Fire and Smoke Damage Tips
Even if the fire was in the kitchen, the whole house may be covered in black gunk and stink of acrid smoke.
Although you'll be desperate to clean up quickly, if you're not careful you can inflict more damage on your valuable building and its contents.
Dealing with smoke and soot damage
DO:
Protect your pets: remove pets, especially birds, to a clean, safe environment
Get some air: open windows for ventilation to help get rid of the smell
Use your vacuum: if your vacuum cleaner isn't affected by the fire, carefully vacuum loose smoke and soot particles from upholstery, curtains and carpets
Cover up: cover all chairs and sofas with clean sheets before sitting on them
Rescue plants: wash plants thoroughly with water
Ask for help: If you're feeling out of your depth, let the professionals deal with it
DON'T:
Turn it on: get all electrical appliances checked and cleaned, don't use them until this has been done
Make it worse: Don't try to clean absorbent surfaces, like walls and ceilings.
Sit down: avoid sitting down on upholstered furniture
Don't eat : throw away all exposed food or canned goods that might be affected by the heat
Ruin your clothes: if you send them to an ordinary dry cleaner, their cleaning process can set the smoke and the odour
Do it yourself: leave the worst jobs to Chem-Dry® restoration professionals, part of Homeserve.
Dealing with water damage
If water has been used to fight the fire it may have badly damaged your furniture, carpets and belongings.
DO:
Catch those drips: if it's safe to enter rooms where leaks are coming from the ceiling put pans or bowls underneath to prevent even more water damage
Open the doors: open drawers and furniture doors to help dry them out
Mop, blot and wipe: remove as much water as possible by mopping and wiping all furniture surfaces, blotting absorbent soft furnishings and carpets with clean white towels
Prop them up: remove and prop up wet cushions so that they dry evenly, turning them from time to time, place them outside if it's sunny
Watch your legs: place foil, china saucers or wood blocks between furniture legs and your wet carpet
Save your art: remove valuable paintings and art objects to a safe, dry place
DON'T:
Get a shock: never turn on appliances or lights while standing on wet carpet or floors, especially not on wet concrete floors
Get a soaking: keep out of rooms where ceilings are sagging from retained water
Ruin your clothes: take out any wet clothes and hang them up to dry as soon as possible
Leave a stain: coloured books or magazines can stain your wet carpets and floors, move them quickly
Vacuum: you'll ruin your vacuum cleaner and risk a shock if you try to remove water with itBookmark us, or remember this page for when you need some useful guidance and tips.
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