Substituting short cuts for proper smoke and fire damage cleanup could actually exacerbate the situation and put both you and your family at risk. Before beginning the cleaning process, keep these steps in mind:
First, verify with the fire marshal that it is safe for you to reenter your home or building, survey its condition and create a list of items which require immediate attention.
Inspect the Area
As soon as a fire damage incident occurs, the first step should always be a comprehensive inspection of all of its contents to identify which can be salvaged and which should be discarded. It’s also crucial that any windows and doors closed during the fire be opened during this process to allow airflow, using fans (preferably larger fans) as necessary to promote air movement to dry any items affected by water used to put out fire or cleaned after cleanup efforts have accumulated on property.
Ceilings should also be carefully examined, as these tend to be more heavily damaged by smoke than walls. If any stains appear on them, make sure they’re thoroughly cleaned – any attempts at cleaning without the right supplies and tools could even worsen the appearance of their stains!
After performing a thorough visual inspection, restoration companies should begin inspecting for more extensive damage. This may involve opening internal walls to inspect framing for signs of fire damage, as well as checking any pipework or heating ducts for smoke damage. Depending on whether an electrical fire was started by sparking or burning fuel sources (whether chemical or otherwise), and how long its effects lasted, the extent of any damages may vary significantly.
As such, it’s crucial that you find a professional restoration company with extensive experience handling various forms of damage – both electrical and chemical. Such firms will know how to assess your situation properly before working closely with your insurance adjuster to make sure you receive full compensation for your loss.
Identify the Source of the Smoke
After a fire has passed, it is crucial to thoroughly assess every area of your home for smoke and soot damage, to ascertain its extent and begin restoring your property as quickly as possible. A professional restoration company that specializes in smoke and fire damage cleaning should be the first port of call after calling 911 – they will evaluate and assess damage before providing recommendations for an action plan that best addresses them. As soon as the flames have subsided, start inspecting walls, ceilings and floors for signs of smoke/soot damage in order to take the best course of action in terms of both restoration for both home/personal items!
Water damage from firefighting efforts must also be examined carefully; wet walls and ceilings need to be dried out before beginning cleaning activities, which should be performed by professionals experienced with both fire and water cleanup services. Fans and dehumidifiers will help restore your house back into tip-top shape in no time!
Smoke damage may not always be visible to the naked eye, so using your nose to identify any lingering odors and discolorations on furniture, appliances and woodwork should also help identify smoke damage. Furthermore, other less obvious internal locations should also be examined such as crawl spaces, attics, breaker boxes or garage appliances exposed to smoke should also be assessed for potential issues.
Common forms of smoke damage include dry smoke, protein residue and fuel oil stains; often these come with strong odors which may require professional help to clear away.
Here are some tips for getting rid of smoke and fire damage:
- Assess the damage. The extent of the damage will determine how much work needs to be done. If the damage is extensive, you may need to hire a professional restoration company.
- Ventilate the area. Open all doors and windows to ventilate the area and remove as much smoke and soot as possible. You can also use fans to help circulate the air.
- Clean surfaces. Use a mild soap and water solution to clean surfaces that have been affected by smoke and soot. You can also use a commercial smoke cleaning product. Be sure to rinse surfaces thoroughly after cleaning.
- Remove furniture and belongings. If possible, remove furniture and belongings that have been damaged by smoke and soot. This will make it easier to clean and deodorize the area.
- Deodorize the area. There are a number of ways to deodorize a smoke-damaged area. You can use baking soda, activated charcoal, or a commercial deodorizer. You can also leave the area open to the air for several days.
- Have the air ducts cleaned. Smoke and soot can also build up in air ducts, so it’s important to have them cleaned by a professional.
Here are some additional tips:
- Wear gloves and a mask when cleaning smoke and soot. This will help protect you from the harmful chemicals that are released during a fire.
- Be careful not to spread the smoke and soot around. Use a damp cloth to wipe up any soot or ash that you see.
- Don’t use bleach on smoke-damaged surfaces. Bleach can react with the soot and create harmful fumes.
- Be patient. It may take some time to completely remove the smoke and soot damage.
