How to Remove Smoke Damage from Your Walls

If your home was recently affected by fire, we offer our deepest sympathies. We understand how stressful a home fire can be, how frightening, and how much damage can be done in such a short amount of time.

Just as difficult as coping with the emotional stress of a fire is cleaning up the damage when the smoke has cleared. Depending on the size and duration of the blaze, you may have damage to furniture, clothing, and the structure of your home. However, one of the major issues that arises for families who have experienced home fires is smoke damage. The charring residue that sits on your walls can be difficult to remove, a painful memory of a stressful incident that will affect your property value and the ambiance of your home until removed.

ServiceMaster Restoration’s team is highly skilled at removing smoke damage from your walls. It’s one of the many services we are proud to provide. However, if you’re a strong-minded DIY-type, we respect that and want to advise you as best we can. Here are a few insider tips for removing smoke residue and charring from your walls, for good.

Fire Smoke Damage Removal

The first thing to understand about smoke damage is that there are differing levels of damage. Black marks and discoloration, soot residue, and charring (or areas where paint has burned) are all issues that will need to be treated specifically. If charring has gone deep on flat-painted walls, you may need to call a professional to help you complete the job. However, if the issue presents as mild charring and smoke discoloration on a satin or semi-gloss finish, your efforts have a better chance of success.

You will need:

• A large sponge
• 2 buckets
• Goggles
• Clean rags
• Warm water
• Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) cleaner
• Heavy duty rubber gloves

Be sure to protect your hands with gloves and eyes with goggles, as TSP can cause severe skin and eye irritation if contact is made.

Cleanup Time

First, fill your bucket with one gallon of warm water with a heaping tablespoon of TSP cleaner. Put on your gloves and goggles and wet a sponge in the TSP solution. Begin wiping your wall or ceiling vigorously, working on a single section at a time and applying enough pressure to scrub the area. 

Rinse the scrubbed area by dipping a rag in clean water and wiping the area down. Follow this process until the entire affected area has been cleaned.

Depending on the extent of the damage, you may need to wash and rinse a few more times. However, be sure to avoid over-saturating your walls, as doing so may cause water to leak between your walls and baseboard, or into the drywall, where mold and mildew can develop and undermine your home’s structural integrity.

Finally, once you have gone over the affected areas as many times as necessary, be sure to prime your walls and ceilings and repaint, for a completely refreshed look.

Removing smoke damage from your home is not for the faint of heart. However, with the right cleaners, tools, and a proactive attitude, you can remove all evidence of your recent home fire.

Questions? Need help? Don’t be afraid to reach out to a professional. We’re here to make your life easier. 

Call us on 316.413.5738 for Fire Smoke Damage Removal Services in Wichita or Visit us at ServiceMaster Restoration Wichita.

Is a Professional Cleaning Enough to Salvage Your Carpets During a Flood Cleanup

Flood water damage restoration of any kind in a home is not an easy task to deal with, but once it begins to affect your carpet, you may have real trouble on your hands. Immediate action must be taken as soon as you begin to notice water in areas of your home that it shouldn’t be in. Burst pipes, leaky roofs, malfunctioning appliances and severe storms can all wreak havoc on a property, leaving major destruction in their wake.

Flood cleanup is best left to the professionals, and during their assessment of the situation they can help advise you on the salvage ability of your carpet. If done right away, there are a few steps, including a thorough carpet cleaning, that may help you to restore your water damaged carpets and avoid total replacement.

Establish if Water is Sanitary or Contaminated

Water damage falls into three categories – clean, unclean or black – and one of the first steps in the flood cleanup process is to determine which one is being dealt with. Under clean conditions homeowners have the best chance of saving their carpet. It can come from circumstances such as an overflowing bathtub or leaking roof.

Once the source of the flooding is found, it will be managed and then water extraction can begin. Unclean water comes from things like toilets and appliances, which are deemed contaminated on a small scale. Black water contains sewage and is considered to be a big threat to the health of anyone who comes into contact with it without having on the proper flood cleanup attire. Carpets should be disposed of in black water situations.

Set up Drying Equipment and Eliminate All Foot Traffic

After all excess water has been removed the flood cleanup crew will set up their specialized drying equipment. Homeowners should not believe that a vacuum and a few fans are sufficient enough to completely dry out their carpet and won’t leave a chance for mold and bacteria to grow.

Water damaged carpet needs to be eliminated of all moisture with commercial dehumidifiers, high volume air movers and other heat drying tools. Equipment is usually left running for a few days while any foot traffic in affected areas is discouraged so as not to cause more damage.

