The fire wasn't serious, maybe just a little cosmetic damage to the stove and cabinets in the kitchen. But the whole house has a layer of soot in it. Clothes in the closet have little black specks on them, even though the closet doors were closed at the time of the fire. The whole house has an unpleasant burned odor. You don't want to live in a house like this. What can you do to begin cleaning? Or should you just wait until the insurance adjuster can come out and look at everything, which could be a week from now? Many people have found themselves in this situation, not knowing what to do. Sometimes the person they talked with at the insurance company has been of little help. What would you do?
Knowing what not to do is as important as knowing what to do. Attempting to clean some surfaces the wrong way can damage them further so it's usually best to leave the cleaning to professionals. Delaying cleaning sometimes causes additional harm as well, so it's best to call in the professionals immediately.
Emergency Pre-cleaning
Many people are not aware that soot on surfaces can cause damage to the surface just by being there. Depending on what burned, soot residue can contain various acids which can eat into metals, glass, and other materials. If there is excess humidity in the house, such as might have come from fire-fighting efforts, then the process can be accelerated. That is why it is imperative to call in an expert who knows what needs to be protected and how to do it. Insurance personnel are often too busy to inspect small fires right away, and sometimes they don't know the importance of immediate remediation. It is critical in many cases to pre-clean surfaces within 48 hrs after the fire in order to prevent further damage.
"I can clean up my own home"
True, you can clean up your home after a fire. However, if you have not been trained in the proper ways to clean soot from surfaces, you are almost certain to do additional damage to the home. Insurance companies recommend ServiceMaster for soot cleanup because they know that we can prevent further damage, and therefore keep remediation costs to a minimum. By cleaning properly we can save articles that otherwise would have to be replaced. We all have sentimental items in our homes that cannot be replaced, and ServiceMaster may be able to save those keepsakes. If you have smoke damage to your home, the best thing you can do is to call ServiceMaster immediately. The sooner you call, the sooner your home will be back to its original condition (or cleaner).
"I can stand the smell for a while"
There are several reasons why you should not breathe smoky air for any length of time. First, its unpleasant. The reason your clothes smell smoky after you spend time in a smoky house is that microscopic particles from the air have lodged in the fabric. These same particles are drawn into your lungs with every breath, and in large quantities, they could be harmful. Second, people with allergies or respiratory conditions like asthma could suffer serious medical consequences. These people definitely should not spend time in a polluted atmosphere! Children and the elderly are more susceptible to airborne contaminants, also, and should not be exposed to excessive amounts. In short, breathing smoke-contaminated air is not good for anyone, and it can be dangerous for some. The sooner you have your home cleaned after a fire, the better for everyone.
"Who should I call after a fire?"
After the fire is extinguished and the premises secured, your next call should be to ServiceMaster of Gwinnett or ServiceMaster 5 Points. We will help you decide on the next steps in getting your home back to normal. After all, we have been doing this sort of work for years, and this may be your first experience with a fire. Let us help.
Don't wait!
