Archive for 'Fire damage'

Spring is here and for allergy sufferers that can mean watery eyes and itchy noses. Pollen and other outdoor influences can make your allergies worse, but many times the culprits are indoors. Here are some common household sources of allergens and a few tips for keeping them at bay.

Mold

Mold is all around us. Spores are in the air, inside and out, and molds are constantly breaking down old plants, foods and other organic materials. Mold thrives in moist conditions, which means that the leaky bathroom pipes or water damaged sofa are prime locations for mold growth.

Mold allergies typically present with symptoms similar to that of other allergies. You may have a stuffy or runny nose, itchy or watery eyes, rashes, hives and/or wheezing. Getting rid of indoor mold sources may help your symptoms.

Mold breaks down any surface where it grows, so it is important to act quickly if a mold problem develops in your home. Cleaning mold can release mold spores, so if you have a mold allergy be careful when cleaning or hire a professional mold remediation team to tackle the job for you. If your home has permanent damage from mold or if you can’t clear up the problem on your own, get professional help.

Dust Mites

Dust mites are another common household allergen. Interestingly people are typically allergic to the dust mite droppings rather than the dust mite themselves. Dust mites thrive in moist conditions, just like mold, so a dehumidifier might be a good investment if you have allergies. Frequent cleaning and lower humidity can keep dust mites at bay.

Professional carpet cleaning can help get rid of dust that vacuuming alone cannot reach. Try to clean your carpets at least once a year, more often if you have pets or children. Clean carpets don’t just look great, they can improve your indoor air quality while removing potentially irritating substances from your home.

Animal Dander

Your pets may also be making your allergies worse. Animal dander, or dead skin cells, can cause allergic reactions. Other people may react when they come in contact with pet saliva or urine that is commonly found on animal fur. If you have allergies keep your pets outside or consider finding them a new home.

People with animal allergies may be able to minimize their symptoms by limiting their contact with particularly allergenic areas. For example scooping the litter box might not be the best choice if you can find someone that isn’t an allergy sufferer to tackle the job. Pet hair can harbor allergens, so vacuum regularly and clean your carpets professionally at least twice a year.

Allergies can be miserable, but relief is possible. The right care and limiting your exposure to these three household allergens may make a difference in your allergy symptoms this spring.  To learn more about Mold removal Carlsbad, click here.

If you haven’t tackled your spring cleaning yet, now is a perfect time to start. The weather is lovely, flowers are blooming and your house is definitely in need of a deep clean. Here are 10 spring cleaning tips to help you spruce up your home.

1. Schedule It

One of the hardest parts of spring cleaning is getting started. Pull out your calendar, find an open day and schedule it. Once it’s on the calendar it is much more likely to get done.

2. Start with a Trip to the Cleaners

Before you get started gather up everything that needs a professional cleaning and take it down to your local cleaners. Drapes, curtains and winter coats are especially important to include on this cleaning trip. If you take these to the cleaners first they will be ready when your cleaning is done. Plus it’s easier to clean windows and walls when curtains aren’t in the way.

3. Stock Up on Supplies

Don’t get stuck half way through cleaning the floors by running out of cleaning solution. Stock up on all of your favorite cleaning supplies before you get started. Also have plenty of clean rags, paper towels and sponges on hand.

4. Make a List

What do you want to tackle with your spring cleaning this year? Make a list of every project you want to get done. Organizing projects by room makes it easy to work your way through the list. As items are cleaned, check them off your list. A list will help you to get everything done and nothing feels better than the sense of accomplishment as you cross items off the list.

5. Enlist the Family

Don’t clean on your own. Get the family to help. There are jobs for every age and skill level if you use a little creativity.

6. Look for Problem Areas

Don’t forget to look for problem areas in your home as you clean. Look under  your kitchen and bathroom sinks for mold damage and watch for leaky pipes and other problems. If you find mold or water damage call in the professionals and fix the problem before it gets worse.

