Salvaging Items After a Fire

10/25/2018 (Permalink)

After a house fire in Cressona,PA, fire cleanup clean up can seem like a chore. Smoke damage can occur to personal items as well as the home, meaning everything has to be sorted and cleaned. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to salvage these items.

1. Use a Wet Cleaning Option

A wet clean often involves soaking or dampening an area in order to remove soot and other fire residue. While quite effective, not every item is suitable for being cleansed this way.

2. Use a Dry Cleaning Method

A dry cleaning option is often used for items that should not be soaked, or only suffered light damage. A dry cleaning may also be used as preparation prior to another method

3. Using an Immersion Cleaning Method

For cloth or non-mechanical items it may be possible to dunk and wash away smoke damage in a special cleaning solution. A smoke damage professional may be able to offer advice on which items will be best salvaged by this method.

4. Using an Abrasive Cleanser

Some items need to be scrubbed to get rid of the smoke odor. An abrasive cleaner is the best solution for this job.

5. Use Cleaning Sprays

Finding a fire cleanup solution for solid surface items, such as wood or metal furniture, can be difficult. However, there are several spray on cleansers that are easy to apply to these items and then wipe off safely.

6. Using a Foam Cleanser

Many fabrics, like those used for upholstery, can shrink or bleed if they become too damp. Foam cleaners are designed for use with these items.

With the right options fire cleanup can go smoothly and leave your items smoke free. The exact cleaning method may vary by object type and amount of smoke damage. A professional may also be able to make recommendations for the successful salvaging of personal items.