Picking up the pieces after a devastating fire is undoubtedly a difficult process. As you sift through your belongings to determine what can be salvaged and what needs to be thrown away, keeping the proper perspective will help make the process more manageable. By following these fire damage restoration tips, you’ll be able to retain as much as possible while staying safe.

Important Post-Fire Salvage Tips

Never Put Yourself at Risk

While it can be tempting to enter your home immediately after a fire, always make sure the space is completely safe before trying to examine anything inside the house. Touching and breathing dangerous chemical compounds is hazardous on top of the danger of structural damage. Before attempting to reenter your home, check with a fire damage restoration professional or emergency services personnel.

Avoid Overhandling Items

In general, avoid touching items that have been affected by the fire or smoke as much as possible. Even if the items have relatively minor damage, touching them can exacerbate the situation and ruin what was otherwise a salvageable belonging.

Soot particles are extremely fine and will grind into the item when touched, potentially rendering it a lost cause even to the most experienced fire damage restoration professional. If you do touch your belongings, however, always be as gentle as possible and take care to move them as little as you can.

Clean Carefully

Hiring a professional fire damage restoration service is always the wisest course of action after a fire. If you do attempt to clean some of the area, however, it’s crucial to do it correctly. Never use water or any other type of cleaning solution. These substances will only make the ash and soot bind closer to the item, making it harder to salvage. Instead, gently vacuuming your dry belongings (never vacuum anything that is wet) should be the first step in the cleaning process. Use the lowest setting on the vacuum and make sure the nozzle never actually touches the item to avoid any further damage.

If your home has been damaged by a fire, PuroClean® of Northwest Fort Worth in Tarrant County, TX, is ready to help you handle the situation. With an experienced crew and the latest in fire damage restoration equipment, the company has the skills necessary to salvage as much of your belongings as possible so you can make a quick recovery. Visit the website to learn more about the services available or call (817) 953-5151 to schedule a consultation today.