Homeowners who unfortunately don't carry the proper coverage for smoke and ash damage can clean the mess up with the following tips:
Cleaning ash damage: Cover your face with an N95 mask to avoid breathing in harmful particles. Be sure to use skin and eye protection as well. Use a damp cloth to clean surfaces and a wet mop to clean floors. Only use a vacuum if it has a true HEPA filter.
Cleaning smoke damage: Use a vacuum cleaner with a soft-bristled brush attachment to gently clean surfaces degraded by smoke. Then wash hard surfaces with warm soapy water to remove smoky residue. Apply another surface cleaner such as trisodium phosphate (TSP). Spray deodorizer to eliminate odors.