Tag Archive for: smoke

What to Do After Fire or Smoke Damage in Winter

Fire and smoke damage can be distressing at any time of year. During winter, it becomes even more difficult to manage. Cold weather, restricted ventilation, and extended drying times all contribute to the difficulty. Knowing what steps to take after a fire helps safeguard your property and prevents further damage.

The most important thing is to act quickly, but safely.

Step 1: Make Sure the Property Is Safe

Do not re-enter the property until the fire service declares it safe. Fire can weaken floors, ceilings, and walls. Even small fires may cause hidden structural damage.

If you smell gas or see damaged electrical wiring, stay outside and contact the relevant emergency service.

Step 2: Limit Further Damage

Once it is safe, take steps to prevent further damage.

  • Ventilate the property where possible by opening windows and doors briefly to release smoke odours.
  • Cover damaged areas if the weather permits.
  • Remove unaffected belongings from smoky rooms.
  • In winter, avoid leaving windows open for extended periods, as cold air slows drying and increases condensation.

Step 3: Avoid DIY Cleaning

Smoke residue and soot spread easily. Wiping surfaces without the proper products can push soot further into materials and cause stains to become permanent.

Soot contains dangerous particles. Inhaling them can irritate the lungs and eyes. Professional fire and smoke damage cleaning removes contamination safely and effectively.

Step 4: Contact Your Insurer Early

Notify your insurer promptly. Take photographs of all visible damage and record what has been affected. Do not dispose of any items until they have been inspected.

Your insurer may appoint a loss adjuster to assess the damage and advise on next steps.

Step 5: Start the Restoration Process

Fire damage restoration during winter takes longer. Cold air hampers drying, and smoke odours persist. Specialist equipment is required to clean, dry, and deodorise affected areas.

Professional restoration helps prevent long-term problems like corrosion, staining, and mould growth.

Why Winter Makes Fire and Smoke Damage Worse

In colder months, properties remain closed. Smoke particles settle further into soft furnishings, walls, and insulation. Moisture from firefighting can freeze or cause condensation, resulting in secondary water damage.

This makes prompt, professional intervention essential.

When to Get Professional Help

If your property has experienced fire or smoke damage in winter or at any time of year, expert support is essential. Proper cleaning, drying, and deodorising help protect both the building and the health of those living or working there. ServiceMaster Restore offers fire and smoke damage restoration nationwide in the UK.

Our teams work throughout the year and are familiar with the challenges brought by winter conditions.

If you need help after a fire, call 0800 021 3970, or find your nearest ServiceMaster Restore business to see how we can help today.

Bonfire Night safety tips

How to have a safe bonfire night.

It’s vital to know Bonfire Night safety tips before enjoying the celebrations.

Read on for some helpful Bonfire Night safety tips to keep you, your family and friends safe this Bonfire Night.

Did you know that the Fire Brigade attends thousands of out-of-control bonfires each year?

Help to keep the Fire Brigade accessible for fires that can’t be prevented by following these simple Bonfire Night safety tips:

Bonfire Safety Tips

  • Check there is no wildlife or pets where you build your bonfire
  • Build your bonfire clear away from buildings, sheds, fences and hedges
  • Don’t light your bonfire with flammable liquids
  • Don’t burn dangerous items such as aerosol cans, paint tins, batteries or foam-filled furniture
  • Always have clear access to plenty of water in case you need to use it (buckets/hose pipe)
  • Never leave a bonfire unattended, and ensure it is damped out when finished

To prevent smoke from entering your home, ensure that windows are closed and doors are shut.

Any clothing worn for the bonfire should ideally be washed quickly to avoid the smell entering your home.

Need smoke or fire and smoke restoration?

Call emergency services immediately if you are unfortunate enough to be impacted by a spreading bonfire.

Our fire and smoke damage restoration experts at ServiceMaster Restore can help with the aftermath and restoration.

For 24/7 professional fire and smoke restoration services, call 0845 762 6828

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How to Get Smoke Smell Out of House After a Fire

Eliminating the lingering effects of smoke damage with tips from the experts at ServiceMaster Restore.

Going through a fire is stressful. Fires can cause extensive damage throughout your home or property, which requires the help of professionals to restore.

In addition to repairing items burnt, soot-covered, or damaged by water from firefighting efforts, there’s also the question of how to remove the smoke smell from the house. The smell of soot or smoke can linger well after a fire, causing unwanted discomfort or damage to you and your family.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through removing smoke odours from your home. We’ve included immediate steps, deep cleaning suggestions, and odour-neutralisation recommendations.