Disinfect, Get a Professional Carpet Cleaning and Deodorize

Due to health concerns related to water damage, whether it’s clean or unclean, if carpet is able to be restored, it must go through disinfection and a professional carpet cleaning followed by deodorization. Applying a disinfectant treatment to carpet fibers will aid in warding off any potential fungi, bacteria or mold growth. Steam cleaning will also help to sanitize, and then a deodorizing agent should be administered to minimize musty odors.

It’s crucial to remember that time is always one of the biggest factors in determining if a carpet is salvageable or not. Calling for flood cleanup help right away can mean the difference in a simple carpet cleaning or a whole new carpet investment.

6 Reasons to Use Green Cleaning Products for Your Home

There was a time when people wouldn’t think twice about using household cleaning products containing toxic ingredients and chemicals to wipe down toilets, kitchen counters and floors throughout their home, to do the laundry, wash dishes and more. If it made things sparkle, shine and smell lemony fresh it was effective, right? Not always.

As we’ve seen, many of those products with unfamiliar chemicals sometimes have negative effects on our health and people have started to seek out more natural cleaning products with ingredients you know like citrus oil, vinegar, beeswax, cleaning salt, coconut oil, baking soda and essential oils like lavender and rosemary.

Many of these products are not only better for your health and safe to use around kids and pets, but they’re also environmentally friendly.

So if you’re still using harmful products, now may be the time to start thinking about making a switch.

6 Reasons to Switch to Green Cleaning Products

Chemicals May be Unregulated

Every time you use a cleaning product, you could be ingesting fumes from the chemicals. Did you know that since World War II, 85,000 new chemicals have entered the mainstream through various products and oftentimes those chemicals aren’t approved by the EPA? That’s a scary amount of chemicals, but what’s even more scary is upwards of 70 percent of typical cleaning products often found in your home contain these harmful agents.

Phthalates, Sodium Hydroxide & Ammonia — Oh My!

You grew up recognizing products your mom used, so when it came time for you to clean your own home, you instinctively remained brand loyal. But have you looked at the labels of cleaning products under your sink? Oftentimes a label will warn that a product can be harmful to people or pets so that could be a sign to ditch it.

Also, experts say the average home has 62 toxic chemicals lurking about you may not even be aware of. Some potentially harmful chemicals you want to watch out for include phtalates (in fragranced products), triclosan (in liquid dishwashing detergent), 2-Butoxyethanol (in multi-purpose cleaners) and even chlorine (in laundry whiteners and toilet bowl cleaners).

Keep Kids Safe(r)

We can’t protect our kids from all the evil in the world, but we can limit their access to harmful chemicals. Using natural cleaning products will reduce the chance of an accidental poisoning. In fact, it’s shown that household cleaning products rank within the top 5 causes of childhood poisoning cases. So in addition to switching over to green cleaning products, be sure to keep the products stored in child-safe cabinets.

You May Be Poisoning the Water Supply

Various household cleaning agents can contain toxic chemicals like ammonia, phosphorus, alkyphenol ethoxylates and petroleum. So when you wash your clothes, do the dishes and even flush toilet bowl cleaner you may be sending these chemicals back into the water system and nearby rivers, lakes and streams. This could make its way back into your water, but it can also have a negative impact on wildlife and the environment.

Breathe Deep. Breathe Clean.

While they help make your clothes and rooms smell better, some fabric softeners and antibacterial spray cleaners contain quaternary ammonium compounds (a.k.a. quats), like benzalkonium chloride. These agents have been known to contribute to otherwise healthy people getting asthma. In fact, according to the Environmental Working Group’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning about 53 percent of cleaning products they tested contain ingredients that can harm the lungs while 22 percent can cause asthma.

Keep the Air Clean

Many household products, especially sprays and aerosols, can contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can have short- and long-term health effects associated with your central nervous system, liver and kidneys. When you use a spray, the chemicals can linger in the air long after the initial mist dissipates. Time to ditch ‘em?

Call ServiceMaster Clean for Green Cleaning Service in Wichita: 316.413.5750

How To Prevent Water Damage

Water is the most abundant compound on Earth’s surface, covering 70 percent of the planet. Roughly 70 percent of an adult’s body is made up of water and at birth, water accounts for approximately 80 percent of an infant’s body weight. Water is a necessity in life, but it can also cause great problems.

Flood Water damage can lead to wood rot, peeling paint, insect infestation, shorter lifespan of roofing and siding increasing maintenance cost.

 

ServiceMaster Restore for Flood Water Damage Restoration Services Wichita - (316) 413 5750

The best ways to prevent water damage from rainwater and snow melt:

 

Windows/Doors: Check for leaks around your windows and doors, paying extra attention near the corners. Peeling paint could be signs of water getting into the wood.  Discolored paint or caulking, swelling of the window or door frame could be signs of water damage.

