Can Appliances Be Cleaned After a Bloomingdale Kitchen Fire?

5/27/2020 (Permalink)

“Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO Employees Master Advanced Training in Kitchen Appliance Remediation to Respond to Bloomingdale Fire Damage

A Bloomingdale kitchen is the heart of a dwelling and does not miss a beat because of the hardworking appliances that help nourish your family. When a kitchen fire blackens and coats every surface with tightly adhered protein-based soot, cleaning becomes a challenge. Our team trains for the opportunity to save your appliances, “Like it never even happened.”

Can I Use Appliances Before Cleaning?

Modern kitchens feature appliances that employ sophisticated electronic circuitry, at risk of shorting out and otherwise malfunctioning after Bloomingdale fire damage. We recommend disconnecting the appliance from the power sources until evaluation by an authorized electronic service technician. Refrigerators and freezers should remain tightly closed while disconnected for cleaning to ensure that foods inside remain at appropriate temperatures.

What Steps Do Professionals Take to Get Fire Damage Residues Off Appliances?

The appliances in or near the kitchen that was the site of the fire include ovens, stoves, microwaves, freezers, refrigerators, trash compactors, ice makers, dishwashers, and laundry equipment. Materials used in their construction are most similar to hard-surfaced furniture and include:

    •    Metal
    •    Glass
    •    Composite materials
    •    Plastic
    •    Painted surfaces

What Do SERVPRO Technicians Assess First?

We inspect the appliance surfaces for durability. The tightly adhered residues left by a protein-based kitchen fire often need increased agitation or abrasive tools or cleaning products to break the bond. Great care is needed to clean effectively without scratching or dulling finishes.

How Do We Choose Cleaning Products?

Wet cleaning and polishing are the preferred methods for cleaning appliances. Because of the heavy smoke and greasy residues, we might decide to increase the cleaning solution's alkalinity. Short dwell times and thorough rinsing is essential to ensure the highly-polished surfaces of most appliances are not compromised.

SERVPRO of Carol Stream / East Bloomingdale takes the preparation of our employees seriously, encouraging managers and technicians to obtain high-level training to meet customer needs. See how we can help with fire damage challenges with a call to (630) 830-6236.