If you are not sure how to clean smoke and fire damage, it is best to hire a professional. A professional restoration company will have the experience and expertise to clean your home or business properly and safely.
Remove Debris in Arizona
After experiencing a fire, returning home can be dismaying; soot covers everything and possessions are destroyed while there’s an unpleasant odor lingering around. Therefore, it’s imperative to address this damage promptly in order to minimize further issues.
To clean smoke damage, you will require several items. Some may already be present in your home such as a vacuum cleaner with dust brush attachment and degreasers specifically made to deal with soot or smoke deposits, while you will also require safety goggles, masks, and old cleaning rags.
Begin by clearing away any debris that has fallen from the ceiling or walls, which will allow you to see what remains and remove any ash or soot that has accumulated in hard to reach spots.
First, wipe down the walls using a dry-cleaning sponge and your preferred cleaner – such as commercial soot/smoke remover (follow manufacturer’s instructions), rubbing alcohol or white vinegar – taking care to wipe every surface in the room, including light bulbs. You may need to repeat this step several times until the walls are sufficiently clean before repainting takes place.
As well as inspecting furniture for signs of smoke damage, it is also important to remember that smoke carries harmful toxins originating from burned wood and plastic materials which may enter your home after the fire has subsided – inhaling these can pose serious health issues and require disposing of it immediately.
If your possessions have become irreparably damaged due to fire and smoke damage, it may be time to contact professional restoration services as soon as possible. They will work quickly on treating smoke damage before it spreads further.
Contact Your Insurance Company
As important as it is to put out fires quickly and successfully, it’s also vitally important to realize that smoke damage can be just as hazardous. Smoke not only emits an offensive scent but can cause permanent damage to materials of various kinds as well as leave behind acidic residues which corrode surfaces further and discolor surfaces over time.
Once smoke damage occurs, the first step to repairing it should be contacting your insurance provider as quickly as possible. After providing all relevant details of what was lost and why, an offer of compensation should follow from them – be sure to thoroughly research this offer so you do not get underpaid!
Honest and accurate reporting is the key to expediting a claim quickly and accurately, saving both time and money in processing time and claims costs. If in doubt about what needs to be repaired or replaced, a public adjuster who works exclusively on your behalf is also an option.
Before beginning cleaning smoke damage, be sure to wear protective equipment, including gloves and a mask, and have all necessary supplies on hand – including a vacuum with upholstery attachment, clean rags, and either a dry cleaning sponge (or regular sponge).
Once your home has been given clearance by the fire department, it’s important to begin clearing debris and sorting through items. While this process can be emotional, you should assess each item to see which are salvageable and which need to be thrown away; some items may even be unsafe due to smoke damage such as perishable food that was exposed directly.
Call a Professional in Mesa, Arizona
Smoke damage is more than an eyesore or nuisance; it’s also harmful to your health. Smoke contains carcinogens from burning wood, plastic and upholstery materials – something only professional smoke and fire restoration teams are trained to deal with effectively. Luckily, professional fire and smoke restoration teams offer services designed specifically to restore affected properties.
First, they’ll perform an inspection. They’ll assess any structural damage caused by the fire and examine whether any items can be salvaged. They’ll recommend how best to proceed – such as cleaning surfaces of soot and soot-laden debris.
Once they deem your building safe to return to, you can begin cleaning smoke damage. But first it would be wise to open as many windows as possible throughout your home to help ventilate and accelerate the cleaning process. In addition, using a dry vacuum or soot cleaner could remove any loose soot that may have collected.
Always wear PPE when performing this task, such as gloves, mask, and goggles to protect your health and reduce risks posed by soot to your lungs. Soot may even lead to certain types of cancer and its removal should occur as quickly as possible for maximum effectiveness.
Alternatively, hiring professional help could help mitigate water damage caused by firefighting efforts. This would involve restoring any items which became wet from firefighting efforts as well as dealing with mold or mildew issues. Furthermore, drying wet items as soon as possible is key as the longer they sit in dampness the more damage they’ll sustain; you can use fans and dehumidifiers to speed up this process.
