[porter]

Can someone suggest how to clean smoke damaged walls and ceilings what  product cleaner etc.

[Kev Martin]

Depends on what the walls have on them but generally

I use a mixture of things

http://www.tilinglogistics.co.uk/Aqua-Mix-Ex-Treme-Soot-Fire-Damage-Cleaner-3-785litres-AquaMix?filter_name=aqua%20Mix

http://www.tilinglogistics.co.uk/miracle-sealants-heavy-duty-acidic-cleaner-miracle-sealants-heavy-duty-acidic-cleaner?filter_name=Miracle&page=2

Both the above products have a buffered acid in them as well so you need to be mindful of the surfaces you are working on and do a test area first

Also these are very good as well

http://www.tilinglogistics.co.uk/Miracle-Sealants-Tile-And-Stone-Cleaner?filter_name=Miracle&page=3

http://www.tilinglogistics.co.uk/miracle-sealants-porcelain-ceramic-tile-cleaner-miracle?filter_name=Miracle&page=2

Kevin

[BDCS]

http://www.cleaningproducts.eu/carpet-care/chemspec-liquid-wall-cleaner-5-litre

http://www.cleaningproducts.eu/carpet-care/chemspec-chemical-sponge-large-

[porter]

Thanks for the info.
What products work best on emulsioned ceilings and gloss walls in a stairwell leading to flats ?
Then I can place an order.

[Kev Martin]

http://www.tilinglogistics.co.uk/Miracle-Sealants-Tile-And-Stone-Cleaner?filter_name=Miracle&page=3

http://www.tilinglogistics.co.uk/miracle-sealants-porcelain-ceramic-tile-cleaner-miracle?filter_name=Miracle&page=2

[Jacqueline Kerr]

Hi we use Chemspec degreaser plus for internal emulsion walls and ceilings. But please note that it does depend on the type of smoke damage. The best advice is go on chemspecs website and phone them direct and give them the info on the type of smoke damage and they will recommend what is best. Have always come up trumps for us.

[Simon Campbell]

Prochem's ultrapac retnovate is a multi purpose cleaner for smoke damage/carbon deposits

[Hilton]

Don't flaff about with all these various solutions all trying to out do each over,

Vac it and seal it using something like Zinsser, use Ultrapac on glossed woodwork or just use sugar soap depends how problematic the damage is.

Much better job everything sealed and primed ready for painting.

No come backs on smoke stains ghosting through etc.

Thats what used to do any way, LA's used to love it.

Incidentally it will do the same on damp patches etc.

[Essex Power Washing]

Zinnser Bin 123 red tin mentholated spirit based designed for smoke damage dries in no time for decorating

[John Kelly]

Sorry but with over 20 years experience in fire cleaning including reporting on ballsed up jobs, sealing alone is just not adequate.
There are 2 types of smoke residue, wet and dry. Dry residues are the result of cellulosic materials burning such as wood or paper. This usually occurs when say a waste bin catches fire. In most domestic fires there is usually a mixture of substances which have burnt. This includes plastics which give off Polyvinylchloride when burnt. When mixed with the moisture in the air this creates Hydrochloric Acid. This Acid is what causes most of the damage as it discolours plastics and decays metals. This needs to be neutralised using a high alkaline detergent.
The excess soot needs to be removed before any sealing takes place. I have been to many failed jobs where builders have just sealed the soot, even with Zinsser, and the odour has returned.
The easiest way to remove the excess soot is to put a high alkaline detergent in a spray bottle, spray the wall and remove with a terry towel cloth. Use a clean cloth as soon as they become black. Do not try and clean using buckets of water because as soon as you wring the cloth out you have a bucket of oil and you just re-contaminate the wall.
We have all the products available and we also have a fire procedures sheet we can email.
http://www.restormate.co.uk/epages/15094.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/15094/Categories/Fire__Flood_Restoration/Fire_Restoration_Products

[Kev Martin]

Don't flaff about with all these various solutions all trying to out do each over,

Vac it and seal it using something like Zinsser, use Ultrapac on glossed woodwork or just use sugar soap depends how problematic the damage is.

