How to Clean After Fire Damage

5/5/2022 (Permalink)

There are three types of damage that you may need to clean after a home fire:

• Fire damage
• Smoke damage
• Water damage

Let’s break that down into a quick checklist that will give you an overview of the cleaning process:

• Carefully remove all debris.
• Remove any standing water.
• Repair or replace anything that shows signs of water damage.
• Remove smoke particles and soot from all areas of the home.
• Clean the vents to eliminate soot and smoke particles that could damage the lungs. Make sure to turn your HVAC system off soon after the fire. You don’t want to spread those particles through your ventilation system and into other areas of the home. A thorough cleaning of the system is needed if you think that has happened.
• Throw away clothing and household items that are beyond repair or that you can’t wash. That’s an overwhelming step, but remember that most things are replaceable.
• Eliminate the smoky aroma that tends to set in after a fire.
• Purify the air to improve air quality throughout the home.

You can follow this checklist to clean up most areas of the home in the aftermath of a fire. If you find any of these tasks too difficult or you don’t have time to handle a post-fire cleanup, you may need to contact our team of experienced professionals.