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A house fire clean up isn’t a quick process. In addition, cleaning up the charred things, there is fire cleanup smoke damaged items too, and it is the smoke that lingers long after the charred items are gone.  If you have homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, your policy should have coverage to hire a fire clean up company. 

After all the charred items are out of the house, they will pack up everything from the drapes to the furniture, the clothing, pictures, knickknacks and more. Then they take it all back to their site where they do a deep fire clean up process. 

Can you die from smoke?

Fifty to 80 percent of deaths from a fire happened from smoke inhalation and respiratory system burns. The hot smoke injuries or deaths are by a combination of poisoning, pulmonary irritation, swelling, and thermal damage all caused by carbon monoxide and combustion able materials like cyanide. Therefore, occupants are not allowed back into a burned house until the fire clean up is complete.

Is it safe to stay in a house with smoke damage?

No, it is not safe to remain in a house that has gained smoke damage and fire clean up has been completed. Even after the house has been deep cleaned by a company or the occupant, there are particles and soot still around that aren’t visible. The odor alone from the smoke can travel through the vents and walls of the house, affecting everything from curtains, furniture, and belongings.

How dangerous is soot?

The particles of airborne soot are invisible and can affect you without you being aware. It enters the bloodstream and the health issues it creates can be serious and even lead to premature death. Until the fire clean up has been completed, these are some of those health issues are:

• Asthma
• Bronchitis
• Cancer
• Heart Attack
• Respiratory issues
• Shortness of Breath
• Stroke

How do you remove smoke damage from metal?

Soot results from carbon-based material accumulating from wood and other materials burning, such as the byproduct result of a fireplace, or in the case of this article, a house fire. This is why regular cleaning is recommended for fireplaces, grills, and ovens so they can operate as intended without causing the user any harm. 

Over time, soot bakes onto metal and can be difficult to remove. The sooner that soot buildup is removed from metal, the easier it is to clean. Therefore, after a fire, it is important to hire a professional fire clean up company to start on a house immediately. If you leave soot on surfaces, the more it penetrates things and the less likely you’ll be able to get the smell of fire and smoke out of things. 

If a fire isn’t widespread, a homeowner may do a fire clean up on their metal items themselves by following this fire clean up tips:

• Step One: In a bucket filled with hot water, add dishwashing liquid.
• Step Two: Dip a scrubbing sponge into the bucket of soapy water and rub it over the soot deposits, back and forth to break off most of the soot.
• Step Three: Mix in a spray bottle, equal amounts of warm water and white vinegar then spray over the remaining soot. The acid in the white vinegar will break up that remaining soot.
• Step Four: Using a nylon scrub brush, rub against the leftover stubborn soot. Do not use a metal brush – that will scratch it.
• Step Five: Using a damp rag, buff over the metal to remove the remaining soap or vinegar mixture, then dry with a dry rag.

How do I clean my house after smoke damage?      

After a fire, it is important to clean the smoke-damage for a healthy environment. Unfortunately, fire clean up and smoke damage cleanup aren’t easy. You can’t open a window to let it “air out”. Smoke and soot have an acidic nature challenging to remove, and the odor is not only unpleasant but breathing in that odor is harmful. So, how can you clean the smoke damage yourself? Once you have completed the fire clean up, the following will help with the smoke damage and odor removal:

• Ventilation: Open the doors and windows, even if it is cold. The sooner you get fresh air in and the smoke smell out, the better. Do not turn on the HVAC system either – it has sucked in the same smoke and will spread it through the house that you’re trying to ventilate.
• Protection: Wear proper protection, including a respirator, long pants, long sleeves, eyewear, gloves, and shoe protectors. Anything that isn’t damaged by smoke, cover it with plastic or remove it from the house.  
• Vacuum: Smoke and soot are a smelly package, so vacuum all the loose soot particles from the furniture with the upholstery attachment. A shop-vac is better if you have one.
• Dry-Clean Sponge: This is essential for success. using a dry-cleaning sponge, wipe the smoke and soot stains. Dry-Clean sponges have special chemicals that will remove stains from the walls with a gentle wiping motion. Keep turning the sponge to a clean side after a couple of wipes. Either slice the dirty sides off or use a new sponge when it is dirty all around.
• Liquid Cleaners: After the dry-cleaning sponge has done all it can, take a clean rag and following the directions on a commercial-grade smoke/soot remover, or use paint thinner, rubbing alcohol, or white vinegar, soak the clean rag and wipe down all the walls in every smoke damaged area. This includes light fixtures and light bulbs. This step may need to be repeated several times. The wipe all areas again with a clear, clear wet rag.

• Dry and Deep Clean: Once you have sufficiently cleaned all surfaces with the above steps, place fans throughout the house to speed up the drying process. You are still going to smell smoke for a few days, even a few weeks, as it takes time for it to totally dissipate.

Sewage and Water Removal Services

The Importance of Sewage Bacteria Removal

Why is it so important to clean up sewage backup? Regardless of where the sewage water came from, this water is much different from what is coming into your home for use. The sewage water that is overflowing into your space is water that should, typically, be going down and away from the home. For whatever reason, something is preventing the general flow and causing the water to go elsewhere. Unfortunately, that elsewhere direction is back up into your home. Exposure to this water can cause illness or severe health issues. 

