Foods that are exposed to chemicals should be thrown away. Wash canned goods and jars in detergent and water. If the labels come off, mark on the can what it is. Avoid using canned goods that are bulged, dented or rusted.
If food from your refrigerator or freezer has an off-flavor or odor when it is prepared it should be discarded and not eaten. If home freezer has stopped running, you can still save the frozen food:
- Keep the freezer closed.
- Your freezer has enough insulation to keep food frozen for one to two day.
- If there are ice crystals in the vegetables you can refreeze.
- Do not refreeze vegetables if they have thawed completely.
- Meats may by refrozen if ice crystals remain but cook thoroughly before eating.
- If your food has thawed: Fruit and vegetables, as well as foods stored in permeable containers like cardboard and screw-topped jars and bottles should be thrown out.
In most cases the service cleaners will look after this, however here are just a few ideas
Refrigerators and freezers: To remove odor from your refrigerator or freezer, wash the inside with a solution of baking soda and water or use one cup of vinegar or household ammonia to one gallon of water. Place an open box of baking soda or a piece of charcoal in the refrigerator to absorb odor.
Cooking utensils/dishes: Soak dishes in a solution of 1 tablespoon of bleach to 4.5 liters of water for 30 minutes prior to washing. Wash dishes, pots, pans and flatware, in hot, soapy water. Rinse in hot water. Polish copper and brass with special polish, salt sprinkled on a piece of lemon, or salt sprinkled on a cloth saturated with vinegar. Dishwashers are excellent for cleaning dishes.
Clothing: Smoke odor and soot can sometimes be washed from clothing.
- 4-6 teaspoons trisodium phosphate (can be purchased in paint stores)
- 1 cup Lysol or any household chlorine bleach
- 1 gallon warm water
- Mix well, add clothes, rinse with clean water, dry well
An effective way to remove mildew from clothing is to wash the fresh stain with soap and warm water, rinse, and then dry in the sun. If the stain has not disappeared, use lemon juice and salt or a diluted solution of household chlorine bleach.
Leather: Dry leather goods away from sun and heat. Wipe leather goods with a damp cloth, then a dry cloth. Stuff purses and shoes with newspaper to retain shape. Leave suitcases open. When leather is dry, clean with saddle soap. Rinse leather & suede jackets in cool water and dry away from the sun.
Books: Books can be dried by placing them on end with pages separated. Then they should be piled and pressed to prevent the pages from crinkling. Alternating drying and pressing will help prevent mildew until the books are thoroughly dry. If your books are very damp, sprinkle cornstarch or talc between the pages, leave for several hours, then brush off. A fan turned on the books will help them dry.
Photographs: Preserving damaged photographs is often very important to victims of fires.If photographs are not burned they can usually be saved. Do not peel apart photographs that have stuck together. Soak the photos in clear, clean water and rinse carefully. Let stuck photographs separate on their own. If they stay damp they can be damaged by mold.
If you have quantities of wet photos, wrap them in plastic wrap and freeze them, then thaw them and wash them a few at a time. After washing the photos, dry them image side up on a smooth hard surface like a glass table or kitchen counter.
Painted walls:
To remove soot and smoke from walls, mix together: 4-6 tablespoons tri-sodium phosphate and 4.5 liters of water. Use rubber gloves and goggles. Wash a small area at a time working from the floor up. Do ceilings last. Rinse thoroughly. Repaint when completely dry.
Wallpaper: Heat and ventilate room for several days to dry the plaster and paper. If mildewed paper is washable, wipe it with a soapy cloth. Rinse clean with clear water.
Floors: Use flax soap on wood and linoleum floors. Strip and re-wax.
Wall-to-wall carpet: A wet/dry vacuum or water extractor carpet cleaning machine is suggested. Follow manufacture’s instructions For information on cleaning and preserving carpets, call your carpet dealer or installer or a qualified carpet cleaning professional.
Rugs: Let rugs and carpets dry out thoroughly. Vacuum. Shampoo, lay flat to dry.
Mildew: To remove mildew, wash stain with soap and water. Rinse well and allow to dry. If stain remains, use lemon juice and salt.
Wood Furniture: Do not dry your furniture in the sun. The wood will warp. Clear off all dirt, scrubbing wood furniture or fixtures with a stiff brush and a cleaning solution. Remove drawers. Let furniture dry thoroughly.
If mold forms, wipe the wood with a cloth soaked in a mixture of borax dissolved in hot water.
Remove white spots of wood surface with a cloth soaked in a solution of 1/2 cup household ammonia and 1/2 cup water. Then wipe the surface dry and polish with wax.
Electrical Appliances
Appliances that have been exposed to water or steam should have a service representative check them. This is especially true of electrical appliances. In addition, steam can remove the lubricant from some moving parts.
If your gas or power is turned off during the fire, call the electric or gas company to restore these services – do not try to do it yourself. A licensed plumber or electrician must make repairs before service can be restored.
Locks and hinges
Take lock apart wipe with kerosene and oil.
Squirt machine oil through the bolt opening or keyhole and work the knob to distribute the oil if locks cannot be removed. Thoroughly clean and oil hinges.