SERVPRO Helps Put Back the Pieces After a Fire.

1/10/2022 (Permalink)

House Fire and how to Minimize Damage

Cleaning Up After a House Fire

House fires are devastating. Seeing your possessions go up in flames can set you back financially and inflict significant mental distress. However, as with everything in life – you have to garner as much resilience to move on.

Starting over after a house fire does not always mean buying new things. Apart from fire damage repairs, you can salvage some of your belongings that the fire has not utterly destroyed.

Fire Damage Restoration Tips

We can recover many household items with a good clean-up. Use rubber gloves in your after-fire cleaning process to keep your skin from dealing with harsh chemicals for long periods. SERVPRO has natural and safe cleaners and disinfectants for restoration cleanup to choose from.

Removing Smoke from Fabric Items

Smoke fills up the entire house during a fire. The smoke scent lingers on your household items long after the blaze is extinguished. It may not be pleasant to live in a house smelling like burnt wood. How do you clean up smoke damage after a fire?

Trisodium phosphate is often used as a smoke odor remover. You can test it on garments to verify safe concentrations and usability. However, it is a harsh and dangerous chemical. At SERVPRO, we use natural and safe botanical cleaning and disinfectant alternatives. The Benefect Botanical Impact Cleaner may be used for carpets, upholstery and fabrics and we also have all-natural cleaning degreaser for contents.

Removing Soot and Smoke from Walls

Smoke and soot are fire byproducts. Soot contains tiny black particles that rest on walls and other household items. For a quick clean-up after a house fire, use mild soap and detergent or botanical products to rid the walls of soot and smoke or a more dangerous chemical solution, such as Trisodium phosphate.

For efficacy, clean small wall portions at a time. You can also wash the walls from the floor up to avoid streaking. Prevent mold growth after cleaning by rinsing the wall with a solution of one cup bleach per gallon of water.

How to Clean Books After a Fire

You can also remove soot and smoke from books after a house fire. Use a hepa vacuum to remove most of the fire debris from the book. You can then store the books in a hydroxy room to reduce burning. SERVPRO has a very successful and safe program for saving your books and important documents. 

Cleaning Furniture after a Fire

Although you can purchase new furniture pieces with insurance after a house fire, some possessions are irreplaceable. They could be family heirlooms or sentimental pieces that you still want to keep.

• Immediately after the fire is extinguished, start the cleaning process. You have to be swift. The quicker you act, the higher your cleaning success rate.
• Remove soot, smoke, and burning scents from wood and fabric items using trisodium phosphate solution mixed with bleach and a gallon of warm water. Or use the safe and natural botanical products (that not only reduces danger, but makes the cleanup process much easier).
• For furniture pieces with curves and corners, vacuum first before using a cleaning solution.
• Cleaning and disinfecting: Use detergent and bleach or the botanical alternatives to clean furniture upholstery.
• Sand and polish wood furniture that has been charred by fire for a refined finish.

Dry it out: Ensure the furniture dries properly to prevent mold growth.

How to Clean Fire-Damaged Stainless Steel 

You can reclaim scorched stainless steel items using vinegar and baking soda. Start by spraying equal parts white vinegar and baking soda on the burnt surface. White vinegar is slightly acidic. It breaks through the layer of soot, removing it from the stainless still.

You can also use soap and baking soda or a mixture of water and white vinegar in equal parts to remove the burnt substance from the stainless steel piece.

Contact a Fire Damage Restoration Service

Cleaning up after a house fire is a meticulous endeavor. Every item in your home needs special care in the reclaiming process. You can hire us to do the cleaning and salvaging process for you.
We are experts at SERVPRO N Lauderdale/ W Tamaracat redeeming fire-damaged household items. Call us today at 954-960-5322 for more information on our fire restoration services in Broward.