We Have 6 Methods To Clean And Restore Your Fire Damaged Personal Property In Brookhaven
11/5/2018 (Permalink)
Cleaning Personal Property After Fire Damage In Brookhaven
When possible, restoring a Brookhaven resident’s property after a fire is not just cost-efficient. It also helps lessen the personal loss to a family still dealing with watching that fire race through their home.
SERVPRO can restore most fire damage to the personal property of Brookhaven homeowners if flames did not heavily scorch it. Our teams use six methods to clean and restore personal property based on the type and level of damage, and the material that makes up the damaged item.
Dry Wiping
This is the first step our technicians take with almost every item. They use dusting cloths and sponges for dry surfaces with non-greasy, light-to-medium soot residues, usually a powder. If the layer of soil is very thick, they may use a commercial grade vacuum to remove it from the surface. Dry wiping is useful for other types of damage before our teams begin using other methods.
Wet Wiping
Technicians use this cleaning method for moderate-to-heavy soot and smoke residues. They use the same cloths and sponges, but also water or a mild cleaning solution. It is also our preferred choice for the property we cannot saturate with water or cleaners. In some cases, they use brushes for the better effect to remove much of the residues.
Spray and Wipe
SERVPRO technicians use a spray bottle filled with water or a cleaner for more control over how much they use for cleaning an item. It is our first choice with curtains and drapes when there is a risk of the color fading, or running down the surface and onto carpets or floors.
Foam Cleaning
This is similar to spray and wipe, but our teams use a pump-up bottle to force air into the liquid and apply foam. The method uses much less moisture while still applying a large amount of cleaning agent. It is our choice for cleaning upholstered furniture since too much liquid can cause the fabric to shrink and pull away from the frame.
Abrasive Cleaning
When the soot covers rough surfaces, like rock and marble, our technicians use a thicker cleaning agent and a variety of brushes to remove residues. For metal surfaces, they may have to use steel wool rather than a brush.
Immersion Cleaning
This is our choice for items with very thick residues and when other methods do not work. We immerse them in a tank containing water or cleaning agent and then use sound waves to agitate the entire surface area with thousands of cleaning bubbles. It is exceptionally effective, even on items which absorbed a large number of residues over time.
Cleaning and restoring personal property is not a quick process. At SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest, we use every method and tool in our inventory to restore everything possible after a fire. Call us at (919) 790-1222 today to schedule a visit.
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