How to clean smoke damage off bricks

1/6/2023 (Permalink)

Lit match

If you’ve ever been in a house that has had a fire, you know all too well the overpowering smell of smoke and the damage it can cause. While smoke damage is typically seen on walls, ceilings, and furniture, brick structures are also highly susceptible to smoke damage. Fortunately, there are ways to help restore brick structures back to their original condition. Let’s take a look at how to clean smoke damage off bricks. 

Identifying Smoke Damage on Brick Structures 

Smoke will often cling to surfaces in areas where the fire was most intense or where there were high levels of heat or humidity. You may also see a few spots of discoloration on your brick structure – depending on the type of material and heat exposure experienced during the fire. For example, after being exposed to extreme temperatures during a fire, red bricks may become duller in color while terra cotta may have an orange tint. 

Cleaning Smoke Damage Off Bricks 

Once you’ve identified where the smoke damage is located, it’s time to start cleaning up the mess! To do this safely and effectively, it’s important to use products specifically designed for cleaning up smoke residue. Using any other type of cleaner could potentially make matters worse (as many regular cleaners contain chemicals that could react with the soot and leave behind an even bigger mess than before). 

Some examples of cleaners specifically designed for cleaning up smoke residue include Tri-Sodium Phosphate (TSP) and Oxalic Acid. These types of cleaners are specially formulated to break down soot without damaging the surface beneath it.  

Protecting Your Brick Structure from Future Smoke Damage 

Next up, it’s important to prevent future residual buildup by sealing off your walls with a sealant (such as silicone caulk or latex paint sealer). This will help protect your bricks over time by preventing further staining due to soot accumulation or dirt build-up (which is caused by moisture or dust particles settling into tiny crevices between brick layers or mortar joints). 

It’s also important to note that applying sealants will not stop water from entering through cracks in your wall. But it will help repel dirt and grime, which can lead to discoloration over time due to oxidation. 

Cleaning up after a fire isn't an easy task but it's possible if you know what steps to take! Removing smoke effects off bricks requires using specific products that won't react negatively with soot residues left behind by fires--products like Tri-Sodium Phosphate (TSP) and Oxalic Acid are great choices for this purpose.