Don't let the soot or smoke damage settle in your Nashville home

1/21/2015 (Permalink)

Chemical dry sponge used to clean soot off of surfaces

When a fire blazes through a home, the first thought in peoples' minds is not whether the carpet or upholstery made it safely through without a burn. Those thoughts don't settle in until after the wreckage. All at once, we are hit with the thoughts of everything that now needs done following the incident. This is where the professionals come in to take that burden off of your shoulders; To take care of the smoke damage, fire damage, and soot damage throughout the home.

It's hard to take immediate action and get motivated after a tragedy happens, but when it comes to smoke and soot damage, there is no time to wait. According to the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), there are some steps to be taken immediately following a house fire.

Steps to take following the incident:

1. Take safety precautions – Make sure to have the proper gloves and respiratory protection to enter a property after a fire. Breathing in the smoke residue could lead to respiratory health issues down the road.

2. Bring in box fans – Open windows after immediately entering to start airing the building out. Fans help to get the contaminated air out as quickly as possible. Ventilation is key to prevent further damage to health and the home.

3. Clean every surface – Don't leave any surface behind. Check all surfaces (on top of cupboards and below appliances) for soot and smoke residue. Using soap and water, scrub the area thoroughly to make sure that there is nothing left behind. Chemical dry sponges are recommended for cleaning soot damage off of surfaces to ensure that all residue is gone. (seen in picture)

4. Use a high efficiency vacuum – Smoke and soot damage will cling most to upholstery and carpet, making it difficult to recover. If you're able to recover these assets, make sure to use a high efficiency vacuum with a HEPA (High-efficiency particulate air) filter to ensure that the dirt isn't being blown back out onto the floor.

5. Clean all laundry – Any washable materials should be professionally cleaned at dry cleaner who knows what to use to neutralize the odor and acid from the soot. This will also make sure that your washer and dryer doesn't get damaged in the process.

Source - http://www.iicrc.org/what-after-smoke-damage-has-happened-a-140.html