Final answer:
When cleaning light to moderate soot from flat latex-painted surfaces, a restorer should vacuum or dry-sponge, then wet clean if needed. Care is taken not to damage sensitive surfaces like optical components that require a one-use wet cloth. Understanding soap's role in releasing dirt from surfaces is key for effective cleaning.
Step-by-step explanation:
Normally, when cleaning light to moderate soot-contaminated flat latex-painted surfaces, restorers should vacuum or dry-sponge, followed by wet cleaning when necessary. This approach involves a careful balance of techniques to ensure the surfaces are effectively cleaned without causing damage. When dealing with especially delicate surfaces, such as optical components, a different approach is required where a wet cloth is used only once to avoid scratching the surfaces with debris that may become embedded in the cloth. To avoid soiling the cleaned surface further, it's important to understand the interaction of soap and dirt, where soap molecules disrupt the bond between the dirt and the surface, encapsulating the dirt and making it easier to rinse away without using scrubbing methods that may damage the surface.