With the summer wildfire season winding down, you may be wondering how to eliminate or reduce smoke or ash traces inside your home. This is especially important if you or household members suffer from heart disease or asthma.
Here are a few tips on how to protect your home from indoor wildfire smoke and ash:
- Wear gloves, long-sleeved shirts, long pants, shoes, and socks to avoid skin contact.
- Wear an N95 respirator to protect your lungs.
- Change your shoes and clothing immediately following to avoid tracking ash elsewhere.
- Use doormats and clean them regularly as to not track outside ash inside.
- Remove shoes whenever possible when entering inside.
- Avoid stirring up or sifting any ash to avoid inhalation.
- Mist any surfaces with water before sweeping or dusting, follow with wet mopping or using a damp cloth. Use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) vacuum if you decide to vacuum instead of mop.
- Consider having your air ducts cleaned if there are excessive amounts of dust and debris and/or particles being released into your home. Contact ServiceMaster Restore for professional cleaning or if you have questions regarding cleaning your air ducts.
- Wash your sheets and clothes more often, especially if you’ve spent time outdoors.
- Upgrade your HVAC filters to Medium-MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value) filters. According to the EPA, they “are likely to be nearly as effective as true HEPA filters’ at controlling most airborne indoor particles.
Contact ServiceMaster Restore for other professional cleaning options or if you have questions regarding cleaning your air ducts. We provide commercial and residential restoration services to Missoula, Kalispell, and surrounding areas.
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