Dos And Don'ts Of What You Should Do Following A Fire

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Following a house fire, it is important that you take precautions to avoid further damaging your possessions. Simple acts such as attempting to clean up the soot on walls, could result in more damage. Here are some dos and don'ts to follow once you return to your home. 

Dos

When you need to move around your home, it is important that you carefully do so. Lay down plastic or cloth tarps before navigating through your home. There are other things you can do once in your home.

1. Do keep your hands clean. By keeping your hands clean, you can avoid accidentally putting soot on items that were not damaged by the fire. 
2. Do wash your houseplants. Your houseplants should be removed and washed thoroughly as soon as possible. Keep the plants out of the home until it has been cleaned. 
3. Do empty your refrigerator. The food in your refrigerator can spoil and add to the odor from the fire. Remove the food from it and leave the doors open. You also need to do the same for your freezers. 
4. Do hire professional restorers. Professionals who specialize in restoring fire damaged homes can help you salvage belongings, clean the home, and get rid of damaged items. Your insurance might cover the expenses associated with professional help.

Don'ts

Once you are in your home, you might be tempted to start removing soot from your furniture and other upholstery. Do not attempt this. Special cleaning tools and chemicals are needed to remove soot from fabrics. In addition to this, there are other things you need to avoid doing.

1. Don't attempt to clean appliances. Appliances that were possibly impacted by the fire or water could prove hazardous if you plug them into wall outlets. Let a professional inspect the appliances to ensure they are in good working order.
2. Don't use ceiling fans. Even if the fan works, avoid using it until your home is clean. Not only could you spread soot with the fan, but you run the risk of an electrical issue if the fan's circuits are damaged. 
3. Don't use food or beverages. Any foods or beverages that were in your home at the time of the fire could have been contaminated by soot or chemicals used by the firefighters to extinguish the fire. 
4. Don't wash clothes. Clothes that were in the home during the fire have a smoke odor. Take the clothes to a dry cleaner that specializes in dealing with clothes with smoke damage. 

Fires can be devastating and the cleanup might seem impossible. Once your home is cleared to enter, it is important that you start the cleanup process as soon as possible. By doing so, you have a better chance of salvaging cherished items. Work with a professional restorer like ServiceMaster by Restoration Xperts  for the best results. 

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15 April 2015