A house fire is every homeowner’s worst nightmare. Fire can be devasting and destroy an entire house leaving it unsalvageable, but sometimes, fires are small, and the damage is confined to a small space. When the fire department must come out to put the fire out, homeowners will have more to think about than only the fire damage. They’re going to need water damage cleanup as well.
No matter how big or small the fire is, however, one thing that homeowners must keep in mind is that the cleanup process cannot begin until authorities give the go-ahead to reenter the property. The homeowners will probably also need to call their homeowner’s insurance agent before they begin taking out any trash or beginning water damage cleanup. The insurance agency will most likely offer to send out an inspector for your claim quickly to take photos and assess the total loss.
Other tips for cleaning up after a house fire include:
- Consider a dumpster delivery service. If your fire was a large one, you might have large furniture structural trash such as drywall, lots of clothing and linens, and other household goods that were burned, smoke damaged, or water damaged.
- Personal Protective Equipment should always be worn, especially if you are doing water damage cleanup. Rubber boots and gloves, waders, and eye covers should be worn if there is substantial standing water. Always make sure the power remains turned off to the home as well while you are taking care of water damage to avoid electrocution.
- Use tri-sodium phosphate cleaner to spot clean belongings with soot damage. You can also use TSP to clean walls, floors, cabinets, and some furniture. Mix with water and use a sponge to wipe surfaces down. TSP removes soot and smoke odor.
- Hire a water damage cleanup professional when the damage is extensive. Often, firefighting ends up with an entirely saturated home and the best way to mitigate mold and mildew, remove soot, and complete a cleanout is to hire the professionals.
A house fire is one of the biggest disasters a homeowner can face but you don’t have to face the cleanup alone. Call a professional restoration company to help ensure your house is good as new once again.
If you’ve recently suffered a house fire call ServiceMaster of Pittsburgh at 412-376-4645.