The simple instruction when you are dealing with clothes and other household textiles at home after a fire is to not touch them. After the flames are gone, you will still be dealing with soot and odor. There are plenty of invisible pathogens and mold to deal with as well. The best thing to do is to call professionals for fire damage restoration, Dallas, Texas. While waiting for them, however, you can do some things yourself.
Get things dry
If you have upholstery soaking wet from water damage, it is best to put them under the sun to dry. If you suspect possible warping because of the sun, then put them in the shade and air dry or put a fan in front of them. The quicker you can dry upholstery, the better. If your couches have steel legs and you fear possible rusting, cover the legs with aluminum foil. This should buy some time while the professionals are making their way to your place.
Do not smudge
Soot from fire is always oily. This means that any attempt to wipe them off will only make things worse. Usually, when you call a professional for fire damage restoration, Dallas, Texas, they will use special vacuums to lift the stains away. Special chemicals may also be applied to deep clean all the surfaces and remove the odor. Odors after fire incidences are not just annoying. They can be very dangerous. This is why it’s not advisable for non-professionals to attempt to do anything on their own.
Have it assessed
What will be more cost-effective? Attempting to restore textile and upholstery after a fire or just replacing them? In some cases, restoration work can be cheaper than a replacement. This is especially true if the items were not scorched and not waterlogged. If they are, have them assessed by professionals. They could be beyond restoration especially if there are molds on them already. Black mold can be very difficult to get rid of (in the case of water damaged furniture). If this is the case, replacement would be the better option.
When to give up
If something is badly damaged by water, scorched, or is filled with soot among your textile belongings, it is best to just let them go. Even if professionals can attempt to restore, the restoration process can be long and expensive. Always talk to the restorers about the cost of the restoration. Be open about how limited your budget is so they can give you the right counsel.
Other surfaces
Even non-textile surfaces in your home should be deeply cleaned and restored before you move in. Sometimes, small fires can be just as harmful as big ones because of smoke damage. Surfaces can play host to a number of harmful pathogens. Make sure that all surfaces in your home are deep cleaned and free from smoke, soot, and oil. If it’s possible to test the air inside your home before you move in, have that done.
Recovering after a disaster can be overwhelming but our team of fire damage restoration, Dallas, Texas experts is always ready to help. Under the umbrella of Dryman Construction, the customers are on top of our minds. Contact us today!
