Certified Disaster Services has been a helping hand in disaster restoration for the past 30 years including Fire Damage Restoration.

Residents of Northern Utah and the surrounding communities have been grateful for their passion and commitment to serve when these inevitable disasters strike. 

It is common for fire victims to be in shock after a fire disaster. It can be an emotional time and people just feel overwhelmed that they can’t figure out what to do.

Here are some tips on how to clean up after a fire which may prove valuable to fire victims.

Tips for Fire Damage Restoration

Fire Damage Restoration is not an easy task. There are certain activities that you should limit in the affected areas.

Soot can do more damage when you touch them so you need to limit movement at the moment.

Items are not damaged should be protected by covering them with blankets or towels.

Clean Smoke Damage

When a fire hits your home, the damage can be discouraging. Even when the fire is taken out, it leaves a ton of problems that you should deal with like smoke effects, soot, water damage and chemical damage from fire extinguishers.

Black ceilings and walls are a common sight after a fire and you need to clean up the smoke damage to walls, wallpaper and ceilings. 

Ask permission from your fire department before you re-enter your home to make sure that it is safe.

To be sure, you should have your home inspected for safety. Check on electrical wiring, wall supports, roof decks and all foundational supports before proceeding with your cleanup. Your insurance company can help you with this inspection.

Once inside, you should increase the airflow in the area to help get rid off smoke and bring in fresh air to breath.

If the damage isn’t too bad you can clean them up using detergents. You might need a new paint job once you’re done with the cleanup.

If water and chemicals were used to put out the blaze, it would be best to call the experts to clean up for you. Certified Disaster Services are the best damage restoration specialists in Northern Utah and the surrounding areas. They are ready to serve 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.

Dry off wet items before you clean up, wear protective gear like facemasks, goggles and gloves because fumes and cleaning chemicals can harm you. 

Put on closed-toed shoes, long-sleeved shirts and long pants for complete protection.

Place drop cloths on the floor to protect your carpet and flooring from soot stains. Loose soot can be removed by using a sponge or vacuum cleaner.

Use a trisodium phosphate solution for your smoke-damaged walls. If smoke damage is severe, you should contact the experts for cleanup.

Get Rid of Mold and Mildew 

Indoor molds can only be removed by getting rid of moisture. Molds will stop growing and become dormant once all moisture sources are removed.

You need to physically remove any item that has visible mold growth.

Call a licensed Mold Remediator to make sure that molds are completely eliminated from your home.

Clean Clothing

Smoke damaged clothes can still be salvaged depending on the severity of the damage of course.

Machine washable clothes can be restored by laundering. Before washing, shake the clothes off to remove loose soot. Leave them out overnight so they can air out. 

Spraying with a 50/50 mixture of water and vinegar can help before you toss them into the washing machine. Put another cup of baking soda and vinegar then launder normally.

You can repeat the cycle a few more times to get rid of the smell completely.

Avoid smearing soot on clothes and bring them to a professional dry cleaning expert and ask for post-fire laundry services. 

For non-washable wardrobes, baking soda is heaven-sent. Bring your clothes outside and sprinkle with baking soda. Leave for at least a day and shake the baking soda off. Fresh air can aid in removing the smoke odor.

Repeat the process until you get the desired results.

There are smoke odor removal products available in the market that can be effective as well. Avoid products that just mask the smell by using stronger scents.

Repair Flooring

The water from your flooring needs to be extracted to avoid further damage and mold buildup. Carpets and padding should also be dried out and treated. Water can seep through vinyl and wood flooring, so you need to make sure everything is dry before your repair or cleanup.

Different methods are used for wood floors, tiles, linoleum, and carpets. If you are not sure about your methods, call the experts and let them do the job for you.

Clean Dishes

Soot and grime are a challenge when it comes to dishware. But when you compare them to other items you need to clean after a fire, dishes are one of the easiest on the list.

Start by wiping off soot from the dishes using paper towels or a dry sponge. Next, you soak the dishes in hot and soapy water for 10 minutes. Buy a grease-removing detergent to get rid of oily soot. 

Remove the soapy water and wash like normal using a sponge. Rinse using hot running water.

To sanitize completely, soak for 10 minutes in a mixture of 2 tbsp bleach per gallon of water. Rinse completely.

Let the Professionals Do the Job

Let’s face it, Fire Damage Restoration is a hard undertaking. Dealing with the fire is stressful enough. You are better off hiring a Fire Damage Restoration Company with over 30 years of experience in Northern Utah.

Join the thousands of families served by Certified Disaster Services during their most difficult times.

They can handle the entire restoration process and provide customers with hope when they are faced with disasters. 

For all your disaster restoration needs why don’t you give them a call at (801) 399-9996.