How to wash soot from hands, clothes, dishes and more

What is important to know

Soot is made up of brittle, easily crumbling carbon particles. It may contain alkali (it was not in vain that soap was made from ash in ancient times), residues of fatty acids, resinous substances. All this turns the soot into an extremely corrosive substance that smudges easily when you try to wipe it off with a rag. Don't do that. To effectively get rid of soot, first take a look at the surface you want to clean. Each needs its own approach.

How to wash soot from metal dishes

There are at least two simple ways that will require little or no effort on your part.

Ready-to-use cleaning agent

What is needed

• Oven cleaner. Make sure that the alkali is indicated in the composition.
• Latex gloves.
• Dishwashing sponges.
• Dry rag.

What to do

Apply the cleaner to the surface of a pot, skillet, or other soot-stained utensils.

Wait 10-20 seconds. If the layer of soot is very thick, you can leave the product on for a couple of minutes - check this issue with the instructions.

Then use a sponge to remove the dirt.

Apply detergent and continue cleaning until the dishes shine again. Then rinse under clean running water and wipe with a dry cloth.

Ammonia

What is needed

• Ammonia. It can be bought in containers from 100 ml in shops like "Garden and Vegetable Garden".
• Latex gloves.
• 3 garbage bags.
• Strong thread or lace.
• A metal sponge for washing dishes.
• A basin of warm water.
• Paper towels.

What to do

If possible, remove all protruding elements, if any, such as a handle with frying pans or a bowler hat. Place the container in a garbage bag. Then everything together into the next package and another one. This must be done to ensure that it does not leak.

Pour 30-50 ml of ammonia into a bag with dishes.

Tie the bags tightly with string or string.

Shake and turn the package over to spread the liquid over the entire contaminated surface.

Leave the bag of dishes overnight. It is best to take it out on the balcony or hang it outside the window. This is necessary so that ammonia, if it does leak, does not disturb you with a pungent smell.

A few hours of exposure to ammonia is enough for the soot to be easily wiped off even with a finger.

Soak a sponge in warm water and wipe the surface until the soot disappears.

Then rinse clean dishes under running water and dry with paper towels.

How to wash soot off your hands

Start with the first method. If that doesn't work, go to the second one.

Soap

What is needed

• Any soap, including liquid, baby or household soap.
• Warm water.
• Bath washcloth.

What to do

Thoroughly wash your hands warm water and soap. For light dirt, this may be sufficient. If there are spots on your skin, try wiping them off with a washcloth.

Exfoliating agent

What is needed

• Baking soda or face scrub.
• Warm water.
• Any soap.
• A couple of lemon wedges (optional).
• Moisturizing hand cream.

What to do

Soak your hands in warm water, and then wash them with baking soda or scrub, just as you would use liquid soap.

To remove grime from around your nails, carefully rub the tips of your fingers with a lemon wedge. Then wash your hands in warm, soapy water and pat dry with a towel.

After the procedure, apply a moisturizing hand cream. This is to protect the skin from drying out after a fairly aggressive brushing.

How to remove soot from clothes

The sooner you start cleaning the better. Soot eats into fabric quickly and stubborn dirt can be difficult to remove.

There are several ways to get rid of soot stains, depending on what you have on hand.

Soda and vinegar

What is needed

• Dishwashing liquid.
• Baking soda.
• Food vinegar.
• An old toothbrush.
• Stain remover.
• Cold water.
• Small pelvis.

What to do

Prepare a cleaning compound: mix 1 teaspoon each soda, vinegar and dishwashing liquid. Spread the resulting liquid over the soiled area of ​​the fabric. Use a toothbrush to make the process easier. Leave the composition for 5-10 minutes.

Then scrub the stain with a toothbrush, rinse the clothes in cold water and send them to the washing machine. Do not forget to add stain remover to the appropriate compartment. Ideally, the product says it is designed to fight greasy stains.

Solvent

What is needed

• Latex gloves.
• Any solvent: nail polish remover, acetone, white spirit, turpentine, kerosene.
• Laundry soap. A more effective option is a special stain remover soap.
• Cool water.
• Small pelvis.

