Smoke Damage Restoration - Service Restoration
Smoke damage cleanup shouldn’t be taken lightly. After a house fire, there are many time sensitive tasks that need to be completed in order to recover as much of your property as possible. These tasks include removing all debris, damaged materials, water extraction, and removing all soot and smoke damage.
Restoring your home from a fire is best left to the professionals, as there are plenty of things to consider. Keep in mind all the chemicals caused by the fire, all the soot, and even water that needs to be extracted from putting out the fire. Not to mention a host of toxic chemicals you might be exposed to when cleaning out.
It is strongly advised to hire a fire restoration company to ensure the safety of you and your family. Not to mention they will have plenty of experience and the proper equipment to handle any situation.
Smoke Damage Cleanup Steps
Sometimes water damage companies will let you rent one of their water extractors. If you still plan on tackling the job yourself, there are few things you should consider. Here are the steps you should follow
- Get permission from your Fire Marshall to safely re-enter your home: Entering the house can present unsafe situations that can put you and your family at risk. Do not enter the house if you were not cleared with the proper permission.
- Once proper permissions have been given, start by ventilating any windows that may be closed. This will help ventilate the air inside some. The more fresh air circulating inside, the easier it will be for you to breathe safely while working inside the house. This will also slowly take away the residual smoke, and will help decrease the odor presented by it.
- Next start by removing all damaged debris and furniture. Whatever area you’re going to begin working on first, should be clear of all obstructions and debris.
- It is advised to next, try and remove any and all standing water from the area by use of a commercial wet vac. You can also you fans and dehumidifiers to help speed up the process. If you lack the right equipment to get started, seek professional assistance as soon as possible. This is necessity, in order to properly remove the thousands of gallons that has been dumped on your house.
Removing Smoke and Soot Damage
Smoke and soot can be one of the most difficult things to remove from a fire damaged property. Fire restoration experts rely on an assortment of tools and products to help remove soot and smoke from your walls.
Here are some common steps that are taken when handling the removal of smoke and soot:
- Vacuum the soot clinging to the walls. Make sure to wear safety goggles and gloves before you begin the cleaning and removal process. A respirator or mask would also be a great idea!
- Do not take your protective equipment while cleaning, as it may irritate and hurt your eyes or skin.
- You can also use a dry chemical sponge instead of the vacuum cleaner.
- You can also vacuum and soot off of furniture if need be.
- Remove soot with Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) or any other commercial cleaning product.
- It is advised to use one of these in order to remove odor and eliminate any harmful chemicals the soot may contain.
- White vinegar is also another good alternative
- Spray the walls with febreeze. It contains an odor absorber known as cyclodextrin.
Conclusion
