If you recently experienced a house fire, All Care Restorations in Roca, NE, recommends contacting a fire restoration company before trying to fix the damage yourself. By placing the job in the hands of professionals, you can increase your chances of recovering furniture pieces and restoring the interior of your abode.

Rather than putting yourself and your family in danger by exposing them to smoke and byproducts of combustion, avoid the following mistakes after experiencing a fire:

• Washing Surfaces: Fire restoration companies rely on industry-specific solutions to return home surfaces to their original condition. Don’t scrub walls, vacuum carpets, wipe down counter tops or attempt to clean your furniture after fire-related damage; doing so could ruin the surfaces, requiring you to pay for more extensive repairs or purchase replacements.
• Cleaning Appliances: Like washing home surfaces, it’s best to leave this task in the hands of a fire damage restoration company. There’s a higher chance of electrocution in electrical appliances after a fire due to exposed wiring—don’t risk injury to yourself or your family.
• Eating Food & Beverages: If you are able to return to your home after the fire, never eat food or drink anything inside of your house that remained through the incident. These items could have been affected by exposure to smoke and heat, potentially making them unhealthy to consume.
• Operating Lighting Fixtures: Like appliances, the electrical system in your home can become damaged from a fire. If possible, refrain from turning on any lights to protect these fixtures and prevent any accidents.