Understanding Different Fire Residues And Smoke

5/7/2021 (Permalink)

There are basically three different types of smoke and fire residues that may get left behind after a fire broke out in your home or at your place of business. Below is a more comprehensive depiction of each of these residues and the corresponding techniques that you can take to clean them up thoroughly.

Synthetic Residues

These synthetic residues form when materials that are oil based get burned. These include fabrics and plastics which can appear in the forms of furniture, window frames, electronics, and carpets. When synthetic materials burn, a thick black smoke is produced. This will then leave behind a smeary residue which can cause a huge mess if not cleaned up through the right techniques. In such a situation, do not touch any of the residue so as to prevent smearing. Vacuuming is the best method to clean the synthetic residues which is to be followed by dry-chem sponge cleaning.

Protein Residues

When meats and beans burn, they cause a fire that leaves a yellowish-brown residue behind. The texture is slightly greasy and the residue may stick onto any surface which makes it a chore to clean up. It is crucial that you purchase the right fire cleaning chemical from a hardware store if you need to work on protein residues after a fire. Be sure to get hold of the correct chemicals as using an unsuitable product may cause the residue to spread and stick, causing an even bigger mess.

Natural Residue

Fires that are caused by burning natural products like paper and wood can produce a residue that looks dry and powdery. This residue is usually greyish-black in color and is much easier to clean up as compared to synthetic or protein residues. To remove this type of residue can easily be done by using a vacuum cleaner that is fixed with a bristled brush attachment. Following this, a dry-chem sponge cleaning can be done to finish things off.

Fire Damage Restoration

It is important to note that minor fire damage that takes place on a bad day can be cleaned up on your own but the results you achieve may last just for a short term. However, it is still highly recommended for you to engage the professional services of fire damage restoration experts if you are unsure of the proper steps to take. Handling the situation on your own may help you save on some costs, but if you happen to take the wrong steps, you may end up causing an even bigger mess which may be irreversible. This in turn may lead to even heftier damage costs that you need to fork out on top of the D.I.Y solutions you have tried earlier on. Restoration experts are able to assess the extent of the fire damage in your home or at your place of business and recommend the proper techniques and products to use.

Act fast and be quick to engage the professional services of fire damage restoration experts from SERVPRO of Lower Manhattan to keep your situation at bay. Make use of services that offer lasting results.