You will be raw and stressed after dealing with a house fire. There are many things to consider, including house fire cleaning up. Dumpster has compiled a list of important factors to consider in order to get back on your feet as soon as possible. The checklist below will walk you through some of the most basic steps to learning how to deal with the more serious issues you will face.
A Complete Checklist For Recovering From A House Fire
To determine how structurally sound your home is and what can be salvaged, it is necessary to go through a checklist and have a professional inspect the property.
Examining The Home And Recognizing The Damage
Before attempting to repair any damage, you must have a professional do a thorough inspection of the property. In addition to probable structural damage, the home may have hidden damage to the wiring, the deck, the roof, or even the foundation.
After determining that your space is safe to enter, you will need to don protective clothing for general cleaning and repairs. It is preferable to have your entire body covered with long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and closed-toe shoes. Additionally, you should wear a face mask and heavy-duty gloves.
During the time that the inspector is searching for potential dangers, you should make a claim with your insurance carrier and have a representative examine the potential harm. In addition, they may be able to provide you with a list of pros, such as Dumpster, who can aid with initial recovery and cleanup. Dumpster Rental Fort Pierce is the reliable dumpster rental company! We deliver a dumpster rental at the correct location and time. Once you’ve finished cleaning up, we’ll remove the rubbish.
Choosing What Should Be Tossed After A Fire
While items in your home may appear to be in good condition following a fire, they may pose a greater risk than you realize. Instead of eating food that may contain hidden dangers or sleeping on a bed that may not be properly supported, consult this handy list to determine what should be discarded following a fire.
7 Things You Must Dispose Of After A House Fire
What should be discarded after a fire? When cleaning up after a fire, there are several items that “must” be discarded.
- Electrical Equipment
- Burned Clothing
- Large Textiles
- Mattresses and Furniture
- Toiletries and Cosmetics
- Medicines
- Food
Any damaged goods should be discarded
When you are ready to focus on cleaning out the home of any affected belongings, you should rent a dumpster so you can get the house cleaned as soon as possible.
All items placed in the dumpster will be taken to the landfill and disposed of as trash. However, due to chemical damage, nothing, not even construction debris, can be recycled.
Begin the Cleaning Process
Before you begin cleaning your home, open all of the windows and turn on several fans to keep the air circulating. This will assist in removing the odor of chemicals and smoke from the home. Next, use a shop-vac to remove any standing water from the house and pull up and dispose of any ruined carpet or flooring. If the carpet is only stained with soot and not wet, you can have the stains removed by a professional carpet cleaning company.
Remove all wet items from the house and place them outside to allow for a more thorough inspection of the property. You will have the opportunity to inspect these specific items later to determine whether or not they can be salvaged.
Examine all interior surfaces for soot and attempt to clean it away. Make sure you look up at the ceiling. Many people overlook this crucial point. You will also need to hire a professional to clean the ventilation systems throughout the house. To ensure that your air is as clean as possible, you should clean the filters as soon as possible and then on a monthly basis.
Smoke and Ash Removal
The simple solution below can be used to clean floors, walls, cabinets, and a variety of other surfaces in your home.
- 2 tablespoons regular laundry detergent
- 1 cup bleach or other household cleaner
- 4–6 tbsp trisodium phosphate
- 1 gallon of water
When cleaning the surfaces in your home, always wear gloves and continuously rinse the sponge with clean water.
If you are still smelling smoke after a thorough cleaning, it is critical that the ductwork be professionally cleaned, as this is where the odors are most likely coming from. If you are still smelling an odor, you should speak with a restoration company about the thermal fogging procedure. This will aid in the removal of any odors that may have become trapped within the insulation and attic. A chemical fog is used in this process to help neutralize any odors.
Items for Cleaning and Salvaging
According to FEMA experts, the following actions should be taken:
- Before wearing any clothing, it should be washed.
- Everything in the house should be cleaned and/or dusted.
- Steam or another type of cleaner should be used to disinfect and deodorize carpets, drapes, furniture, and mattresses.
- You don’t want to use a spray that simply masks any odors.
Walls and Windows Cleaning Up
To help eliminate the smell of smoke, use the cleaning solution we provided to wash away the ash and soot from windows and walls. When cleaning walls, make sure they are completely dry for at least 48 hours before repainting.
