Fire/Smoke Damage

Fires can be devastating. Not just on your home, but also on your life. ServiceMaster by Mistick offers you peace of mind knowing experts with years of restoration experience and training are looking out for you.

We use the latest equipment and supplies in our five-step fire and smoke restoration process:

• Emergency pre-cleaning
• Content cleaning
• Content pack-out
• Wall and ceiling cleaning
• Deodorization

Most people think that everything is a loss when a fire occurs. With ServiceMaster by Mistick, we are able to salvage many items, including electronic equipment. We have a 7,500 square foot Disaster Recovery Center (DRC), where the cleaning and restoration of damaged contents are handled with the utmost care. Our team will handle a full pack-out and cleaning of your home’s items. This involves detailed inventory marking and documentation, packing and moving. In our DRC, household items may be cleaned conventionally, in ultrasonic baths or with compressed air systems. Our facility also includes drying and ozone chambers for deodorization of select contents.

Homes impacted by the affects of the fire:
Even if your house didn't suffer actual fire damage, smoke from the fire can create problems in your house and on your property. Here are basic tips. Exterior:

• Pressure wash, scrub or clean all exterior surfaces including walls, walks, drives, decks, window and deck screens, etc. Most pressure washers can be rented or are available for purchase through home improvement stores.
• Clean smoke-covered windows by adding one part rubbing alcohol to five parts window cleaner.
• If aerial fire retardant or firefighting foam residue is present on your home or vehicles, use a mild detergent and brushes to scrub and dilute the dried residue; rinse with clean water. A follow-up with pressure washing may be beneficial but will not replace scrubbing to remove the residue.
• Ash and soot on the ground and vegetation will continue to generate smoke odors. Use a garden hose to gently spray residue from vegetation.

Interior:

• Wash all interior walls and hard surfaces with mild soap or other appropriate cleaning solutions or products, and rinse thoroughly. Don't forget inside cabinets, drawers and closets. Always test your cleaning process on a small, inconspicuous area to determine effectiveness.
• Launder or dry clean all clothing.
• Wash, dust or otherwise clean all household items, including knick-knacks. Clean and deodorize carpets, window coverings, upholstered furniture and mattresses using commercially available cleaning solutions or products.
• Treat upholstery, fabric window treatments, etc. with deodorizing products available at most supermarkets.
• Change filters when you first return to the premises and at least once a month for the first year.
• Inspect heating, ventilating and air conditioning units and all ductwork. If soot, ash and smoke residue are found have these areas professionally cleaned before use.

Tips for odor removal:

• Increase air flow by opening windows, turning on fans or even putting particularly smelly items outside.
• Remove minor smoke film from washable surfaces by using a solution of heavy-duty cleaner or degreaser and a dash of water-soluble deodorizer from a local supermarket or home improvement store.
• If the smoke film is heavy on a washable item, locate a dry cleaner that offers ozone treatment. An easy way to locate these suppliers is through Certified Restoration Dry Cleaning Network (www.crdn.com).
• To clean smoke-covered windows, add one part rubbing alcohol to five parts window cleaner.
• Light smoke film on acoustic ceiling tile can be removed by professional ceiling cleaners, but heavy buildup requires replacement of the tile. If you consider painting, remember that painting removes the acoustic properties of these tiles.
• Clean carpets to remove smoke odor. Either rent a carpet steam cleaner and clean the carpets yourself or hire a professional. If you hire a professional ask if they use environmentally-responsible products for carpet cleaning.
• Upholstered furniture, draperies and carpeting can be wet- or dry-cleaned, as appropriate, after a thorough vacuuming, with water-soluble deodorizer added to the cleaning solution to control residual smoke odor.
• For large areas, fill small dishes with vanilla, vinegar or activated charcoal for an easy, inexpensive smoke eater. Or, you can purchase odor neutralizer from a supermarket which should work for effectively.
• Use baking soda to get rid of smoke odor. Dust the furniture and the carpets with the baking soda and let settle for a day or so. Then vacuum it up and repeat the process a few more times over the course of a week.
• Change the filter in the air and/or heat circulation systems.
• If odor is overwhelming or does not dissipate, seek professional help.