Same-Day Soot Cleanup in Southeast Michigan
IICRC Certified Firm • Free inspection • All Insurance Accepted
Need soot cleanup after a fire in Southeast Michigan? Black film on the walls, a greasy coating in the kitchen or dark streaks around the vents mean soot has settled. Call day or night; the inspection is free, and we're usually on site in about an hour.
Our soot cleanup process
First, we answer your call at any hour and get a crew moving. We're usually there in about an hour, and the inspection is free.
Then we look at what burned. A kitchen grease fire leaves a sticky film, while wood, paper and furniture leave a dry black powder, and burning plastic can leave heavy, smeared residue. Each is cleaned differently, so we check the residue before any cleaning starts.
Next, the loose soot comes off first, then walls, ceilings, cabinets and trim are cleaned with methods suited to each surface. Soot is acidic, so the sooner it comes off, the less it stains paint and grout or pits metal fixtures.
Where soot has worked into drywall, insulation or carpet, cleaning won't get it out, and those materials come out instead. We show you what we're removing and why, and framing that still smells of smoke may get a sealing coat before new drywall goes up.
Finally, we rebuild what came out and send our invoice and documentation to you and your insurance company, with a request that they pay us directly. Financing is available for anything your policy doesn't cover.
Kaitlin Manning
3 weeks ago
We found out we had a water leak from our bathroom tub when we brought our newborn home this past winter. It unfortunately needed to be a complete restoration which my husband and I had never gone through before. We were paired with Michelle as our project manager during this.
Fire and soot cleanup reviews from Southeast Michigan
Homeowners share their experience with our crew after fire, smoke and water damage.
218 reviews on 
2 days ago on
My parent’s house flooded and the response team was there to help every step of the way. They talked us through the process, cleaned up and dried the basement and put everything back together in a timely fashion! The whole team was kind and respectful and did an amazing job!!
3 days ago on
Response came out to our house when we had water issues with our attic and potential mold growth. They dispatched a project manager to came out same day and provided advice regarding insurance, let us know what to expect for the work, and sent a crew out the next day. Everything moved quickly and smoothly...
3 days ago on
Response Flood and Fire helped so quickly and efficiently when my basement flooded!
3 days ago on
They do such a fantastic job at Response! The whole team really cares about your family and fixing the disasters that strike in your home! Super happy with the work and interactions with everyone we dealt with during our disaster!
3 days ago on
Had some basement flooding a few years ago in Warren, Response Fire and Flood was immediate with their assistance and made the whole process that much easier!
Why homeowners call us for soot cleanup
Soot spreads farther than the fire
Soot rides the smoke through doorways, stairwells and ductwork, so it often coats rooms the fire never reached. We check closets, cabinet interiors, light fixtures and the attic, and our cleanup covers every room where soot settled, not only the one that burned.
Wiping it yourself can make it worse
A damp rag or an all-purpose cleaner can smear soot into paint and grout, leaving a gray stain that is harder to remove. Leave walls and ceilings alone until we've looked, and keep foot traffic off light carpet so the soot doesn't get ground in.
The smell lives where the soot is
Most lingering smoke odor comes from soot left on surfaces or trapped in porous materials. So we clean the residue, remove what can't be cleaned, and treat the odor at its source. Our IICRC Certified Firm status covers odor control as well as fire and smoke work.
We work directly with your insurance company
We work with all insurance companies and photograph every room where soot settled before cleaning starts. A thin film in a guest room rarely catches an adjuster's eye, so we photograph and log it. No one can promise what an insurer pays, but your file will be complete.
Steven Townsend
a month ago
Our ice maker water line started leaking and created a bigger mess than we realized. Our plumber recommended Response Flood & Fire for mitigation, and they were out the very next day drying out our kitchen floor and basement ceiling.
The crew that cleans up the soot
The same team answers the phone and works the job. When you call Response Flood & Fire, you are talking to the people who will be standing in your building.
Ryan Picklo
Owner
Mike Marshall
Owner
Jimmy W.
Director of Construction
Brigitte F.
Reconstruction Project Manager
Joe A.
Project Manager
Austin
Project Manager
Mike K.
Estimator
D'Andre S.
Estimator
We offer soot cleanup across Southeast Michigan
We clean soot from homes, condos and commercial buildings throughout Southeast Michigan, and our phone is answered at all hours. Call and ask if your address is in our area.
Rebecca Viviano
12 days ago
“They do such a fantastic job at Response! The whole team really cares about your family and fixing the disasters that strike in your home! Super happy with the work and interactions with everyone we dealt with during our disaster!”
Response Flood & Fire
Soot Cleanup Services
- Soot Cleanup
Zip Codes Served
Soot Cleanup in Macomb County Area
Schedule a free soot cleanup inspection
Tell us what burned and which rooms show soot. If the fire department hasn't released the house yet, call anyway and we'll plan the first visit.
Speak with the Response Flood & Fire team now
Call for immediate assistance and service.
Soot cleanup questions
Questions we get from our customers' and our answers.
Can soot be cleaned off, or does everything have to be replaced?
Much of it can be cleaned. Hard, sealed surfaces like painted walls, cabinets, tile and trim usually clean up well when the soot comes off soon. Porous materials such as insulation, carpet pad and some drywall hold soot and odor, and those are often replaced. We'll show you which is which at the inspection.
Is soot dangerous to breathe?
Soot is made of fine particles that can irritate the lungs, eyes and skin, especially for children, older adults and anyone with asthma. Avoid stirring it up, leave the furnace and air conditioning off until the system is checked, and wear a mask and gloves if you have to go in briefly. We'll tell you at the inspection whether to stay elsewhere.
How soon should soot cleanup start?
The moment you're allowed back inside. Soot is acidic, and over days it can discolor paint, pit metal fixtures and yellow plastics. Call any hour; we're usually there in about an hour, and the inspection is free.
Will my insurance pay for soot cleanup?
Soot and smoke damage from a covered fire is usually part of the fire claim, but your policy and your adjuster decide. We work directly with your insurance company, send photos and documentation for every affected room, and ask them to pay us directly. Only you, as the policyholder, can file the claim.
Do you clean furniture and belongings covered in soot?
No. Our work is the structure: the walls, ceilings, flooring, trim and cabinetry that are part of the house. Sofas, clothes, electronics and other personal items are handled by a contents specialist, usually paid under a different section of your policy. Take photos of every item before anything is discarded.
Have a question? Call us, we're available. (866)-333-6424