Can I clean soot and smoke damage myself?

For a very light smoke film in one room, careful cleaning is possible, but two warnings matter. First, never wet wipe soot before dry lifting it: water and household cleaners smear soot and can set stains into paint permanently. Second, protein smoke from a kitchen fire and soot inside ducts, cabinets, and wall cavities are beyond household tools, and acidic soot left sitting etches metals and finishes within days. If the smell or film reaches more than the room that burned, a professional assessment is the safer call.