Post Fire Clean up – what next booklet – can be emailed

Cleaning Up
Please contact your insurance company or landlord/council first
before arranging for a company to clean up.


With that in mind, please take photos before you begin to clean up.

Insurance companies may ask for photographic evidence; once you have
started cleaning it will begin to look a lot better very quickly.

To reduce the amount of damage there are a number of actions that can be
taken (outlined in this section).

Please start the clean-up process as promptly as possible. The cleaning will
become harder the longer you leave it.

Remember when entering the building, safety is your priority!


Smoke Odour
Wash smoke odour and soot out of washable clothing, bedding and upholstery
at the first opportunity. Follow washing instructions on labels as this will
prevent mildew. If soot or mildew remains after washing, seek advice from a
professional laundry or dry cleaners.
It also helps to vacuum the area to remove as much of the ash and smoke
particles as possible before washing. Make sure you use a vacuum cleaner with
a high quality filter and do not use the brush attachment.
Plug in air fresheners can minimise the smell of smoke in your home, although
there is no quick fix. It will take time.


Drying out
Premises will need to be thoroughly heated and ventilated; open windows for
several days however, please be mindful of maintaining security.
Dry out any wet items as soon as possible. Use fans and dehumidifiers to dry
carpets and draperies.
If not thoroughly dried, carpets and smoke odour may remain in clothing,
upholstered furniture, carpets, and draperies unless they are properly
deodorized before cleaning. If not done properly the floors underneath may
also be quickly damaged beyond repair by mould and mildew.
As well as drying out carpets, dehumidifiers will remove water from the
atmosphere. Do not use LPG (Liquified Petroleum Gas) heaters, as they create
additional water vapour.


Cleaning walls
Walls with soot on them can be washed with a mild soap or detergent solution.
Wash a small area at a time working from the ceiling down. Plaster can be
repaired whilst still damp. Care should be taken near electrical switches.


Fabrics and clothing
Please don’t send smoke damaged garments to ordinary dry cleaners, the
wrong cleaning method may make smoke and odour impossible to remove.
They will be able to give you advice.


Furniture
Clean dirt off furniture and remove any drawers and items until dry enough to
prevent sticking. Scrub with a stiff brush and cleaning solution, dry thoroughly,
and open windows and doors for ventilation. Wet wood will decay and go
mouldy if not dried properly. Do not dry furniture in direct sunlight; it will warp
and go out of shape.
Rinse leather and suede items in cold water and leave to dry naturally.
Carefully clean fixtures, fittings, towel rails and chrome trim with a light coating
of petroleum jelly (e.g. Vaseline) or a light oil (e.g. WD40).


Carpets and rugs
Wall to wall carpet is best cleaned with a wet/dry vacuum cleaner. These may
be hired from carpet stores, dry cleaning shops or tool hire companies.
Rugs should be dried quickly and thoroughly.
Clean by sweeping and vacuuming, then use a commercial rug shampoo, using
as little water as possible. Lay the rug on a flat surface and expose to a
circulation of warm, dry air. A fan directed over the rug will speed up the drying
process. Ensure no moisture remains at the base of the tufts, as this may rot the
rug.
Open all doors and windows to ventilate the property.
Do not turn on/off any electrical switches.
Extinguish all naked flames, do not smoke, strike matches or do anything
that could provide a source of ignition.
If there are any electrical security entry phones/locks, please open door
manually.


Linoleum Tiles
If water seeps under linoleum, it will cause bad odours after a few days. If this
happens, remove the entire sheet. It can only be relayed when the floor is
completely dry.


Storage
If your premises are no longer habitable, then furniture may need removing and
storing.


Locks and Hinges
Smoke fumes and even light heat can easily damage locks and hinges. These
should be taken apart and wiped clean. If they cannot be removed, spray thin
oil or WD40 through the keyhole.


Electrical Hazards
Where water has come into contact with electrical wiring or appliances, you are
advised to isolate the electricity supply and have the system checked by a
qualified electrician. If an appliance has been labelled ‘do not use’, do not use it
under any circumstances. Remember, water conducts electricity and can give
you an electric shock.
Please remember, electronic devices can retain charges even when unplugged
for some hours. If small enough, place in uncooked rice and leave for around 12
hours.


Gas
Do not use gas appliances unless given approval from the Gas Board.
If you smell Gas, call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 (24
hours).


Priority Service Register (PSR)
The priority service register is a system which ensures energy suppliers provide
extra help to their most vulnerable customers.
If you find it hard to deal with your energy supply, you could get extra help from
your energy companies – e.g. more support during a power cut.
This can be done by applying to be added to your electricity network PSR. Your
electricity network is the company that manages your electricity cables.


Telephone
If you have a landline and the telephone or associated wiring is damaged,
please contact your provider.


Food
Fruit, vegetables, meat, fish or poultry exposed to intense heat and smoke must
be thrown away. Similarly, canned food exposed to intense heat or open flames
during a fire may have been warmed to a level where harmful bacteria could
have formed. If in doubt, throw it out!
If your home freezer has stopped running, keep the freezer door closed. Food
will remain frozen for at least 24 hours if kept sealed. If food does thaw out, do
not refreeze.
Wash all cooking utensils thoroughly in hot soapy water. Copper and brass
should be cleaned with special polish.
To remove any odours from a fridge or freezer, wash with a baking soda
solution, or one cup of vinegar to each gallon of water.
Your contents insurance may cover the loss of frozen food.


Books and Documents
Wipe books with a dry sponge. Handle them gently as books exposed to smoke
can be brittle. Focus on the edges and spines as these are the areas most
exposed to smoke. Apply a small amount of mild cleaning agent to the sponge
and clean the hard parts of the book. This should not be applied to any of the
paper.
Books can be dried by placing them on one end, separating the pages and
placing unmarked dried paper between the pages. Press to avoid crinkling or
distorting.
Single sheets can be dried by a hand held hairdryer on a low setting (take care
not to scorch the surface). Afterwards, press flat between the pages of a heavy book.