4 Immediate Steps to Get Rid of Fire Smoke Smell

  1. Ensure the Fire is Completely Extinguished: This might seem obvious, but it’s crucial. Never attempt to clean or ventilate until you’re sure the fire is out and any investigations are complete.
  2. Ventilate (When Safe): Once it’s safe, open windows and doors to circulate fresh air. Use fans to exhaust smoky air outwards, not just within the house.
  3. Contact Your Insurance Company: Notify your insurance provider as soon as possible to begin the claims process.
  4. Assess the Damage: Carefully evaluate the extent of the smoke damage. This will help determine whether you can handle the cleanup or need professional smoke odour cleaning.

How to Clean and Deodorise to Remove Smoke Smell

Essentially, everything in a home affected by fire smoke needs to be cleaned.

Some items may only require thorough airing to remove the smoke smell. However, most items, such as carpeting, rugs, curtains, upholstery, and clothing, will need a thorough cleaning and possible sanitisation.

While special tools and techniques used by professionals will be more effective, you can still take some steps to mitigate the damage caused by the smoke odour from items.

We’ll break it down by material type:

Cleaning Fabrics (Clothing, Bedding, Curtains, etc.)

  • Wash Everything Washable. Use a high-quality detergent and add a laundry booster designed for odour removal. Don’t forget often-overlooked items like pet bedding, stuffed animals, and even decorative pillows.
  • Dry Clean Delicate Items. Take delicate fabrics to a professional dry cleaner, and be sure to tell them about the smoke damage.
  • Dealing with Oily Soot. If your fabrics have oily soot, avoid using your washing machine, as it can clog. Instead, try taking them to a dry cleaner.
  • Storing Clean Materials. After cleaning, store items away from the affected area to prevent re-contamination.

Cleaning Hard Surfaces (Walls, Ceilings, Woodwork, etc.)

  • Wipe Down Everything. Use mild detergent and water to clean all hard surfaces, including painted surfaces, baseboards, doors, window frames/sills, and the outside and interiors of all cabinets and drawers.

Pro-Tip:

  • Act quickly. The acidic soot can cause metallic surfaces to corrode or rust within hours. Likewise, hard surfaces such as wood, wallpaper, drywall, or paint may start to discolour if soot is not removed shortly after damage. Remove soot as soon as possible to avoid hard-to-remove stains or odours.

Cleaning Carpets and Upholstery

  • Vacuum carpets and upholstery with a HEPA-filtered vacuum. Avoid using an upright vacuum with a beater bar on upholstery, as this can push soot deeper into the fibres. Use a brush attachment and vacuum gently.
  • Spot Cleaning. For smaller areas, try spot cleaning with a specialised smoke odour remover. Test the cleaner in an inconspicuous area first.
  • Professional Cleaning. For heavy smoke damage or if DIY methods are ineffective, consider hiring a professional smoke odour removal company.

Pro-Tips:

  • Upright Vacuums. Avoid vacuuming curtains or upholstery if you’re using an upright vacuum. The brushes can cause soot to go deeper into the material, resulting in more damage. Using the right equipment to remove the soot is important.
  • What to Do with Smoke-Damaged Wood Furniture. When cleaning, keep smoke-damaged wood furniture away from your carpet. The cleaning solutions may leak and cause carpet stains unless there is a protective barrier between the two.

Cleaning Hidden Areas (Drawers, Wardrobes, Light Fixtures, etc.)

Smoke can infiltrate even the smallest spaces. Empty and clean drawers and wardrobes thoroughly. Also, remember to clean light fixtures, behind appliances, and other often-overlooked areas.

Here are several tips for cleaning the hidden areas:

  • Drawers and Wardrobes. Empty them, wipe down all surfaces with a mild detergent, and leave them open to air out.
  • Light Fixtures. Wash removable covers and shades, wipe down bulbs and fixtures, and consider replacing bulbs with persistent odours.
  • Behind Appliances. Pull out appliances, vacuum, and wipe down surfaces.
  • Empty and wipe down all interior surfaces.
  • Under Furniture. Move furniture, vacuum, and clean underneath.