7. Call in the Professionals

Some cleaning jobs are best left to the professionals. Make sure you find a reliable company and schedule an appointment with carpet cleaning professionals. Clean carpets last longer and look better. A professional cleaning will get out dirt, stains and grime better than any do-it-yourself attempts.

8. Step Outside

Outside needs a little spring pick me up too. Step outside and cleaning the outside of windows and doors. Now is also a great time to freshen the lawn and plant new flowers.

9. Don’t Forget Hidden Surfaces

Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s clean. Move appliances and clean behind the fridge and stove. Light bulbs, ceiling fans, base boards and corners can also use a little TLC.

10. Perfection Isn’t Necessary

Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be perfect. Anything you do is better than doing nothing at all. Don’t worry about tackling every project on your list or getting everything just right. Do what you can and then be happy.

Spring cleaning time is here again. Use these tips to make the most of your spring cleaning.

Pollution isn’t just a worry when you head outside. The air inside of your home or office can also be contaminated. Improving indoor air quality is just as important as improving outdoor air quality, possibly even more so due to the many hours we spend indoors each day. Here are 5 simple ways to improve the air quality in your home or office.

Skip the Air Fresheners

That bottle of air freshener might make your home smell good temporarily, but it also releases chemicals into the air that will stick around for a long time after the smell has faded. Skip the sprays, cleaners and other products with synthetic fragrances and make your home smell fresh naturally. Fresh sliced lemons in the disposal will make your kitchen smell lemony fresh. An open window will let in fresh air and let out chemicals that may be lurking in your home’s air.

Clean Your Carpets and Floors

Dust is a magnet for allergens and chemicals. These toxic substances can accumulate in the dust in your home and compromise your indoor air quality. The solution is simple. Mop, sweep and vacuum regularly. Don’t forget to bring the professionals in at least once a year, more often if you have pets or children, for a carpet cleaning. Clean carpets and floors will improve the air quality in your home and as a bonus look great too.

Ventilate

A little ventilation can go a long way when it comes to indoor air quality. Open a window and let in some fresh outdoor air. If allergies are a problem you can use air purifiers or air filters to ventilate your home.

Buy a Houseplant

Houseplants aren’t   just pretty; they also act as a natural air purifier of sorts.  Adding a houseplant, or two, to your home will add a touch of beauty to any room while improving your indoor air quality.

Don’t Smoke Inside

Smoking is bad for your health and for your indoor air quality. If you choose to smoke make sure that you go outside. Studies have found that smoking bans can improve indoor air quality by as much as 90% (and in some cases even more). Simply going outside to smoke can have a dramatic effect on indoor air quality and health.

We spend the majority of our time indoors. Make sure that you are breathing the cleanest air possible by focusing on improving indoor air quality. These 5 simple ways to improve air quality will help you and your family to breathe easier.

A house fire is reported in the United States every 90 seconds. Fires are common and the damage that they cause can certainly be devastating. Fire damage doesn’t stop when the flames get put out. Smoke damage is often just as destructive, and sometimes even more so, than the fire that caused it. To fix fire damage we need to understand what smoke really is.

What Is Smoke?

We all know that smoke comes from fires. But, what exactly is smoke? Basically defined smoke is a combination of liquid molecules, gasses and tiny solid particles that are created when things burn. Fires often lack enough oxygen to burn everything completely. When this occurs, the unburned substances become smoke. Smoke generally comprised of carbon (also known as soot), wood tar, oils, ash and various chemicals.

Understanding Smoke Damage

When a fire is put out smoke seems to dissipate, but this is often an illusion. As the air cools down the floating smoke particles settle creating a thin film-like coating on surfaces and items nearby. The substances in smoke are then able to start damaging your items. Let’s take a look at a few compounds in smoke to understand how they cause damage.

Soot: Soot is very oily and these oils can permanently stain carpets, textiles and other cloth items. Laundering isn’t enough to remove soot. It is recommended that you remove soot by vacuuming before cleaning clothing and other textiles to ensure that these oils do permanently stain items in the wash.

