How to Deal with Smoke Damage After a Fire

A house fire is, simply put, one of the most devastating things that can happen to a family. Safety always comes first, but once the flames have been extinguished and you’ve begun the recovery process, there’s very little you’d rather do than resume your ordinary home life. But sadly, the harm from a fire might be long-lasting. You might not have extensive fire damage, but enough smoke and soot can be produced after a fire to still make your home unlivable. So what can you do about this?

First, make sure you have permission from your fire Marshall to re-enter your home. Then, contact your insurance provider. They could provide you advice and will be able to assist you financially-on the fire restoration or replacement of everything that was damaged in the fire. They could also recommend professional fire restorers that they’ve worked with in the past.

If you’re a renter, contact your landlord immediately. The two of you should assess the damage together and determine the next plan of action.

Should You Hire a Professional?

Hiring a professional fire restoration service in Michigan can be very beneficial. They could provide you advice on the best way to prevent any further damage, let you know what should or cannot be restored, and they will also provide you estimates on cleaning and deodorizing your residence.

Preventing Further Smoke Damage

The first thing you have to do is get the air in your home circulating and moving out air. Open your windows, and install fans for extra power. In colder climates, run your heating system and alter the filter daily until it stops showing any soot.

Any kind of your home that is wet needs to be dried as quickly as possible. Letting any moisture remain your home will lead towards the growth of mold or mildew, and your flooring could be damaged beyond repair. Make use of a dehumidifier and fans to remove any moisture from draperies and floors. If possible, you may want to speak to a professional to support using this.

Smoke can also ruin brass in a short time, so you’ll want to wipe down any door knobs or any other brass items immediately. Using smoke odor products which contain tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) are great for removing smoke odors from fabrics is a good idea.

However, TSPs are caustic-which means that they could burn organic tissue (the stuff you’re made from)-so be sure to handle the products with care and utilize rubber gloves at all times. Test your garments before you decide to apply any chemicals. You may also want to examine with professional fire restorers or dry cleaners about which chemicals to use on which materials, and to ask them for assistance.

Professional smoke damage service is usually recommended, and you ought to remember that most household cleaners specializing in smoke odor removal only work temporarily.

Removing Soot from Walls along with other Surfaces

To remove the soot from your walls, try using a light soap first, or use TSPs-but cautiously. Mix 4-6 tbsp TSP with a cup associated with a household cleaner per ever gallon of warm water. Again, wear gloves continuously during this process. After wiping soot away, in a short time rinse the area with warm, clear water and dry it thoroughly and immediately.

When you’re washing your house or items, wash each of them one small section at any given time, rinsing and drying while you work. Start with the floors and work your way up to avoid any streaking.

Wash your ceiling last. In case you have washable wallpaper, it may be washed just as a painted wall, but do not let any water soak through.

Aaron’s Restoration is a veteran-owned Michigan restoration company that has been serving the the Metro Detroit area and Michigan residents for over 15 years. Aaron’s Restoration helps clients with everything from a fire damage restoration in Michigan to flooded basement help.