Odour Neutralisation Recommendations

  • Bicarbonate of Soda. Place bowls of bicarb around the house. Sprinkle it on carpets, let it sit, and then vacuum it up.
  • Activated Charcoal. Activated charcoal is another excellent odour absorber. Use charcoal bags or filters.
  • Place bowls of white vinegar around the house or simmer vinegar on the stovetop (just be careful not to burn it!).
  • Air Purifiers. A good quality air purifier with a HEPA filter and an activated carbon filter can help remove smoke particles and odours from the air.

Note: These products may not be as effective at removing the smoke smell alone, but could help areas that weren’t as directly affected by the fire smoke.

Factors That Affect Smoke Odour Removal

Removing smoke odours from your home or property after a fire can seem straightforward. However, the amount of time needed to do so will depend on various factors.

These factors include:

  • Type of Soot. There are two types of soot: dry and oily. Dry soot is easier to clean and can be handled with a sponge and a low-alkaline detergent. Oily soot requires special techniques and equipment to be safely removed from your home. If you’re unsure, it’s time to get help from a professional to ensure that your home and belongings aren’t damaged.
  • Size of the Fire-damaged Area. If the affected area is small, the amount of effort needed to eliminate smoke smells will often be lower when compared to a large building with multiple rooms.
  • Size of the Fire. A larger fire can cause more damage, which will, in turn, lead to more potential for smoke odour throughout your property.
  • Time Delay After Fire. The longer you wait, the worse the smoke damage will get. Even if the damage seems minimal, most materials at home can start to yellow, discolour, rust, or corrode due to the impact of acidic soot or smoke particles. Treating them as soon as possible can improve your chances of reducing the need for more care.
  • Types of Materials Burned. Materials throughout your home react differently to soot and smoke molecules. Porous hard surfaces such as drywall, wallpaper, wood, and paint can become discoloured and permanently stained unless treated quickly. Acidic soot from a fire may also cause metallic surfaces to start rusting and corroding. Even cleaning your furniture may be damaging. Cleaning chemicals may seep into your carpet as it dries, carrying soot and smoke molecules that can cause stains.
  • Fire smoke infiltrates all areas of a home. It can seep into carpeting, furniture, clothing, draperies, books and even woodwork. Removing fire smoke smell from a home is a process best left to the professionals with the expertise, specialised equipment, and ability to work safely within your home without causing further damage.

Need Professional Smoke Odour Removal? We Can Help.

Call us if you’d like to trust your smoke-smell removal to the pros. After your home is affected by smoke, contact ServiceMaster Restore for smoke odour removal services that will restore it to normal.

Our team will work with you to ensure that your salvageable belongings are restored and that your home is free from smoke odours. We will also inspect your property after fire damage to ensure no extensive damage results in costly repairs down the road.

The experts at ServiceMaster Restore are standing by to help you remove unwanted odours from your home or office. Find your nearest experts or call 0800 021 3970 in a crisis to see how we can help you today.

3 Crucial Home Fire Safety Tips

A home fire occurs every 15 minutes in the UK, the equivalent of approximately 93 per day, adding up to over 34,000 a year. These fires result in thousands of deaths and injuries each year, along with billions in property damage. While the numbers are alarming, some of the harm caused by residential fires is avoidable.

A strong home fire safety plan can improve your policyholders’ chances of escaping a fire safely and, in some cases, it may help them avoid one altogether. Share these three important tips on fire safety with your policyholders to help spread awareness.

The best way to stay safe from fires is to stop them from occurring in the first place. Start by implementing these fire safety tips from the experts at ServiceMaster Restore.

Home Fire Prevention

  • Keep flammable materials away from heat sources. If you’re using a portable heater, keep it at least three feet away from flammable objects like furniture, blankets, electronics, and anything combustible.
  • Don’t leave flames or smoking materials unattended, including fireplaces, stovetops, candles and cigarettes. Avoid smoking indoors, and never smoke in bed. The majority of avoidable deaths from home fires are caused by smoking in the UK.
  • Fix or replace frayed electrical cords or wires.
  • Don’t overload plug sockets or extension cables.
  • Have your chimney periodically inspected and kept in good working order.
  • Make sure everyone in the household understands the importance of home fire safety and observes fire-safe habits, including your kids.

Home Fire Safety Equipment

A good home fire safety plan includes having the right supplies and safety equipment on hand. These tools will be your first line of defence in the event of a fire, and they can dramatically improve your ability to react effectively.

  • Install smoke alarms on every floor of your home, in every bedroom, and outside each sleeping area.
  • Inspect and maintain your smoke alarms.
  • A fire extinguisher can keep small, containable fires from growing out of control. Have an extinguisher or fire blanket handy whenever you use cooking or heating equipment.