What to do

Solvents are aggressive chemical compounds. Therefore, first, check to see if they will harm the fabric. Apply the product of your choice to an inconspicuous area of ​​clothing, such as under the collar or near the seam. There is a risk that the solvent will wash away not only the soot, but also the paint, or even make a hole altogether. If nothing terrible has happened to the fabric, you can start cleaning.

Pour solvent over the stain. Don't skimp.

Leave it on for 30-40 minutes. If the pollution is strong, it can be done overnight.

Wash the stain thoroughly in cool water and soap. Then rinse and machine wash the garment additionally.

Butter

What is needed

• Soft butter.
• Tablespoon.
• Cotton pads.
• Laundry soap.
• Hot water.
• Small pelvis.

What to do

Spoon the soft butter into a tablespoon and scrape it off with a cotton pad.

Press the disc firmly against the soiled area of ​​the cloth oil way down. If the stain is large, you may need several. Leave it on for 20 minutes.

Then rinse the stain thoroughly in hot water and laundry soap. Then rinse and wash immediately in the washing machine as usual.

Eraser

What is needed

• Eraser, preferably white.

What to do

Just rub the soot stain with a regular school eraser until it's gone. Please note that this method is only suitable for light dirt and dark fabrics.

How to remove soot from carpet

These methods complement each other. Use them one at a time until one finally works.

Talcum powder

What is needed

• Talcum powder or baby powder.
• Vacuum cleaner.
• Crevice nozzle for the vacuum cleaner.

What to do

Start by generously sprinkling talcum powder or baby powder over the stain to help absorb some of the soot. Wait 3-5 minutes. Then carefully suck up the dirt with a crevice vacuum cleaner. If you haven't smudged the soot and it hasn't gone deep into the pile of the carpet, this may be enough.

Stain remover

What is needed

• Carpet stain remover.
• Sponge for washing dishes.
• Brush.
• Soft microfiber cloth.
• Warm water.
• Vacuum cleaner.

What to do

First, read the instructions for the stain remover. It describes what to do and how to do it.

Usually, the product is dissolved in water and applied to the stain with a sponge. If the contamination is serious, the pile can be additionally rubbed with a brush.

Then the stain remover is left for 10-30 minutes and washed off with a napkin soaked in warm water. When the area of ​​the carpet dries up, it must be thoroughly vacuumed to remove the residues of the product from the pile.

Ammonia or ammonia

What is needed

• Latex gloves.
• Mask for the face. Better respirator.
• Ammonia or ammonia.
• Washing powder.
• Medium brush.
• Hot water.
• Small pelvis.

What to do

Wear gloves and a respirator. If possible, open a window to ensure a constant flow of air. Both ammonia and ammonia have a rather pungent smell, you need to protect yourself.

Prepare a cleaning solution in a basin. To do this, add a tablespoon of washing powder and the same amount of ammonia or alcohol to a liter of hot water. Mix thoroughly.

Dip a brush in detergent and use a circular motion to scrub the stain.

If the stain is large and there is a lot of soot, the solution will quickly become dirty. In this case, it must be replaced by preparing a new portion.

After finishing the procedure, wash the carpet with clean water. This can be done with the same brush. Just remember to rinse it thoroughly in running water to rinse off any remaining ammonia or ammonia.

How to clean soot off the floor

Linoleum, laminate, tile or parquet can be treated the same way.

What is needed

• Means for cleaning floors.
• Bucket or basin.
• Rag.
• Warm water.
• Soft bristled brush.

What to do

Dissolve the product in warm water as indicated in the instructions. Dampen a rag with detergent solution and wipe the stain thoroughly.

If in some area the dirt has penetrated especially deeply, additionally treat it with a brush.

Author and editor of articles on health, psychology, sexology. I have been working in medical journalism for over 15 years. I rely on the principles of docmed, love and know how to search and analyze relevant research in world scientific journals. I try to write about the most complex diseases in a simple and accessible way. I believe that understanding the mechanism of the development of the disease means taking the first step towards recovery.

Show more