How To Get Smoke Damage Out Of Clothes

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A pile of smouldering clothes to help illustrate smoke damage.

When the unexpected occurs, and a fire engulfs your home or business, the aftermath can be both emotionally and physically overwhelming.

Smoke damage can be wide-ranging, affecting all sorts of surfaces and possessions.

When it comes to clothing, it can leave behind visible soot stains and stubborn, lingering odours that seem impossible to eliminate.

This article will explore the art of reviving your garments from the clutches of smoke damage. From assessing the damage and choosing the proper cleaning methods to enlisting the expertise of professionals, we will provide valuable insights into how to get smoke damage out of clothes.

Can You Save Smoke-Damaged Clothes?

Following a blaze, there can be many items that cannot be salvaged (particularly food and medicine).

You can read more about that in our blog ‘Cleaning Up After A Fire’.

Smoke damage typically leaves behind visible stains and unpleasant odours, but you can often restore your garments to their former condition with proper care and cleaning methods.

Understanding these techniques can help you recover your cherished clothing and minimise the impact of smoke damage.

Cleaning Clothes After A Fire

Before attempting to clean smoke-damaged clothes, it’s essential to assess the extent of the damage.

Some fabrics and materials are more forgiving than others.

Delicate fabrics like silk or cashmere may require extra care, while sturdy materials like denim may be easier to clean.

These are the key things necessary to help clean smoke-damaged clothes.

Soot Removal

As you will know, soot is a black powdery substance that can often be oily.

Not only will it be the primary source of odour on your clothes, but it could also stain them.

Therefore, removing the soot as quickly as possible is essential.

You could try doing this yourself by:

Taking the items outside and gently shaking the soot off
Use a high-powered vacuum cleaner (keeping the nozzle at least an inch from the fabric. Never use a brush tip attachment).

We would recommend seeking professional help with soot removal because of the risk of staining.

Depending on the fabric, soot staining could irretrievably damage your clothing.

Once the soot is successfully removed, it might be wise to air the clothes before washing them in cold water with a gentle detergent.

Read more about our soot and ash cleaning services.

Getting rid of smoke odours

Smoke odours can be particularly stubborn, and simply washing your clothes may not be enough to eliminate them entirely.

Here are some additional steps you can take:

Baking Soda

Place your smoke-damaged clothes in a large plastic bag with baking soda and let them sit for a day or two. The baking soda can help absorb the odours. Afterwards, shake or brush off the baking soda and launder the garments as usual.

Vinegar

Add a cup of white vinegar to the washing machine when cleaning your clothes. Vinegar can help neutralise smoke odours. Ensure that you rinse the garments thoroughly to remove any vinegar smell.

Read more about our fire smoke odour removal service.

Smoke Damage Professionals

When dealing with extensive or stubborn smoke damage, it’s often best to enlist the help of professionals.

Smoke damage cleaning and remediation services, like those offered by Vinci Response, have the expertise and equipment to restore your clothes to their pre-damaged condition.

Vinci Response’s professional smoke damage cleaning and remediation services are equipped to handle even the most challenging cases of smoke-damaged clothing.

Our team has the experience and knowledge to assess the damage accurately and employ the most effective cleaning methods to salvage your cherished garments.