Cleaning And Sanitizing Furniture After Fire Damage In Your Chattanooga Home

5/18/2017 (Permalink)

No matter the size or severity of a fire, it is important to get repairs started quickly.

Cleaning And Sanitizing Furniture After Fire Damage

No matter the size or severity of a fire, it is important to get repairs started quickly. Soot is very acidic and, if left long enough, it starts to eat away at different materials in the home. Fabrics are particularly vulnerable, and furniture requires cleaning as soon as possible.

At SERVPRO, we use the finest tools and techniques to repair fire damage inside Chattanooga properties. We are very cautious when handling furniture because movement can cause soot residues to penetrate deeper into porous fabrics.

Why Is Smoke A Big Problem?
Smoke poses a challenge for fire damage restorers because it is a very resilient substance. It is made up of tiny particles of less than ten microns in diameter. It means that the only way to completely remove it from fabrics is to formulate smoke neutralizing chemicals with these same dimensions and consistency. Contact with human skin intensifies the acidic film it deposits on surfaces. For this reason, the SERVPRO technicians use nitrile gloves to prevent further damage.

Is It Possible To Clean Furniture?
The primary challenge, when it comes to cleaning smoke damaged furniture, is the presence of soot. This substance can be extremely stubborn and causes stains if the right cleaning chemicals do not get applied. Dry cleaning sponges are suitable for clearing loose residues and any powdery films on surfaces.

Once the dry soot is gone, the furniture gets sanitized with powerful cleaning agents. They help to prevent further discoloration and deterioration. The final stage is to apply a HEPA vacuum for collecting leftover soft particles. It is likely that the chair pads and any removable pieces of fabric require separate cleaning.

Does This Fix The Smoky Odors Too?
SERVPRO uses a potent oxidizing chemical (like ozone) to get rid of the smoky odors which develop after a fire. If we do not perform a deodorization procedure, the smells can become permanently trapped in the fabric. Ozone is a gas which hooks itself to the odor emitting particles and actively transforms them into particles which are incapable of producing odor.

If you work with SERVPRO of East Chattanooga, you get to benefit from our links to a wide variety of furniture restorers and upholsterers. Together, we can make sure that your home bounces back from fire damage. Call us 24/7 at (423) 326-1406.

For more information regarding Chattanooga, visit: http://www.chattanooga.gov/