Smoke Odor: Anyone that has ever been around a fire knows that smoke carries a very definite odor. This odor is often stronger in building fires due to the burning of plastics and other synthetic compounds. This smoke odor requires special cleaning measures to be removed. Air fresheners and sprays may mask the odor temporarily, but cannot remove it. Special treatments are needed to break down the smoke molecules and remove the odors.

Chemicals: Various chemicals found in smoke can permanently discolor and damage items. For example brass can be permanently etched after being exposed to smoke for less than 24 hours. Smoke can also seep into plastics and permanently discolor them. The chemicals in smoke are highly acidic and corrosive and will damage items with which they are in contact until the smoke is cleaned off.

What Can You Do?

The effects of smoke damage can be greatly reduced by acting quickly. Once a fire damaged structure is deemed safe for reentry, get to work. DIY restorers need to start working quickly to dry wet items, provide air flow and start cleaning soot and smoke from items. If you are working with a restoration company, contact them immediately. Many companies offer 24 hour emergency response. The sooner you start eliminating smoke and soot from your building, the less damage smoke can cause.

Any kind of disaster that wreaks havoc on a home and creates damage can be overwhelming to a homeowner. What would you do if your home was suddenly filled with water and you had to repair flood and potential mold damage? Where would you start? Luckily you don’t have to tackle these situations alone. Expert help can repair many possessions and can make the task of cleaning up after a flood or fire a little more bearable. Keep reading for a peek into the window of restoration experts in action and better understand the type of help that experts can offer.

Provide Direction and Focus

Our homes are our sanctuaries and when they are damaged it can be hard to see past the emotion and take action. Restoration experts aren’t emotionally attached to your home and will be able to provide you with clean-up direction. They can help you to understand the tasks that need to be tackled and will provide much needed direction to get your clean-up underway.

Can It Be Saved?

Many of your damaged items can be completely restored with the proper help. Flood, fire and mold restoration experts can restore many items including photographs, books, important documentation, furniture, discs and tapes and more. An untrained eye will not be able to determine what items can be saved and which should be tossed out. Experts can help you to answer the ever important question in restoration work, “Can it be saved?”

Utilize Proper Restoration Techniques and Procedures

Restoration experts are immersed in the restoration industry. They are aware of tricks and techniques for restoring items and minimizing damage. For example a carpet cleaning expert might be able to minimize bleach damage on a carpet and re-dye the area. A mold expert can find hidden water sources and eliminate them. With expert help damaged items once though unsalvageable may be able to be saved.

Lessen the Damage

The first few days after a flood or fire are critical days. Smoke is very corrosive and will quickly permeate items. Quick clean-up is essential for removing smoke and restoring items become smoke damage sets and becomes permanent. When a flood occurs quick clean-up will help to reduce the occurrence of mold which can further damage items. Water soaked furniture and carpets may be salvageable if they are dried quickly and properly. If you wait too long they will need replacing. Experts help can stop damage and minimize the occurrence of future damage.

Safety First

One final reason to work with experts after a flood, fire or other damaging event is safety. Experts know the potential dangers lurking in a damaged home and will use the proper safety equipment and procedures.

Damage from flood, fire or mold doesn’t have to be the end of the world, or even the end of your possessions. Restoration experts are ready to spring into action to help you save your stuff. The clock starts ticking as soon as the damage occurs, so get help quickly.

Mold. It can be intriguing, disgusting and sometimes even scary. An old slice of bread that turns into a fluffy white forest fascinates. On the other hand when old leftovers turn into a bubbling pot of mold it is a little repulsive. And then there is the mold we all fear, toxic mold that could be lurking unseen deep within your walls. What is mold? Where does it come from? Let’s take a quick look at the three main factors that are needed for mold to grow.

