Cleaning Fire Damage In Your Bristol Home

2/18/2020 (Permalink)

Contact SERVPRO of Bristol at (860) 582-3330 now.

Using Agitative Cleaning to Enhance Fire Damage Recovery in Your Bristol Home

Soiling or smoke residues that are left on walls, ceilings, and surfaces after a fire are made up of thousands of individual particles. Temperature changes generate pressure that can force these particles onto, or into, surfaces. While a sturdy finish like varnish or paint may be able to repel some of these particles, the constant barrage can also wear away the finish allowing soots to bond with the surface. Sometimes, merely washing a surface can set soots which react to moisture and can make the surface tougher to clean. The trick to restoring a home properly is to find ways of loosening soots from surfaces before washing them off using wet products.

The first instinct when performing home fire damage restoration in Bristol is to apply water and soap mixtures to the surface. At SERVPRO, we advise against using water in the cleaning process until the removal of loose soots is complete. Water-based cleaning products can have the opposite of the intended effect by spreading soots around, setting them into surfaces, or causing colorfast bleeding and dripping. Rather than focus on wet-cleaning, our fire, and smoke damage restoration technicians (FRST) use agitation.

Agitation is an effective method for loosening soils before removing them. Dry soots may not yet be bonded with a surface, and providing light vacuuming over soiling can be extremely useful in tackling minor damages. Agitation is possible directly onto a dry surface or for use in combination with a cleaning solution. The goal is to move the surface as much as possible and with it any smoke residues. These loose residues are then far more likely to respond well to more direct washing or cleaning.

In some situations, a homeowner can achieve excellent results by using brushes, scourers, or dry sponges directly onto the affected area. Where there are significant amounts of soiling, SERVPRO can deploy mechanical agitation equipment. Rotating brushes can clear a heavily soiled surface much quicker than manual cleaning. Equally, air pressure hoses for indoor soils or water pressure for outdoor can be capable. Some charred elements of structure may benefit from sandblasting, which removes both soot and surface to provide a clean, smooth finish.

Dry cleaning can be the number one factor in restoring a home to its preloss condition and avoiding further damages. Contact SERVPRO of Bristol at (860) 582-3330 now.

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