You can use the above solution on washable wallpaper; however, avoid getting the wall behind the paper wet, as this can lead to mildew and mold. It is always possible to use a paste to ensure that all of the edges are securely attached to the wall.
Fabrics and clothing
How should you clean fabrics and clothing? Is it possible to remove the odor of smoke from clothing? The most effective solution is to treat them as soon as possible. The longer you wait to clean these items, the stronger the odor will become.
How to Get Rid of Soot
To remove soot from clothes, use the vacuum’s crevice attachment before they are wet. This will remove most of the ash without it becoming embedded in the fabric. While the fabric is drying, sprinkle it with baking soda to absorb more soot and vacuum after 15 minutes. Repeat this process until the majority of the stain is removed.
How to Get Smoke Out of Clothes
You can use the following formula for any items that can handle bleach:
- 1 cup bleach
- 4 tsp TSP
- 1 gallon of water
Make sure to thoroughly mix all of the ingredients before applying the solution to your clothing or using a sponge on larger items like mattresses and furniture. Allow the item or items to dry after rinsing in clean water. Allow them to air dry and allow enough time for larger items to fully dry before using. You might want to use a fan on larger items and open the windows.
If you are unable to use bleach, you can soak items in warm water with white vinegar or detergent overnight. Continue this process until there is no longer any odor.
If the soot stains or smell will not come out of the clothing, you may want to take them to a dry cleaner who can treat them with special dry-cleaning techniques. Any other items will require the services of a professional cleaner or a restoration company.
Housefire cleanup
It is possible to salvage furniture in your home if it was not burned and can be used. Hardwood furniture is typically the most cost-effective of all home furnishings. You should use an oil soap, which is usually sold for hardwood floors. You will need to sand and refinish any stains that penetrate deep into the wood. While the stains may be removable, you should take the furniture to a professional to ensure that all of the chemicals have been removed.
Dishes
You might be wondering if you’ll be able to use your favorite dishes again after a fire. They will be safe to use again as long as all of the plates, utensils, and pots can be thoroughly cleaned. However, if you have any wood or plastic dishes, they must be discarded because they can absorb smoke and chemicals.
How to Clean Fire Damaged Dishes
The dishes should be washed in hot water with soap and rinsed in a solution containing the following ingredients:
1 gallon of water
2 tbsp bleach Non-Porous Surfaces and Floors
While metal and glass are easier to clean than fabrics, it is best not to keep anything that has been melted, charred, or burned.
Glass is usually fire resistant and can be cleaned with dish soap and vinegar.
While metal can become stained, it is usually resistant to damage. You should wash it with dish soap and vinegar before sanding and painting it.
Hardwood floors are usually salvageable unless they have been burned and shared as a result of the fire. They can be cleaned with oil soap, sanded, and refinished.
How to Clean a House’s Exterior
As the interior of the house begins to feel like a home again, you must begin to focus on the exterior. You should begin at the top and inspect the gutters and roof. In many cases, the gutters can collect debris and become clogged. You can throw any ash piles in the garbage, but make sure to double bag it to avoid dust clouds. Furthermore, if at all possible, avoid washing ash down storm drains.
The windows and walls will be the next items on the agenda. While cleaning, you should work from top to bottom, allowing water and debris to run into areas that have not been cleaned. A power washer can be used to remove soot, chemical residue, and ash from the house. If the damaged area is small, you may only need a good brush and some borax to completely clean it. If the firefighters used Class A foam in the fire, it could be scraped away with a paint scraper. Tile cleaner is also excellent for removing any remaining remnants. For the windows, simply use a glass cleaner.
Remove any debris from the driveway or walkways, and then use the power washer to remove the soot from these areas. Lightly water the ground with your hose for about a week to help the ash recede into the ground.
Returning to Normalcy Following House Fire Cleanup
You now have all of the tools you need to clean up after a fire in your home. The worst will be behind you. We hope that the information in this guide will help to restore normalcy to your life. Remember, Port St Lucie Roll Off Dumpster Rental Company is here to assist you. Contact us today for more information on our dumpster rentals, and we will assist you in determining the best dumpster size for house fire cleanup.