Elmore Fire Damage - Cleaning Fire Damage in Elmore

5/11/2016 (Permalink)

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Elmore Fire Damage Cleaning

Soot and smoke can penetrate and travel to other rooms, affecting the carpeting, paint, drapes, upholstery, clothing and other items. Debris removal and ventilation of the scene of the Elmore fire is a good first step to take in cleaning up after fire damage occurs. Neutralizing and thorough cleaning of both the odors and the deposits are needed before you try and do any redecoration. 

General Cleaning Techniques to Getting Started 

Different kinds of Elmore fires need different techniques for cleaning. High-oxygen fires usually will result in dust, dry soot, but slow-burning fires with low oxygen will result in wet, greasy deposits which smear easily. Therefore, the process of cleaning needs to take these variations into account. 

A few guidelines and cleanup recommendations:  

Wear protective clothing such as pants, long-sleeved shirts, and gloves. Wash off any ash, which gets on your skin, as soon as you can.

Also, wear protective gear like a dust mask, so you don’t breathe in any ash or other particles that are airborne.

Open doors and windows to ventilate the area to help remove odors and soot.

Get rid of any debris that is burned to lower odors.

Place dehumidifiers inside the building to control the moisture in the air and prevent mold or water damage, especially where water was used to put out the fire.

Use cooking oil to wipe down all metallic surfaces to stop rusting or staining.

Clean plastic, PVC surfaces like windows and surfaces which are painted white with a mild alkali detergent to get rid of any possible acidic soot that can activate with moisture in the air and cause staining which is permanent.

Go through triage assessments to remove or clean all contents as soon as you can in the order of value.

You should not use deodorants of any kind since they mask odors after fire damage in Elmore, and odors are a significant indicator of any health concerns.

Where you can’t get rid of surface staining, think about using specialist paint to get rid of anti-bleed and stain characteristics. These paints are usually oil-based or lacquers.

Specific Kinds of Damage and How to Clean Up 

High-Oxygen Fire Damage 

Dry sponges can be used to get rid of initial deposits and then you can follow up with a detergent that is low-alkali, then rinse thoroughly. 

Low-Oxygen Fire Damage 

Using a dry sponge here is not advised, as it will make smears and cause the soot to spread. Instead, use detergents which are high-alkali with warm water and then wash down the area. Thoroughly rinse when you are done, since residue can affect any subsequent paint applications. 

Kitchen Fire Damage 

You will need to do a thorough cleaning since fire residue might not be easily visible. Remember that kitchen drawer and cabinet contents need to be taken out to let you access any hidden areas. 

Locally Owned Company with National Resources

Overwhelmed? Contact SERVPRO of Prattville for our professional help to get your fire damage cleaned up as soon as possible and get you back to a normal way of life. We are standing by to assist you so call us at (334) 358-1186 anytime. Don’t hesitate to call.