A house fire is a very dangerous thing, and its aftermath can be overwhelming. Many people do not know where to begin, and some jobs are so large that a fire damage clean up company in vancouver should handle them. If you plan to clean up the damage yourself, follow these five tips for handling fire damage.
Repairing Smoke-Damaged Walls
Any house fire will result in smoke damage to paint, wallpaper and walls. If the damage is not significant, it is possible to clean it with bleach and detergent. Soot can be greasy, and you should remove as much of it as possible with a dry cloth before scrubbing with soap and water. Make sure that all walls are dry and clean before repainting or hanging new wallpaper.
Tackling Mold and Mildew
The water used to put out a fire can cause issues with mold and mildew. Mildew and mold can contaminate mattresses, clothing, carpets, furniture, vents and walls, causing irreversible damage and severe health issues. You can begin the restorative process by airing each room and cleaning all filters and vents, but fire damage clean up Vancouver professionals should handle most mold and mildew issues.
Repairing Carpet and Flooring
It takes a lot of water to extinguish a fire, and your carpet and flooring take the brunt of it. Carpet, vinyl flooring and hardwood should be examined and replaced if necessary. If you know how to install flooring, you can do the cleanup yourself, but fire damage clean up vancouver pros should handle big jobs.
Clothing
Cleaning smoke-damaged clothing is one of the toughest jobs to be done after a fire. Don’t smear greasy soot into your clothes, or toss them into the washer. Most clothing should be dry-cleaned; try to find a dry cleaner specializing in post-fire restoration.
Dishes
Soot-stained pots, pans and dishes can cause health problems, and it is important to clean them thoroughly. Scrub all dishes in hot, soapy water, and then soak them in a solution of two tablespoons of bleach for every gallon of hot water before scrubbing again. Throw away any dish that will not come clean –it is better to be safe than sorry!