Fire Safety Planning

During an emergency, reaction time is critical. Beyond the equipment you need, everyone in your household should know what to do if a fire starts. Here are some tips to get you started:

Create a fire safety plan that establishes at least two escape routes and a safe location away from the home where everyone can meet.

  • Make an emergency communications plan to stay in contact during and after a fire.
  • Practice your escape plan twice a year so everyone can act quickly when it counts.
  • Teach children how and when to call 999.

Don’t know what to do next? We do.

Don’t let a fire catch your policyholders off guard. The right preparations and an effective home fire safety plan can mitigate the risk of injury or damage during a residential fire or help prevent a fire emergency altogether.

If disaster does strike, ServiceMaster Restore is here to help your policyholders through the traumatic event of a home fire. With over 65 years of industry experience, you can count on us to provide your policyholders with the peace of mind they need.

Find your nearest ServiceMaster Restore business or call our 24/7 response line on 0800 021 3970 to see how your local experts can help you.

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How to: Ways to keep your garden barbecue safe

How to have a safe and happy BBQ this summer with ServiceMaster Restore.

Now that the weather is warmer, you’ve probably considered firing up the barbecue if you haven’t already.

After all, nothing says summer like the smell of burgers, steaks, and hot dogs fresh off the grill.

Until something starts burning, that is.

While barbecue grills can cook up large amounts of delicious food, they are also a fire hazard.

But don’t worry! There are easy ways to prevent injury and keep your home safe.

Keep your property out of harm’s way the next time you smoke, sizzle or sauté outside by following a few simple BBQ safety tips from ServiceMaster Restore.

Practice Good Grilling Habits

Whatever kind of barbecue you use, there are a few simple things you can do to reduce your risk of fire or injury.

Here are some grilling safety tips to follow:

  • Set your barbecue away from structures and overhangs, including your main building, shed, garage, trees and other potentially flammable objects.
  • Never use your grill inside, in a tent, or under an outdoor awning. Doing so can pose a fire hazard and cause carbon monoxide poisoning using a gas barbecue.
  • Light any gas or charcoal BBQs using long-length lighters or long matches to avoid getting burned. Keep all ignition sources out of the reach of children.
  • Never leave an actively burning BBQ unattended.
  • Let the grill fully cool before you cover or store it.
  • Clean your barbecue thoroughly and often to reduce flammable build-up inside.

Be Aware of Proper Charcoal Barbecue Safety

Many swear by the taste of food cooked on a classic charcoal barbecue.

This method may be popular, but it also poses unique fire risks.

Keep these safety tips in mind if you own or use a charcoal barbecue:

  • Only add enough charcoal to cover the bottom of the barbecue. Don’t pile too much inside since it could cause ashes and sparks to become airborne, possibly catching nearby objects or your home on fire.
  • Store extra charcoal in a secure place away from other potential fire hazards, preferably in an airtight metal container.
  • Only use starter fluid designed for charcoal. Apply it to cold coals only, and don’t add extra once the BBQ is lit. Otherwise, the flames could get too high, resulting in possible burns or an unconfined fire.
  • Empty your used ashes only when they have cooled. Never store or dispose of them in a bin or leave them on the decking. Even when cooled, ashes can still cause a fire. Dump them on garden soil in a metal receptacle for proper disposal.

Use your Gas BBQ Wisely

Gas barbecue grills are convenient, easy to use, and require less refuelling than charcoal grills.

But they are also susceptible to fire risks. Remember these safety tips if you own a gas BBQ:

  • Open the lid before lighting the barbecue. This allows oxygen to escape and reduces the risk of fire or explosion.
  • Check the gas line and tank fittings regularly for leaks. You can do this by brushing soapy water around these areas. If you see bubbles emerge, there could be a leak somewhere. Replace damaged and leaking parts and make any other repairs before using the barbecue.
  • If you have spare gas cylinders, never store them under a stairway. Place them upright and outside, away from furniture or structures, to minimise fire risks.
  • Turn off your barbecue using the controls first, then close off the gas line at the tank to ensure gas can escape safely.

In need of fire damage restoration?

If the worst should happen and you experience a fire during the warmer months, the professionals at ServiceMaster Restore are always available to help.

We hope you never need to make that call. But if you do, we’ll be there to help with the recovery.

Find your nearest ServiceMaster Restore today or call 0845 762 6828 to see how we can help you in the aftermath.