Preventing fire damage

2/10/2021 (Permalink)

Don't attempt to clean any household textiles unless you know the proper procedures, because you can cause additional damage. Whether you hire a professional or do the work yourself, you can minimize further damage by following these guidelines.

• Do not touch or attempt to clean carpets, upholstered furniture, draperies or other household textile items. Those cleaning actions will only smear soot into the fabric, making cleaning more difficult.
• Dry wet carpets, upholstered furniture, draperies and clothing as soon as possible to prevent mold and mildew. Hang clothing outside on a clothesline, prop up wet upholstery cushions for even drying, and use fans and dehumidifiers to dry carpets and draperies.
• Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpeting to prevent rust stains.
• Open windows for ventilation.
• Change the furnace filter (if operating) at least once a day until the filter shows no soot. This will help keep particles from being distributed into the air.
• Cover clean items with plastic while further repairs are being carried out in the dwelling to prevent re-soiling.

https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/gh145

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