Much better job everything sealed and primed ready for painting.

No come backs on smoke stains ghosting through etc.

Thats what used to do any way, LA's used to love it.

Incidentally it will do the same on damp patches etc.

How many Fire Damaged properties have you done???

[John Kelly]

Good post. One important thing, anyone doing Thermal Fogging, ring the local Fire Brigade before you start or there'll be hell to pay if they turn up because someone thought the place was on fire again.

[Hilton]

Don't flaff about with all these various solutions all trying to out do each over,

Vac it and seal it using something like Zinsser, use Ultrapac on glossed woodwork or just use sugar soap depends how problematic the damage is.

Much better job everything sealed and primed ready for painting.

No come backs on smoke stains ghosting through etc.

Thats what used to do any way, LA's used to love it.

Incidentally it will do the same on damp patches etc.

How many Fire Damaged properties have you done???

None I only started last week, why ?

[Hilton]

I did post earlier with full advice but it seems like the bissel on a Berber carpet brigade hijacked the thread so I deleted it.
Having taken advice from Chemspec and Chemspec Direct about the dangers of soot and the difficulty of treatment I have worked with their products and from my experience I cannot fault the advice I have been given. I am grateful for the comment by John as it restored my faith in the professionals on this site.
Firstly soot is an insidious and corrosive animal. It attacks wiring (and your lungs) and permeates just about every space in a house. The greasy fire deposits cling to every surface.
Using water (and I would presume diluted sugar soap [tri sodium phosphate]) would serve to drive the deposits into the walls and floorboards. If painted over the deposits would egress through the paint and reappear at a later date.
Smoke damage is a dirty and long winded process costing a lot of money. This is why companies charge upwards of £3,000 a house just for the smoke treatment. Removing and restoring the burnt areas is a job for property restorers.
The process is generally as follows:
Remove any articles in the home. Replace electrical outlets and exposed wiring and switches. Remove any wooden/chipboard articles and dispose of them. Remove and replace damaged areas including plaster, timber, furnishings, doors and glass.
Wear a disposable suit, goggles, boots, gloves and a particle face mask (preferably a respirator).
Vacuum and chemical sponge the soot from every surface.  If you can use a steam cleaner to blast the soot from behind radiators and pipework if still in place. Do not wet the area with steam. Apply a degreaser and wipe down with disposable cloths or terry towels which should not be reused or rinsed in water. Degrease and wipe again. Fog the house (ulv or thermal) with a smoke deodoriser starting in the loft space and working down. Wipe down again and clean windows and paintwork.  Seal everything with fixsoot or Zinsser or other suitable product which I am sure you can obtain from restoremate. Allow plenty of ventilation except when fogging. Do not enter the house whilst fogging and wear a protective mask when removing fogging units. allow the deodoriser to dwell for 2-3 hours. Then open the windows!
You will need, ppe, ladders, chemical sponges (about 4 per room), a fogger, soot fixative, degreaser, lots of cloths, water, a vacuum you don't need any more, and loads of helpful workers who love getting filthy. Minimum cost for a three bedroom house for the materials alone is around £600 so think carefully about taking on a job as a one off. Some clients still think they smell smoke even after extensive cleaning so be warned and build in a call back cost for placebo rectifications.
Above all get advice from professionals who know the products and procedures inside out and. They offer free advice and can supply you with what you need to get the job done right.
There...... rant over...... I'm off you clean my oven with the can of mr muscle the man at the bus stop advised me to use.

Stop being so precious, so you have been on Chempsecs training courses and now use their products  so what.

The original post asked how to clean smoke damaged walls & ceilings,, not carpets, not curtains not electrical goods and so on.

Pretty basic stuff, even for someone from the Bissel brigade.

[David Deer]

There you go!  I have deleted my post as it was obviously of no use and offended you in some way. For which I apologise unreservedly. I would not wish to cast aspersions on your character or cleaning methods or cause you any offence.
I wish you well in your future endeavours.

[Hilton]

Your sincerity shines through...