Fire and Smoke Damage Dos

 fire and smoke damage

  • DO contact your Restoration Specialist for immediate emergency fire clean-up services.
  • DO Empty freezer / refrigerator completely when electric is out & prop doors open to prevent mold / mildew growth & or smell.
  • DO In inclement weather all plumbing should be winterized, drain hot water tank, drain boiler system -we recommend a plumber to handle this.  Leftover water in plumbing fixture without heat can freeze & additional damages could occur.
  • DO For upholstery furniture if possible vacuum soot off with brush attachment on your vacuum and cover all furniture with a clean sheet before sitting on fabric if you have nowhere else to sit.  This will help prevent the smoke/soot from grinding deeper into the fabric and may make it difficult for cleaning later.
  • DO Vacuum carpets – helps prevent smoke/soot from being ground in to carpet.
  • DO Vacuum hard floor surfaces first and then wash floor again to prevent smoke/soot from being ground into flooring.
  • DO  Remove  pets, Animals may have a reaction to smoke/carbon residue; you may consider moving them to another location at site or off premises if possible.
  • DO Clean porcelain fixtures, countertops, sinks, only as needed until Restoration Specialist can inspect.

 

Fire and Smoke Damage Don’ts

  • DO NOT clean walls, ceilings or other absorbent surfaces until the restoration professional can inspect  and direct the proper cleaning method-you can make additional damages to many surfaces by not using the proper products or materials.
  • DO NOT turn on electronics items such as televisions, stereos, computers, etc.
  • DO NOT attempt to wash your clothing, contact a dry-cleaning professional who specializes in fire restoration for correct advice for cleaning your fabrics.
  • DO NOT Eat food products from your opened containers, it may be recommended to dispose of all open container / packages.
  • DO NOT turn your air conditioning or furnace on until a professional restoration company has at least inspected your home-your ductwork may need to be cleaned.
  • DO NOT If the fire was put out by an extinguisher do not use water to start washing the powder-it must first be extracted properly before applying any cleaning solutions.
  • DO NOT If water was used to put fire out, Do Not attempt to clean up yourself-Contact a restoration Specialist for clean up /dry out.