How Do I Get Rid of Burnt Odors From Upholstery?

6/19/2020 (Permalink)

Contact SERVPRO any time. Our experts are trained in fire & smoke restoration, odor control, upholstery and fabric cleaning.

SERVPRO Specializes in Fire Damage Odor Removal for Home and Contents.

Why do odors come from upholstery after a fire?

Combusting materials increase air pressure and release chemicals into the atmosphere, which produces burnt odors. It is common for North Haven homeowners to discover that soft furnishings in their homes continue to release malodor after a fire. Upholstery has typical construction of fiber weaves. These weaves are porous, which causes odor particles to lodge inside the fabric. Removing the odor can be challenging because of the diverse range of materials that make up soft furnishings. Some tissues may respond negatively to cleaning methods or solutions and result in visible damage. 

How do you remove odor from upholstery without causing damage?

The advantage of using a professional fire damage restorer in North Haven is that there is less risk of causing visible harm to soft furnishings during cleaning. SERVPRO technicians always conduct pre-tests before applying cleaning solutions directly onto upholstery. Pre-testing involves administering a small amount of the cleaning solution or solvent to a discrete area of the upholstery. After rinsing the solution, technicians inspect the test-area for negative responses. We have a range of cleaning methods for materials that allow us to tailor our approach to any specific item of furniture without causing harm. 

What kind of permanent damage can occur to upholstery from cleaning solutions?

- Discoloration of the fabric or dye bleeding

- Watermarks may occur with non-colorfast fabrics

- Burn marks or wearing away of fibers 

Are chemical agents the only method for restoring fabrics?

We can use chemical agents or mechanical cleaning methods to restore upholstery. Some materials like leather have precise requirements to restore efficiently. Leather butter can help remove discoloration while the leather's resilience makes it well-suited to buffering with a machine. On the other hand, thick fiber upholstery may require a dry emulsifying powder to get rid of soils.

Upholstery can be a challenge to restore without precise method selection. Contact SERVPRO of New Haven at (203) 234-1100.

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