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Care for Household Items
Floors Wood: Wood floors expand if exposed to water for very long. If floors are buckling, take up the trim board and remove one board along each edge of the floor. When wood dries, it will shrink back to normal size. Linoleum: Water underneath linoleum cause odors and warps the wood underneath. If this happens, remove linoleum carefully. Brittle linoleum can be softened by using a heat lamp. You can then roll up and remove it. It can be re-cemented after the floor dries if it is still in good condition. A new felt liner will be needed. Small blisters in linoleum can be punctured with a nail. Re-cement covering by waiting until the floor is completely dry; dilute regular linoleum paste until thin enough to go through nail holes; weigh down the linoleum with bricks and boards until the paste dries. Rugs: Dry thoroughly. Clean by sweeping, beating, or vacuuming. Shampoo with commercial rug shampoo or 2 TBSP. dish detergent and 1 cup of water, using a soft brush in a circular motion. Dry quickly, yet well. The remaining excess moisture at the base of tufts may rot the rug, causing it to fall apart. Lay rugs flat and expose them to warm, dry air. A fan will speed up the drying process. Walls and Ceilings Painted Walls: Walls can be washed while still wet. Use a mild soap/detergent or Smoke-Odor formula and wash one small area at a time, working from the floor up. Rinse immediately with clear water. Ceilings: Ceilings should be washed last. Do not re-paint until everything is thoroughly dry. If there is substantial damage, then a primer coat is necessary. (Vinyl primers work best). Plaster or Stucco Walls: Consult your local paint store on how to repair plaster and stucco walls. Wallpapered walls: Re-paste loosened wallpaper with commercially prepared paste. Wash with a very mild liquid detergent and soft sponge, rinse quickly to prevent paper from becoming soaked. Work from the bottom to top to prevent streaking. Furniture If your insurance covers fire- or water-damaged furniture, it may be better to apply allowances on new items. If you plan to repair instead, consider the cost of glue, clamps, and finishing. Wood furniture: To repair water-soaked furniture, put it outside. Remove drawers and allow them to dry separately. Clean off soot and dirt, using a hose if necessary. Wash with mild soap suds or Smoke-Odor formula. Wipe dry and bring inside. Sun will warp and twist furniture. To remove white spots or cloudiness that may develop, rub the surface with a cloth wrung out with a solution of 1/2 cup household ammonia and 1/2 cup water. Wipe dry and polish with wax. Rub surface with equal parts of turpentine and linseed oil with 4-0 steel wool pad dipped in liquid polishing wax. Wipe with soft cloth and buff. For small area of white spots, use camphorated oil or oil of peppermint, then buff. Upholstered: Dry furniture as quickly as possible to prevent mildew and rot. Brush off dirt and if necessary, shampoo with a solution of 1/4 cup powdered detergent in 1 quart hot water. Apply suds only with a sponge or damp cloth; blot dry. Brush pile in one direction only. Once dry, brush or vacuum. Leather: To remove surface dirt, wash with cold water and wipe dry. Dry at room temperature AWAY FROM SUN AND HEAT. When dry, clean with saddle soap, paste-type neutral wax, or other commercial finish wax. Clothing Wash all washable clothing (except fabric which cannot be bleached) in Smoke-Odor formula and dry well. All other items should be taken to a cleaners as soon as possible. Remove all trim and shoulder pads that might bleed through fabric. To remove mildew, wash fresh stains with soap and water, then rinse and dry in sun. If the stain remains, use a solution of lemon juice, salt, 1 tablespoon of per borate bleach and a pint of lukewarm water, or diluted solution of household chlorine bleach. Test colored garments before using any treatment. Mattresses, Blankets, and Pillows Mattresses: Good ones can probably be reconditioned by reputable mattress-building company. It is too difficult to do at home. To dry them, set them in sunlight until dry, then cover with rubber or plastic sheeting. If they have just been exposed to light smoke, airing them out will probably be sufficient. Blankets and Pillows: Shake and brush surface dirt from blankets. If possible, use the manufacturer's washing instructions. Otherwise, soak for 15 minutes in lukewarm water and detergent suds. Turn two or three times by hand. Spin off water and repeat if necessary. Rinse two or three times in lukewarm water. Let dry in a preheated dryer with some hot bath towels, or hang it outside to dry. When dry, gently stretch the blanket back into shape and brush it. Finish by ironing trim. It is almost impossible to get smoke out of pillows. Both foam and feathers retain the odor. Food and Medicine Salvaging Food Canned: Wash cans and glass jars with household detergent; rinse in clear water. Do not use any canned goods with bulges, dents, or rust spots or which have been exposed to excessive heat as it may have melted the solder in the can. Frozen: FRUITS can be refrozen if they still taste and smell good. If beginning to ferment, they can be eaten but they will have an "off" flavor. VEGETABLES cannot be refrozen if completely thawed. Refreeze only if some ice crystals remain. If vegetables have been thawed and cannot be reused or if color or texture is drastically altered due to partial thawing of contents, discard them. If you question their quality, THROW THEM OUT! Spoilage occurs before a bad odor is noticed. MEAT, POULTRY, AND FISH can be refrozen if ice crystals remain. They must be cooked thoroughly before eating. Any bad odors or doubts about quality, THROW THEM OUT! Bacteria multiply rapidly. Medication: If any prescription or over-the-counter medication has been exposed to heat or smoke, check with your doctor or pharmacist before using. Heat and smoke can effect the chemical make-up of some medications. Cooking utensils: Wash thoroughly with soap and water, polish with cleaner. Copper and brass may be polished with a special polish, or use salt sprinkled on a lemon, or use a cloth saturated with vinegar.\ Appliances: Do not run electrical appliances that have gotten wet until they are checked by a repairman. Using appliances before they are thoroughly clean and dry can cause more damage. Dry out electric range by removing back panel and placing a fan close by to blow air. A gas range needs the attention of your local utility company. Do not operate washers, refrigerators, or other large appliances until they have been checked by a serviceman. If you freezer stops running, keep it closed. Food will usually stay frozen for a day, maybe two or three. To move food to another freezer, wrap it in lots of newspapers an blankets, then transport. To remove odor from appliances, wash the inside with baking soda/water solution, baking soda/vinegar solution or household ammonia/water solution. Books To dry books, place them on end with pages separated. After a while they should be piled and pressed to keep pages from crinkling. To prevent mildew, continue this alternate drying/pressing method until materials are thoroughly dry. Locks and Hinges Take apart and wipe with kerosene and oil. If they cannot be removed, squirt with machine oil through bolt or keyhole and turn knob to distribute oil. After the fire - Tips After the fire Part II - Care for household Items After the fire Part III - Utilities Restoration After the Fire - Part IV - A Word About Fire Department Operations |
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