How Should I Clean and Deodorize After a Fire?

5/1/2020 (Permalink)

Fire extinguisher residue requires specific cleaning methods.

SERVPRO Can Help with Fire Damage Cleanup; Everything From Fire Extinquisher Residue to Deodorization of Your Kutztown Home

As you’re going through the stress of you, your family and home experiencing a fire, the last thing you’re thinking about is the cleaning that will need to be done. A fire is a disaster to clean, if your home is salvageable. Once the fire has been put out and fire department leaves the scene, you’ll be left with a stinky mess.

Fire Extinguishers

As handy as fire extinguisher canisters can be in your Kutztown home for small flare-ups, this suppression system gets designed to put out flames quickly and not to limit the mess that it can make. Often homeowners find that putting out a small fire causes more damage and need for cleanup than the fire itself did. Our professionals can help with all stages of fire recovery from debris removal to cleaning up the residue that extinguishing foam can leave on structural elements and contents of your property.

Fire damage in Kutztown can stay contained to a small area when you utilize fire extinguishers quickly in your home. The suppression chemicals inside these canisters get designed to smother the fire before it can get out of control, but this protection does not come without a need for extensive cleanup and evaluation of structural integrity. Our SERVPRO Franchise professionals respond to your fire emergency can assess the full scope of the damage and determine the restorative actions that your property requires to return to pre-fire condition.

Cleanup of residue from the extinguisher happens both through conventional cleaning approaches with wet and dry sponges on accessible surfaces, but also requires specialized equipment designed to reach inaccessible areas more easily. It is our focus to provide efficient and effective fire damage cleanup so that you can return to normal life seamlessly.

Carpeted areas often require focused attention as well when cleaning up extinguisher residue. If the carpet has managed to come through the fire unscathed, it still requires our premier cleaning services including steam vacuuming and dry cleaning to pull the chemical residue and any soot or smoke particulates from the fibers of the flooring.

Fire Odor Removal

After a fire cleanup, home deodorization can be an important next step to making the area livable again. When setting up the cleanup process SERVPRO professionals recommend these three steps for successful odor removal.

1. Identify the Source

Knowing the source of the smoke odor can help determine the best cleanup plan. Odor can come from cigarette smoke, a house fire, or even extended use of a fireplace. In the event of a house fire it may be important to know what type of materials were burned, how long the fire lasted, and how long it’s been since the fire occurred. Smoke odor from cigarettes may also be stronger the longer it has been allowed to settle.

2. Use the Right Tools

When it comes to home deodorization, masking the smoke odor is only a temporary fix. Things may seem fresh for a while but over time the odor will reemerge. This is why it’s important to use the correct tools and cleansers from the start. The method used may depend on the severity of the smoke damage, but in most cases a ozone machine or thermal fogger may be the best tool for the job.

3. When in Doubt Call a Professional

Whether you’re dealing with cigarette smoke or fire cleanup, you may want to consider contacting a professional for your smoke removal needs. Many professional teams already have the tools needed to successfully remove the smoke odor from your home. They also have the knowledge they need to access the odor’s source and determine the best cleaning plan.

The process for home deodorization requires knowing the source of the odor, and which tools are best for the problem. Knowing these thing can help you formulate a plan for smoke odor removal. In many cases it may be best to contact a professional as they already have the tools and cleaning solutions needed for the job. 

Many factors determine the needs of your home following a small fire. Our SERVPRO of Reading rapid response team has the experienced personnel and industry-leading equipment designed to make restoration as efficient as possible in a traumatic time like this. You can reach our trained professionals 24/7 by calling (610) 779-8189.

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