What Can You Do About Smoke Damage After a Fire?
A house fire is one of the most devastating things that can happen to anyone. Once the flames have died down and you’ve begun the recovery process, there’s very little you’d rather do than resume your ordinary home life. But unfortunately, the damage from a fire can be long-lasting. You might not have lost a floor of your home, but enough smoke and soot can be left behind after a fire to keep your home unlivable. So what can you do about it?
First, make sure you have permission from your fire marshall to re-enter your home. Then, contact your insurance company. They can give you advice-and may be able to assist you financially-on the restoration or replacement of anything that was damaged in the fire. They can also recommend professional fire restorers that they’ve worked with in the past. If you’re a renter, contact your landlord as soon as possible. The two of you should assess the damage together and determine the next course of action.
Should You Hire a Professional?
Hiring a professional fire restorer can be very beneficial. They can give you advice on how to prevent any further damage, help you decide what can or cannot be restored, and they can give you estimates on cleaning and deodorizing your home. However, their services may be expensive, and since your home has just been through a fire, it’s understandable if their services don’t fit into your budget. Still, it may be much less expensive to have things like carpets, floors, and furniture restored as opposed to having them replaced. Regardless of what you decide on, you’ll now want to take the time to prevent any further damages.
Preventing Further Smoke Damage
The first thing you need to do is get the air in your home circulating and moving out. Open your windows, and install fans for extra power. If you live in a hot climate and there has been any moisture damage, you may need to keep the windows closed and use a dehumidifier to remove the moisture from the air in your home. In colder climates, run your heating system and change the filter daily until it stops showing any soot.
Any part of your home that is wet needs to be dried as quickly as possible. Letting any moisture stay in your home can lead to the growth of mold or mildew, and your flooring could be damaged beyond repair. Use a dehumidifier and fans to remove any moisture from draperies and floors. If possible, you may want to contact a professional to assist with this.
Smoke can also ruin brass very quickly, so you’ll want to wipe down any door knobs or other brass items as soon as possible.
Removing Smoke Odor
Products that contain tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) are excellent for removing smoke odors from fabrics. However, TSPs are caustic-which means that they can burn organic tissue (the stuff you’re made of)-so be sure to handle these products with care and use rubber gloves at all times. Test your garments before you apply any chemicals. You may also want to check with professional fire restorers or dry cleaners about which chemicals to use on which materials, or to ask them for assistance.
Professional smoke damage service is recommended, and you should keep in mind that most household cleaners that specialize in smoke odor removal only work temporarily.
Removing Soot from Walls and Other Surfaces
To remove the soot from your walls, try using a mild soap first, or use TSPs-but with caution. Mix 4-6 tbsp TSP with 1 cup of a household cleaner per ever gallon of warm water. Again, wear gloves at all times during this process. After wiping soot away, very quickly rinse the area with warm, clear water and dry it thoroughly and immediately.
When you’re washing your walls, washing them one small section at a time, rinsing and drying as you work. Start at the floors and work your way up to prevent any streaking. Wash your ceiling last. If you have washable wallpaper, it can be washed just like a painted wall, but be careful not to let any water soak through. And if you need any drywall repairs, contact a professional insurance restoration specialist for assistance.