 

Roof: Repair or replace shingles around any area that allows water to penetrate the roof sheathing. Leaks will most commonly be found around chimneys, plumbing vents and attic vents. To find the source of a ceiling leak, measure its location from the nearest outside wall and then locate this point in the attic using a measuring tape. Water may run along the attic floor, rafters, or truss for quite a distance before coming through the ceiling.

 

Foundation and Exterior Walls: Seal any cracks and holes in external walls, joints, and foundations.

 

Plumbing: Check for leaking faucets and dripping or “sweating” pipes. Inspect washing machine hoses for bulges, cracks or wetness. Replace them every few years or sooner if problems are found. Inspect the water heater for signs of rust or water on the floor.

 

Landscaping: Keep trees trimmed so that branches are  7 feet away from any exterior house surface. This will help prolong the life of your siding and roof and prevent insects from entering your home from the tree. Vines growing on the side of a home can help open cracks in the siding, which allows moisture the house.

 

If water damage does occur, you can minimize the damage by addressing the problem quickly. If water is flowing into the home from burst piping or damaged appliances, shut off the water supply,  found outside the house or at the meter.

 

ServiceMaster Restore specializes in Flood Water Damage Restoration services in Wichita. 

 

ServiceMaster Restore will go through the entire process of drying all the way to the rebuild.  We use cutting edge drying equipment and thermal cameras that show exactly where the problems are quickly focusing on detecting energy waste, moisture, and electrical issues.  It’s the most cost-effective and easy way to help save our customers money.  Other companies will try to increase the bill amount.  We accommodate the homeowner and insurance agent by cutting cost by using our thermal imaging cameras.

How To Create A Plan To Clean A Hoarder’s House

Hoarder houses are tricky, and no two houses are identical.  The key to successfully cleaning a hoarder’s house is understanding the total amount of work to be completed, including the job hazards, the time frame to complete the project, and the different components of the job.

Depending on the situation, the client may want a complete clean out, re-organization, detailed cleaning and sterilization, air duct cleaning, carpet cleaning, and home repairs.  Other times, there may be only a portion of the job that the client desires to be completed.

Understanding the short-term and long-term goals of your client will help you become more effective and efficient when cleaning a hoarder’s house.

Step 1:  Itemize the list of tasks

Each client and each job is different.  Some jobs require only debris removal, while many jobs require multiple tasks.  Always operate in a safe manner and begin closest to the safest exit.  Many times, one or more entry/exit doors are semi- or completely blocked and operating around blocked exits presents unnecessary risks.

If a fire breaks out, you may become trapped and unable to leave the property.  Removing the obvious trash and debris from the room with the safest exit is usually the best place to start.  The trash out phase will usually yield many items that are salvageable and can be dealt with later.  Once enough room has been created, it is usually convenient to create a staging area for those items.

Step 2:  Prepare a staging area

Staging areas are critical in planning to clean a hoarder’s house. Many times, the rooms, porches, attics, and basements are so cluttered that identifying a staging area is almost impossible.  Consider using folding tables on the lawn of the property to use as a temporary staging area.  Use them to present items from the home to your client to determine if the item will be kept, donated, auctioned, or thrown away.  Keep in mind that the weather may be another factor in determining a temporary staging area.
Step 3:  Identify an area to take trash and debris

Many jobs will require a large amount of debris removal.  Once the debris and trash has been removed from the home, it is critical to remove it from the property as soon as possible to prevent the client from rummaging through it again.

Using roll off containers is recommended for large jobs, while smaller jobs may only require a pickup truck or a trailer.  When using pickup trucks and trailers to remove the debris, make sure each bag of debris is properly tied.  Ripped bags can become more ripped during transportation and lead to litter on the highways, and possibly a large fine.

Step 4:  Prepare an area for donations

Identifying donations is a tricky part of cleaning hoarder’s houses.  The client sometimes has an unrealistic estimate of the value of the items they have or an unrealistic perception of the condition of the items.  Donations are favorable because the client will get a tax doantion for them.  Sometimes more importantly, they save room and total weight in the roll off containers.

However, not all donation centers will take all items.  Goodwill has a pickup strategy where they will schedule a truck to be sent out to a home, for free, if the client has large, resellable items of furniture to be donated.

They will also pick up other items while they are onsite, such as books, tvs, appliances, clothes, and mattresses.  They will not, however, send out a truck to pick up small donations.

If a donation pickup isn’t available, make arrangements to have a pickup truck or trailer available to take items to a donation center.  Keep in mind that you will have to properly secure the items before transport.  Call ahead to the donation center to make sure they will accept all of the items you are donating.  Box trucks are usually a good way to transport donatable items as well.

