With wildfires raging in California, plenty of Americans are facing the prospect of starting over after a devastating fire. But the danger doesn’t end after the fire is extinguished. Smoke and fire damage can be serious and can continue to pose health threats even after the flames are quenched. That’s why it’s important to take the right precautions when cleaning up smoke and fire damage in your home.
In fact, it’s probably best to enlist the help of professionals for fire and smoke cleanup, especially when it comes to replacing drywall and insulation damaged by fire hoses, cleaning smoke-damaged possessions or rebuilding areas of your home damaged by fire. A company like Daleen, which offers smoke damage cleanup in Burlington Wisconsin, will suffice. But there are some things you can do on your own, to cut costs and get the recovery process underway before the pros arrive. Make sure you prioritize the health and safety of you and your family and dispose of contaminated water, cleaning supplies, and other objects properly.
Put Your Health and Safety First
Even after officials have verified that it’s safe to reenter your home, you should be prepared for threats to your health and safety that can exist in a fire-damaged structure. For one thing, if the fire has significantly damaged your home’s structural integrity, it may not be safe to re-enter at all. Other threats to your health and safety include mold from water damage caused by fire hoses; ash, smoke and soot lingering in the indoor air or on fabrics and surfaces; chemical dust from fire extinguishers; standing water and downed power lines or other electrical hazards. These are just a few of the reasons why it’s wise to contact a professional fire restoration company like ServiceMaster Restore to help you salvage belongings and recover from a house fire.
If you do enter your home to clean up after a fire, wear post- fire personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves, a hard hat, safety goggles, work boots, long-sleeved shirts and pants and a NIOSH-approved respirator rated at N95 or above.
Clean Surfaces, Fabrics and Objects Properly
Many objects and surfaces, and even upholstered or fabric items, in your fire-damaged home can be salvaged with proper cleaning. The Red Cross recommends using a detergent that contains tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) to clean walls, floors, ceilings, furniture and fabrics contaminated with smoke, soot or ash. However, TSP is a caustic substance, so you should be careful using it; read the instructions and follow them. TSP works best on fabrics that can be bleached, but you should test any garments or surfaces by applying the detergent to a small area and waiting 24 hours.
To clean furniture, walls, floors and ceilings, use four to six tablespoons of TSP and one cup of chlorine bleach to every gallon of warm water. Start with the floor and work your way up to the ceiling, washing a small area at a time and rinsing it immediately with clear water. Wash the ceiling last. Dispose of dirty water on the ground; do not pour it into storm run-off areas.
You can wash clothing in the same solution, although you may want to first try washing it in your regular laundry detergent with a tablespoon of vanilla extract added. Pots, pans and other nonporous items can be cleaned with soapy water. Leather should be wiped off with a damp cloth and then wiped dry and cleaned with saddle soap.
Know When to Toss Contaminated and Burned Possessions
Sadly, not everything in your home will be salvageable. You should toss any nonperishable food items that have been visibly contaminated with fire extinguisher dust, smoke, soot or ash. Also throw out any food that may have been exposed to the heat of the fire, even if it looks okay. If your power has been out for more than four hours, or if the inside of your fridge smells smoky or has been visibly contaminated by soot or ash, chuck that food, too. You should also throw out any burned, contaminated, charred, melted, sooty or ashy cosmetics and medications. Though unburned clothing may be salvageable, burned clothing should be thrown away.
Call in the Pros
You probably won’t be able to safely restore your home after a fire without professional help. Fire restoration professionals can help you safely clean up the damage and may be able to salvage many of your smoke-damaged or contaminated possessions. You’ll probably need to call a contractor to replace any fire or water-damaged drywall, insulation, electrical wiring, floors or structural elements. Both you and your fire restoration team should agree that the home is clean and safe for occupation before you move back in.
Few things can be more heartbreaking than a house fire. Before you can put the tragedy behind you, you need to start the long process of cleanup and recovery. Take the right steps now, so you and your family don’t suffer from the dangers posed by smoke, soot and water damage to your home and the items within.
