Smoke damage cleanup for M Streets cottages

Arched doorways, rounded niches and coved ceilings are part of the appeal of these houses, and they cannot be cleaned quickly. Plaster resists heat well, so walls away from the flames often survive with only a film of residue on the paint. Dry sponges come first, to lift loose residue without smearing it. Wet cleaning follows where needed, with products tested on a small spot. Rubbing a wet rag across a smoky wall can leave streaks that are hard to take out, so do not start on this yourself.

Smoke travels with air, and a cottage has many old paths: gaps around floor registers, an attic hatch in a hallway, an old flue, pipes running from crawlspace to attic. Since the rooms are small and close, there is little distance for smoke to lose its energy. Expect a film in closets, cabinets and drawers, even in rooms far from the kitchen. Kitchen fires are a common cause ^[6], and they often leave thin, sticky protein residue that is hard to see but smells strongly.

Rising smoke settles on rafters, the underside of the roof deck and any insulation added over the years. Space is limited, and summer heat is intense. Soiled insulation is usually removed, because cleaning it is not practical. Older insulation may contain asbestos and should be tested before anyone disturbs it ^[5]. Ask for photos of the attic before and after, since you are unlikely to go up there yourself.

Narrow-plank oak floors usually clean well when residue sits on an intact finish. Smoke can pass through gaps between boards into the crawlspace, where it settles on joists and piers. Ask the crew to look below. A floor can be perfectly clean and the house can still smell if the crawlspace is left untouched. Boards near the fire may be charred and need patching, and old oak can often be matched.

Older duplexes, fourplexes and small apartment buildings are common around Lower Greenville. Smoke can travel through shared walls, ceilings and attic spaces, so one kitchen fire can affect several households. Each unit should be inspected, and owners should tell tenants what is planned. Tenants' belongings are usually a matter for their own renters policy. Where a restaurant on Greenville Avenue has had a fire ^[2], neighbors may find a greasy film indoors, and should say so when they call.

Many layers of paint in a house of this age may include lead ^[4]. Dry sanding or scraping can create hazardous dust, particularly for young children and anyone pregnant. Ask how the crew will control dust, whether they will test first and how they will clean up. Keep children and pets out until work is finished. Tenants should ask their landlord about this as well.

Many cottages have a prominent brick chimney on the facade and a brick fireplace in the living room. Brick and mortar are porous, so soot can settle deep in the surface. Masonry-safe methods are used, and strong acid cleaners can do harm. The chimney should be inspected before the fireplace is used again, particularly when the fire involved that part of the house.

Original cottage kitchens are small and may have been remodeled more than once. Grease and protein residue coat the inside of cabinets, the tops of door frames, range hoods and the walls behind appliances. Emptying the cabinets is part of the job, and exposed food is generally thrown away. Painted old cabinets may need a gentle product, and stained ones need testing first. Move the fridge and range so the crew can reach behind them. Those are places where sticky residue tends to stay, and they often explain a smell that nobody can otherwise find.

Smoke settles on window glass, in sash channels and on deep sills. Old wood windows are worth careful cleaning, since residue can make sashes stick and is hard to reach once painted over. Cleaning glass early also helps, because soot is often mildly acidic and can mark it over time. Ask the crew to open each working window and clean the parts that you cannot see when it is shut.

You know the house best. Tell the crew where the old flue runs, which closet leads to the attic, and which rooms were remodeled. Walk through at the end of each major stage if you can, rather than only at the end of the job. Small misses are much easier to correct while the equipment and crew are still on site.

Keep your notes with the job records.