If a fire has ravaged your business but still left your building mostly intact, you may be wondering what the next steps should be in order to get things back to normal. With the right steps, such as professional cleaning and restoration methods, you can erase much of the damage and dirtiness caused by the fire and may even restore your building to how it was before the fire occurred.
Use a Good Solution to Remove Soot
The dark soot that was left over by the fire may have caked your walls and other surfaces and objects inside your building, and you may be able to remove most or even all of it with the right cleaning solution. You can make your own solution by mixing a gallon of warm water with detergent or mild soap along with four to six tablespoons of tri-sodium phosphate and one cup of chlorine bleach or household cleaner. Multiple gallons of the solution can be made if needed. This solution can be used to safely clean soot from walls, floors, and office furniture that you want to try to salvage.
Eliminate the Odors
Fire often leaves burnt smells and other unpleasant odors in its wake, and you can try different methods to freshen the air. A thorough cleaning of the surfaces and objects in your building may be effective in order to remove the source of these orders. You can also eliminate odors by sprinkling baking soda on carpets and upholstered furnishings that you use for your business, such as office furniture. Simply opening the windows and leaving them open for extended periods can additionally help to clear out the odors. Your HVAC may need to be cleaned as well so that foul smells won’t circulate throughout your workspace thanks to soot and grime getting trapped in the vents and filters. If you need help with removing the odors, a local commercial fire damage restoration company can offer their services.
Remove Wet Insulation Material
The insulation material that you use to regulate temperatures inside your business better may have gotten wet when water was used to extinguish the fire. Check to see if any of the insulation material that lines the walls of your business’s attic and other areas where the material was installed is wet. Even if the material still looks clean, wet insulation foam or padding could spawn mold and mildew growth and should be removed and replaced. Most insulation materials are easy to cut into smaller pieces and peel off surfaces, but you should wear gloves, a mask, and other protective gear to remove the material safely before double-bagging it in garbage bags and disposing of it promptly.
Whether a fire caused major or minor damage inside your business, you should try to remove the remnants of the fire by cleaning as soon as it’s safe to do so. Fire restoration professionals can use additional cleaning methods to restore your business and help you avoid further hazards.