It Starts With a Spore

Mold is everywhere. Mold starts as a spore and travels through the air until it lands on a surface. It is said that no indoor area is free from mold. Mold is present in the natural environment as an important part of nature’s clean-up crew. Molds break down organic matter like leaves and fallen trees. Without mold the leaves from last fall would still be in perfect condition on your front lawn and the forest would be filled with old fallen trees. We need mold.

While we need mold outside, we don’t need it indoors. Large quantities of mold can health problems and breathing difficulties. Now, this is where things get a little tricky. If mold is everywhere, why isn’t it growing everywhere? The answer is simple. Mold needs the right conditions to grow and prosper. In addition to spores mold also needs a place to grow and moisture.

A Place to Grow

Mold can grow almost anywhere. Mold can grow on almost any surface from wood to glass to walls. The mold spores float through the air and land on surfaces where they can start to grow. Warm environments encourage mold growth more than cold environments.

Moisture

Mold spores also need moisture to grow. There are thousands of different types of mold and every single one of them needs moisture. Moisture can come from a variety of sources including humidity, standing water, poor drainage, even the mist from a shower. Once you combine a mold spore, a place to grow and the proper amount of humidity, you might just end up with a mold problem. Luckily there are a few things you can do to prevent mold problem or to correct the issue should a problem occur.

Strategies for Prevention

Since mold needs moisture, the most effective strategy for reducing mold is reducing moisture. Keep the humidity levels in your home or office lower than 50%. It is also wise to properly vent showers and kitchens. Bathrooms and basements tend to be especially damp, so avoid carpeting these rooms. Also watch for signs of excess moisture. Leaky pipes, improperly installed drain pans and other areas can quickly become a hotbed for mold growth.

If you do find mold in your home or office, act quickly. Mold eats away at any surface where it is growing and can cause permanent damage. Mold can also make people very sick from both allergies and toxic exposure. Use caution when cleaning up mold. Mold spore exposure is greatly intensified when cleaning. It is important to both thoroughly clean the area and remove the source of moisture. Cleaning might take care of the problem for a few days, but if the moisture remains, the mold will surely return. Professional help is recommended when the mold, caused by contaminated water or flooding is persistent.

Mold is a part of life, but hopefully it isn’t a part of your home or office. Remember for mold to grow you need a spore, moisture and a surface. If you are having mold problems, contact a local mold removal specialist to protect the structure of your home or office and the health of those inside

Let’s face it- A flood is a disaster. But, for those dealing with the real life effects of flooding, cleanup often seems like more of a disaster than the flood itself. Flood cleanup can be overwhelming and stressful. What stays? What goes? How do you get started restoring your life and your home after a flood?

Our best tip for flood cleanup is simply “Get started”. Put on a mask and gloves and start making decisions. Remember- you may have to take pictures or save some items for your insurance adjuster, so give them a call before you throw anything out. This helpful guide will help you decide what stays and what goes.

Food (GO)- If it’s going to go into your body, you want to be sure it is safe. Throw out any food items that have been exposed to flood water. Toss out everything, even items in cans, bottles and jars.

Solid Wood Furniture (STAY)- It will take time, but solid wood furniture is typically salvageable. If you have expensive or antique pieces get professional help with restoration.

Veneer Furniture (GO)-  Since veneer is made of several layers of different wood, it often dries out at different rates causing cracking, warping and splitting. Throw it out.

Upholstered Furniture (GO)- Upholstered furniture like a couch or sofa soaks up contaminated flood water. Get rid of it unless the piece is especially valuable and worth the cost of professional cleaning.

Dishes and Kitchen Items (STAY and GO)- Solid, non-porous kitchen items like dishes can be salvaged. Wash them in a disinfectant solution and let them air dry- no dish towels here. Porous and soft plastic items should be discarded.

Clothing (STAY)- With a good washing, most clothing will be safe to wear after a flood. Wash your clothing in warm water with detergent and some kind of a disinfectant (bleach or pine oil cleaner work great). Don’t use your washing machine until your sewer line is operational and your water is good enough to drink (this can take several days). Take dry clean only and leather goods to a professional cleaner.

