A fire in your home is never a fun occurrence by any means. However, sometimes dealing with the aftermath can be even more annoying. Smoke can get everywhere and get your whole place filthy which is why, if your home is clouded by smoke, we here at ProRestore DKI in Grimes will give you a few tips on how to deal with it.
How to Clean Smoke
Protect Yourself
First, keep in mind that inhaling smoke can be very detrimental to your health so be sure to wear a mask over your mouth and nose. Also, wear clothes that you don’t mind getting ruined.
Allow Ventilation
Again, breathing in smoke is not good for you. Open all the windows and doors, and even turn on any fans you have so that fresh air can flow through the rooms and clear out the smoke.
Get Rid of Disposables
Any edible items that might have been lying around could’ve been affected by the smoke, so your safest bet is to just throw them out to avoid getting sick.
Pick Up Some Tools
Now you should start with the cleaning. For this, you’ll need vinegar, detergent, sponges, rubbing alcohol, water, baking soda, and cloth.
Clean Accordingly
The method you’ll use will depend on what you’ll be cleaning. Keep in mind that if you want the smoke completely gone, you’ll have to go over the affected areas more than once. Also, make sure to clean everything (including enclosed spaces like cabinets and drawers).
– Fabrics: every piece of fabric that can go in the washing machine should go in the washing machine. If they’re too delicate or washing them won’t work, take them to the dry cleaners.
– Walls/ceilings/floors: get most of the smoke out of these surfaces by scrubbing hard with a sponge and rubbing alcohol. Then, wash them down with warm water to clean the residue.
– Counters/tables: for these and other similar surfaces, you’ll have to take a bit of detergent and mix it with water. Then, with a sponge, clean off any smoke residue you find on them.
– Upholstery/carpets: in this case, sprinkle baking soda and let it sit for a while so it can absorb the smell (vacuum it off after). Use vinegar on any stains to remove them.
Get Professionals
Make sure to call technicians so they can check if the fire damaged any of your home’s electrical installations, gas line, appliances, etc. Likewise, they’ll be able to take care of the more difficult cleaning, for example if you have an AC system.
For Property Restoration in Grimes…
Here at ProRestore DKI, we are experts in a wide variety of restoration services, including smoke and fire remediation and contents reparation. We work hard to offer the best service in town. Call (888) 846-6505 to get a free estimate today!
