subject: Fire Damage - How You Can Clean Up [print this page] "Being a victim of a fire accident can be very stressful. Victims not only are emotionally traumatized by they suffer financial stress as well. Below are tips to clean up your home:
1. Clean up your home starting from the top of the house going down. If you have a second floor in your house, then it would be better if you would clean up the second floor first. For those houses which have only one floor, then it would be best to start cleaning the ceiling. Before starting, it would be best if you contact your insurance company and check if fire cleanup is covered. If it is covered, then it is good news for you because you get to hire a professional house cleaner who can help you clean up the fire damage.
Having a professional doing all the cleaning for you is better because cleaning is done faster. However, you need to probably shell out a few bucks. But if your insurance covers it, then there is no need to worry. If not, then maybe you can call your friends, relatives and others and ask for their help.
2. Before starting, go through all your stuff and try to segregate those that can still be used and those that are badly damaged.
3. Get a heat recovery ventilator to at least minimize or improve the quality of air in your home. You do not have to worry about additional energy cost because HRVs in the market these days are cost efficient.
4. Get rid of burned wall paper. Have it scraped off and replace it or repaint your wall with a new color. This is also a good way of erasing the bad memories left by the fire.
5. Buy a heavy duty vacuum cleaner if you don't have any to remove the soot after the fire and that greasy substance in your bed, curtains, and other fabrics in your house.
Open all the doors and windows in your house so that fresh air can come in. This is the best way to remove the odor from your house.
