A kitchen flare-up or an electrical short leaves a heavy mark on a house fast. If you have just had a fire here in Rio Verde, your head is probably spinning. Between the soot, the chemical smell, and the water from the fire department hoses, the mess is massive. All Things Restoration has walked into plenty of homes out here where drywall is charred and the fine desert dust has mixed with soot to create a sticky black paste.
Homeowners need a clear plan right now. Let us look at what you can safely tackle on your own and what requires professional heavy lifting.
Before the Cleanup Starts: Safety First
Do not just rush inside with a broom. Utilities need to be checked. If the power or gas lines were compromised, stay out until the fire department gives the all-clear. Out here in our older properties and custom builds, HVAC systems can suck smoke particles deep into the ductwork within seconds. Turn that system off immediately so you are not blowing soot through every room.
Take photos of everything before you touch a thing. Your insurance adjuster is going to want to see the damage in its raw state. Call your insurance company right away to get the claim rolling.
What You Can Do Yourself
You can handle minor surface cleaning if the fire was small and contained. For non-porous surfaces like tile, glass, and metal, a mix of warm water and trisodium phosphate works wonders on soot. You can also throw washable clothes and bedding into the washing machine using standard detergent plus a cup of white vinegar to cut the smoke odor.
Throw away any food that was exposed to heat, smoke, or firefighting chemicals. Do not risk it. If the power went out for more than a few hours, the fridge contents have to go.
- Ventilate the house if the weather permits by opening windows.
- Wipe down hard plastic and sealed countertops.
- Bag up heavily charred, unsalvageable soft goods.
When to Call the Pros
Soot is acidic. If you leave it sitting on painted walls, chrome, or porcelain for more than a couple of days, it causes permanent etching and discoloration. That is where All Things Restoration comes in. All Things Restoration uses specialized HEPA vacuums and chemical sponges that lift soot instead of smearing it deeper into the pores of your walls.
Drywall that has absorbed smoke odor cannot just be painted over. The smell will bleed right through standard paint when our summer heat cranks up. We have to seal those studs and replace the ruined sections. Trapped moisture behind walls from putting out the fire also leads to mold fast if commercial air movers and dehumidifiers are not brought in right away.
After the Restoration: Getting Back to Normal
Once the structural repairs are finished and the air scrubber units are pulled out, your home will feel like home again. Replace all your HVAC filters immediately. It is also smart to have your ducts professionally cleaned so leftover soot does not circulate the next time your air conditioning kicks on during a hundred-degree afternoon. Take a deep breath, keep working with your insurance adjuster, and let All Things Restoration help you move forward step by step.