| The fire's over and now it's time to go home. | | | | nearly impossible to get rid of. |
| You've got a lot of work ahead of you to put the | | | | How it travels: The biggest danger is when it |
| pieces of your life back together. If your home | | | | becomes airborne. Sticky surfaces and smelly |
| has been damaged in a fire, your real trials are | | | | fabrics are unpleasant, but airborne particles can |
| just beginning. Now you've got the secondary | | | | cause health problems. The air carries it from |
| effects of the fire to deal with. | | | | surfaces and fabrics and gets it everywhere in |
| Most damage from fires doesn't come from the | | | | the house. An infestation can cause serious health |
| flame itself, but from smoke, soot and ash. This | | | | problems if you and your family are constantly |
| alone can cost thousands of dollars of loss, and | | | | inhaling its particles. |
| leave its mark on everything you own. First, you | | | | When the air his humid, your house is perfect for |
| have to find it, and then get it remediated. Let's | | | | an infestation. This sneaky killer may or may not |
| look at what this can do to your home. | | | | have any smell, and it can sometimes only be |
| What Soot Can Do: It leaves an ugly, greasy | | | | detected by a professional remediator's |
| stain. It's not only ugly to look at, but touching | | | | instruments. This is why it needs to be taken |
| any sooty surface will leave a slimy trace on your | | | | care of completely right away. |
| hand. Even worse than the visible trouble is the | | | | Getting It Cleaned up: Soot should be removed as |
| trouble that you can't see. This is what can cause | | | | soon as possible. It can be toxic, and once |
| you and your family serious problems. | | | | airborne, cause all sorts of health problems. It'll |
| Soot and ash is both full of chemicals and acids | | | | also ruin your belongings, even if the stain isn't |
| that ruin everything they come into contact with. | | | | visible. It's best to leave your cleanup to a |
| They can find their way into every nook and | | | | professional who has the instruments and |
| cranny of your home. It sticks to paint, clothes, | | | | expertise to get the job done right. |
| fabrics, furniture, drapes and other family | | | | Moving back to a fire-damaged house isn't easy. |
| belongings. It's oily and sticks easily to anything | | | | But, cleaning up often gives homeowners a feeling |
| fabric, such as upholstery, drapes and clothes. | | | | of empowerment over their dire situation. Clean |
| Even worse, it can corrode electrical wiring, eat | | | | up your soot damaged and start living a normal |
| away at surfaces and leave a nasty smell that's | | | | life again. |