlike other sponges a soot sponge is designed to be used dry. It has been chemically impregnated with a substance that will capture the soot that comes in contact with it into its pores. To clean the sponge when it gets dirty you simply shave off the outer layer of the sponge until a clean surface is revealed. You may then repeat the cleaning process.

A soot sponge will not work as affectively on carpet as it will on the ceiling or the walls but it is another weapon in the arsenal that will help with any fire damage clean up.

By employing the tips explained above on small to medium sized soot damage on carpet you should be able to effectively remove a soot stain without creating greater problems for yourself. Remember that soot is the kind of substance that creates more problems the more it is disturbed. Although it looks dry it is actually quite oily and this is what makes it so difficult to remove.

Further Soot Removal Information

Dealing With Soot Damage Removal
Soot Removal From Glass