Fire Damage Do's and Don'ts

7/8/2019 (Permalink)

Be sure to know the do's and don'ts of fire damage!

Suffering a fire can be one of the most devastating events a person can go through. It is not uncommon for our customers to want to feel some sort of normalcy immediately following the fire. And, while we completely understand this urge, there are some things you should NEVER do following a fire. Some of things include:

• NEVER attempt to was any walls or painted surfaces without contacting your SERVPRO professional first.
• NEVER attempt to shampoo carpets or upholstered furniture.
• NEVER attempt to clean any electrical appliances, TV sets, radios, etc. that may have been close to fire, heat or water.
• NEVER use any canned or packaged food or beverages that may have been stored close to fire, heat or water. They may be contaminated.
• NEVER turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet. Wiring may be wet or damage.
• NEVER send out any garments that suffered smoke damage to an ordinary dry cleaner. Improper cleaning may set in smoke order or damage them.

It is important to never try to clean smoke or soot damaged items yourself, as using the wrong product on them may further damage them. We understand the urge to need to start the cleaning process following a fire, so we recommend the following:

• DO limit movement in the home to prevent soot particles from being embedded into upholstery and carpets.
• DO keep hands clean. Soot on hands can further ruin upholstery, walls and woodwork. We recommend wearing disposable gloves.
• DO blow or brush vacuum loose soot particles from upholstery, drapes and carpets.
• DO place old towels or liners on rugs, upholstery and carpet traffic areas.
• DO empty freezer and refrigerator completely and prop doors open if the electricity is off.
• DO clean and protect chrome on kitchen and bathroom faucets, trim and appliances with a light coating of Vaseline or oil.
• DO wash house plants on both sides of leaves.
• DO change the HVAC filter.
• DO tape double layers of cheesecloth over air registers.

And the MOST important thing you should do if you suffer a fire is call the experts at SERVPRO of West Seneca/Lancaster once you and your family is out safely and your property is secured. Someone from our office is available 24/7 at (716) 674-1103 to assist you and help make this devastating time, “Like it never even happened."