Before

After

Cleaning Up After Kitchen Fire

Useful Tips on Cleaning Up After Kitchen Fire

The kitchen is one of the busiest and most dangerous parts of the house. The fact that you use fire, water and electronics in close proximity takes the risk of accidents like fires a notch higher. A fire in the kitchen can be catastrophic. Your utensils, cabinets and fixtures will smell of smoke long after the flames are gone. If cleaned incorrectly, the soot can spread all over causing permanent stains. SERVPRO has the tools and technicians for fire restoration. We do not recommend you attempt to clean fire damage yourself. Go through the proper channels to ensure everything is taken care of by professionals. After an expert crew assesses the damage, there are a few steps you can take if your home suffers fire damage.

Get the Right Protective Gear

Using the wrong cleaning gear will force you to inhale the soot, waste time and end up staining every item in the kitchen. Protect yourself by putting on a face mask, rubber gloves, and goggles.

Begin Clearing the Air

Clear the air by opening all doors and windows and setting up fans in the kitchen. The fans will generate a strong cross current that will push out the odors. Switch off the AC as it will circulate contaminated air into your duct-work and all over the house. In the event that the HVAC was on when the fire broke out, have the filters replaced.

Carefully Clean the Surfaces

Take time and thoroughly clean the surfaces. Sometimes, it is impossible to get rid of all the soot with a single cleaning run. Apply the appropriate cleaning product and buff the surface before leaving it to dry. You can repeat the procedure if the initial cleaning  didn’t get rid of all the stains. Cleaning can restore walls and cabinets that had a gloss or semi-gloss paint finish. It will also work perfect on non-porous surfaces like tiles, granite and marble.

Clean the Drawers, Cabinets, and Appliances

Smoke and soot may enter the closed doors of the cabinet and drawers. Empty everything and throw away any food as it might contain contaminants from the soot. Clean the walls, shelves, and hardware carefully. Examine the rubber gasket seals around appliance doors for any signs of damage, and make sure you clean the condenser coils of the fridge.

Freshen Up the Whole House

Although the kitchen is the only affected place, odors after the fire will linger in your entire home. Cleaning the entire house will get rid of all the lingering soot and smoke smell. Wipe all surfaces in the house before vacuuming your rugs and carpets. Sprinkling some baking soda on the carpet before vacuuming will help extract the smoke odors. You can also place bowls of vinegar in every room to get rid of residual smoke odor.

Contact SERVPRO for professional fire damage restoration and repair. Our skilled technicians leave no traces of fire damage and use state-of-the-art equipment. We can help you get back to normal faster.