Step 5:  Clean the home

Once the debris has been removed and the home contains only the items that will remain in it, make a plan to clean and disinfect the home.  Include all areas of the home, including fan blades, ceilings, cabinets, window sills, baseboards, toilets, bathtubs, showers, etc.  You may have to detail a room and clean it again once all the dust settles.  Keep in mind any item you bring into the room after is has been cleaned will have to be cleaned too.

Step 6:  Organize the remaining items

Once the bulk steps have been completed, organizing the remaining items will be a challenge.  Consider purchasing utility shelves, placing a shed on the property, or hiring a professional organizer to get the home completely functional again.  Many clients benefit from hiring a weekly or bi-weekly cleaning company to maintain the cleanliness of the home. 

Residential Hoarder Cleaning companies in Wichita can help by reducing the amount of trash and debris in the home while keeping it clean and disinfected.

6 Tips to Prepare for Document Loss (Disaster)

KNOW THE LOCATIONS OF ALL RECORDS.

Within 24 hours, ServiceMaster Restore technicians will be on site to stop water damage and smoke damage and to make a general assessment after the loss. Being prepared with a listing of all records and floor plans showing their locations will help the document recovery process begin smoothly.

IDENTIFY RECORDS THAT ARE VITAL.

Vital records are records that are critical for your organization’s continuing operation and should be identified for priority document recovery and restoration. Records with legal, fiscal, administrative, historical, and archival value fit into this category.

PRIORITIZE RECORDS GROUPS.

Determine the priority of your organization’s other record groups. ServiceMaster Restore technicians technicians can help provide an inventory of damaged files, but determining the order of recovery is best done by the customer.

REVIEW YOUR INSURANCE.

“Valuable Papers Insurance” is often purchased by entities that have a great deal to lose if records are damaged or destroyed. Reviewing coverage limits prior to a disaster will help to ensure proper coverage is in place.

KNOW WHO TO CALL FIRST.

Mold growth can begin in as little as 48 hours after documents have been in contact with water. Document recovery is best performed and most cost-effective when begun immediately after disaster strikes.

ARRANGE OFF-SITE STORAGE.

Documents and other contents often must be moved to allow restoration contractors to access the structure of the damaged building. ServiceMaster Restore technicians teams can provide document moving services when off-site storage has been arranged as well as re-shelving services when work is complete.

Expert Tile Stripping, Refinishing and Burnishing

General Questions About Tile Stripping, Refinishing and Burnishing by ServiceMaster

Question:
My bathtub has been painted with a coating and it is peeling and flaking.
What can be done with it?, do I need a new tub or can it be repaired?

Answer:
Your bathtub may have been refinished either by the homeowner or professionally. The most effective solution is to have it stripped and refinished professionally again, this is not a do-it-yourself installation. There are strong chemicals involved, specifically methylene chloride paint remover, is the only thing that will remove epoxy paint, (most likely that’s what is on the tub now), the room must be well ventilated and it takes about one to two hours to remove all the coatings on the tub surface. Not a pleasant job to do, but extremely important.

Question:
I have a rather small bathroom with black boarder tiles and grayish light purple tiles in between. The tiles go half way up the wall. I am trying to figure out a paint color for the walls and what type of paint should I use?

Answer:
Visit your local paint supplier for help in choosing the right colors for your project. Most paint dealers have a decorator available to help you coordinate your color choices as well as samples of available colors to further aid in the decision making process.

Question:
I would like to paint my bathroom sink. It is flaking and I really can’t afford a new at this time. Is there anything I could do to make it look better.
Answer:
We would suggest reading the first question. Or give the ServiceMaster by Best a call at 316.413.5776.

Question:
I would like to know how to texture paint my bathroom.

Answer:
There are a variety of textured products available to texture these surfaces one of which is Bondex Company. For information on their products and application processes you may contact Bondex or visit your local home center.

Question:
I have taken down the wallpaper in the bathroom. Now I have started to paint the walls and the wall is not smooth. Is there a way to paint it to add to the texture that is on the wall?

Answer:
A Company called Bondex makes a texture paint in smooth, medium, and rough texture finishes.

Question:
I would like to give my bathroom walls a silver metallic look. Is this possible? Can you recommend a suitable paint and where i can purchase it.

Answer:
Caution should be used when looking for a silver paint, make sure that this paint is non-leafing. Contact ServiceMaster by Best company at 316.413.5776 for detailed application process.

Question:
During our own painting process in our new apartment. My husband washing paint brushes in our washing sink and drip over our floor tiles. There are a lot of old paint which cannot be scrip easily – because it was not thick, just a layer of thin paint. Please advise how should I remove all these paint?

Answer:
Try using denatured alcohol to remove the paint drips from your floor. Denatured alcohol is available form your local paint or hardware store. If this does not work look for products like “Goof Off” or “Oops”, also available at your local paint or hardware store.