We Put The Flames Of Worry Out In Holmdel After A Fire

2/27/2020 (Permalink)

Our fire and smoke restoration technicians helped return this bathroom to its pre-fire conditions after we received a call from the homeowner.

Fire Damage can Leave Your Holmdel Residence’s Furniture Stained and Saturated with Smoke Residue

When the plastics inside a Holmdel residence catch fire, the thick black smoke forcing its way into the air cover surfaces with an oily soot. This residue might feel oily but it contains numerous tiny and very sharp particles that work their way into surfaces. Other materials leave behind a dry soot, albeit still full of sharp, microscopic particles, but we can more easily clean this from upholstered furniture.

When SERVPRO works on a residence in Holmdel with fire damage, we address not only the structural concerns but also the contents. These items are what make your house a home, and restoring them often saves significant amounts of money. Replacing items that we could restore through cleaning and making minor repairs costs our customers money they could use elsewhere. 

To strip soiling away caused by fire damage, we use special solvents that increase the pH to 10. This helps dissolve the oils in the soot and keep them from staining the fabric. We do this using a method called the Showcase cleaning method and it also protects the fabrics from over-cleaning.

We gently brush off any excess soot of the dry variety and test for colorfastness in a relatively unsoiled area. Along with the usual shampoo, we combine a cleaner and rinse combination. This strengthens the shampoo and helps disintegrate the soot. 

Upholstered furniture comes in different fabrics, some of which are much more loosely woven than others. To keep from wetting the cushion underneath the upholstery, we dip the sponge or brush in the suds on top of the solution, and not in the actual liquid. We use sponges and only the softest brushes to clean the more delicate fabrics, as stiffer bristles can damage the weave, as well as the actual fibers.

Once we finish cleaning each piece, we rinse it with an upholstery machine and extract the excess moisture. We then tent the cushions to ensure even drying, checking periodically to rotate the cushions.

SERVPRO of Aberdeen / Holmdel treats each aspect of your home after fire damage takes a toll. We also restore homes after other disasters. Call us at (732) 290-3170 for mitigation services in Hazlet, Aberdeen, and Matawan.

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