Books and papers (STAY and GO)- Restoring books and papers is often possible, but the process can be expensive and time consuming. Throw away books and papers that aren’t valuable. Flood water can cause documents to deteriorate, so photocopy any important records as soon as possible. Rinse any books or papers that you want to save and place in a frost-free freezer until they can be professionally restored.

Appliances (STAY and GO)- Many appliances can be repaired with the help of a professional. Get estimates for repair on high end items since it may be more cost effective to fix than to replace. Make sure that you always use a professional for fridge and freezer restoration after a flood. 

Carpets (GO)- If your carpet has been exposed to sewage or sewer water, get rid of it. You should also throw out carpets that were underwater for more than 24 hours.

Vinyl Flooring (GO)- Vinyl flooring should be removed to allow the subfloor in your home to properly dry.

Wood Floors (STAY)- Wood flooring can often survive a flood, but you will need professional help to get it to dry properly. Contact a professional as soon as possible to prevent cracking and warping during the drying process.

Other GO items: toys, stuffed animals, mattresses and bedding, garbage and garden fruits and vegetables that are within weeks of harvest.

Other STAY items: walls, windows, etc. (with proper cleaning), outdoor plants and shrubs, solid non-porous items that can be cleaned (vases, decorative items, etc.), receipts and insurance documentation and vehicles.  

Clean up after a flood isn’t going to be easy, but many of your items can be saved with a little time and professional help. Contact a water damage and mold repair company for help salvaging your most valuable items. A flood doesn’t mean that you have to throw everything out.

When couples learn they will be having a baby, one of the first considerations is creating a safe environment. That concern never leaves as children grow older, and as young tots start becoming mobile, parents need to be especially aware of fire safety concerns and teach safety rules to their children. With proper planning and instruction, parents can prepare both themselves and their children for fire emergencies.

Teach Fire Safety Rules
The first and foremost task is to teach children proper fire safety rules. They need to learn that they should never play with matches or electrical outlets. Kids should also be instructed not to touch hot objects like a pot on a stove top or a fireplace when wood is burning in it. Carefully teaching safety rules to prevent fires is important for children and should begin at a very young age. Additionally, teaching little ones what can and cannot be touched goes a long way to prevent all types of accidents.

What to Do in the Event of a Fire
Should a fire occur, teach children to check doors for heat. If the door is hot to the touch, it should not be opened. Because smoke rises, staying low to the ground will help everyone breathe while trying to escape. Every family member should be aware of what to do should their clothes catch on fire: stop what they are doing, drop to the floor and roll to put out the fire.

Plan of Escape
Teaching children about fire safety also includes helping them understand what to do when a fire breaks out. Having a planned escape route is vital. Take steps to evaluate each room in the home and look for viable exits and safe passage from one room to another. Create easy procedures that children can understand so they will know exactly what action to take. Rehearse the family fire evacuation plan by holding family fire drills several times a year, preferably monthly, so that children will know what to expect in cases of fire emergency. Designate a safe place away from the home for everyone to meet, and always stress that children should never go into a burning building.

Evaluate Windows
Part of keeping kids safe during fires is for them to know how to get in and out of windows should a fire prevent them from exiting through hallways and doors. Ensure that all windows can be easily opened and screens removed in all rooms. For upstairs bedrooms, children must be taught how to open windows, remove screens and get through any security bars. Second floor rooms need an escape ladder readily accessible in the event of a fire emergency. Practice drills with kids so they understand how to escape through windows and go to the family meeting place.

Fires affect everyone in the family, and being prepared by teaching children fire safety rules goes a long way in keeping everyone safe. When a fire does occur, getting back into the home is important for everyone’s emotional security, especially kids. Let Superior Restoration help you and your family deal with the damage after a fire. Our experts can help restore your home and belongings with cleaning and restoration services designed to quickly get you and your family back home where you belong. Give us a call to learn more (760) 434-4555.