It’s so important to clean this up as soon as possible because sewage water can contain harmful bacteria and viruses. Sewage removal from water waste and sewage removal, in general, will almost always involve disinfection. This is such a critical step to ensure that there is no harmful bacteria lingering. 

Frequently Asked Questions

• How much does sewage clean up cost?
  • The total cost is going to depend on a number of things, such as cleaning, disinfecting, and restoration services. When everything is said and done, the total price can range between $2,000 and $10,000.
• Does Roto Rooter clean up sewage?
  • Yes, Roto Rooter can come through to cleanup any sewage backup that may have occurred. 
• Is sewage backup an emergency?
  • Yes, a sewage backup of any degree should be considered an emergency. The water can contain extremely harmful viruses, bacteria, or other microbes that can cause serious illness. 
• How do you clean up sewage backup?
  • The clean up process can feel overwhelming, but there are several steps that need to happen to ensure quality and safe cleanup. Start by having your water turned off, then call restoration experts to come through to drain the backed up water, disinfect the area, and restore the area to its original state.
• Can carpet be cleaned after sewage backup?
  • Carpet can be cleaned after a sewage backup. Restoration companies can help by drying the material out thoroughly. Then they will usually steam clean to remove stains and residual items. Finally finishing with disinfecting everything to ensure it is safe to use again.

Because mold thrives in moisture, it may sound reasonable just dry the area to kill the mold spores. Drying the area can prevent the mold from multiplying and spreading, because the mold can no longer absorb nutrients from the moisture. Although drying the affected area will neutralize the mold, it will not kill it. If moisture builds up in the area again, the mold will revive and be able to multiply.

One of the most effective ways to get rid of mold is through a professional mold removal service like that of Restore Experts, Inc.. You can schedule our mold removal services by calling (954) 548-5613. 

Mold removal vs. mold remediation

If you’re searching for a mold removal service, you may run across the term mold remediation. This term essentially describes the same process of getting rid of mold in a building. Other interchangeable terms for mold removal are mold mitigation and mold abatement. 

How long does mold removal take?

Mold removal is usually a two-step process. The first step involves technicians spraying a chemical biocide liquid on the affected areas. This solution kills the mold. The second step, or encapsulation process, involves the technicians spraying a special paint or whitewash that contains any remaining mold spores to prevent them from growing back. Extensive damage may require drywall and studs to be removed, to be repaired, once the affected area is cleaned up. Clean-up usually requires vacuuming using HEPA filtration. The whole remediation takes anywhere from 1 to 5 days. It may take longer if clean-up or rebuilding is extensive.

Of course, the most effective tool against mold growth is prevention. By taking action and getting repairs made when there are plumbing or roof leaks or problems with your HVAC system, you can keep the moisture from building up and allowing the mold to grow. A residential plumbing service will be able to take care of plumbing leaks.

Mold removal cost

Costs will vary for mold removal. Depending on the location of the mold and how large of an infestation it is, costs can range anywhere from $500 to $30,000. If mold removal requires extensive structural repairs, the costs will run in the tens of thousands of dollars. Mold problems may or may not be covered by insurance. If it developed in an emergency situation, as with a burst pipe, it may be covered. But mold growth due to lack of maintenance, will not be covered. Check with you individual insurance companies to see what is covered under your policy.

Mold removal from siding

Depending on the type of siding you have, and how large the affected area is, removing mold from siding,vinyl siding in particular, can be fairly easy. There are commercial vinyl siding cleansers that will work, but if you have white vinegar available, you can make your own cleanser using a solution made up of 30% white vinegar and 70% water. A stronger mixture requires about ⅓ cup of powdered laundry detergent, ⅔ cup of powdered household cleaner, 1 quart of liquid laundry detergent and 1 gallon of water. The most effective tools for cleaning are either a long-handled soft brush or a soft cloth. As you clean, preferably from bottom up, rinse away residue.

What is the best product to kill mold?

If you have small patches of mold, you can kill it with basic household products like bleach, Borax or vinegar. Also useful are products like vinegar, ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, and laundry detergent.

How bad is black mold

While mold of any sort can damage your home and affect your health, black mold, which contains mycotoxins, can cause serious health problems, and even death. Some of the ways black mold can affect the health of those within the home include:

• Chronic coughing and sneezing
• Eye, nose, and throat irritation
• Rashes
• Chronic fatigue
• Headaches
• Vomiting and nausea
• Bleeding in the lungs and nose

Can I remove black mold myself?

Large black mold infestations usually require a mold removal service. But, areas of less than 10 feet or so can be effectively removed using household materials like ammonia and bleach. These materials are especially effective on mold growth on hard, non-porous surfaces like bathroom sinks, kitchen counters or shower doors. They are less effective against porous material like wood, because they can’t penetrate deep down through the material’s surface.

There are black mold removal cleansers on the market, although some can be highly toxic, and dangerous to use, especially in confined work spaces. No matter what you use for mold removal, make sure the work area is well ventilated, and that you wear gloves and a respirator for safety.