When disaster strikes, it can leave your belongings in bad shape: coated in soot, soaked with flood water, or even covered in mold.
Whether it’s a flood, fire, or storm, knowing how to properly clean and restore your belongings is crucial.
Here at ServiceMaster of Lake Shore, we’ve been providing disaster restoration services to Chicago residents since 1996.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the key steps involved in content cleaning after a disaster – including when to call in the professionals.
Key Takeaways
- Disasters can cause various types of damage, from smoke and mold to water saturation and even biohazard exposure.
- If you want to save your belongings and prevent further damage, you’ve got to get started on content cleaning as quickly as possible.
- If you’re in the Chicago area, call ServiceMaster of Lake Shore for professional content cleaning services: (312) 707-8597.
How Disasters Impact Your Personal Property
When a disaster hits, it’s not just the structure of your property that suffers – your furniture, clothing, keepsakes, and personal items can be hugely impacted, as well.
Here are just a few of the types of damage you may be facing:
- Smoke and Soot: These fine particles can embed in soft materials like fabrics and carpets, creating lingering odors and lasting discoloration.
- Water Saturation: Floods, burst pipes, and firefighting efforts can saturate your carpets, belongings, and furniture, making them vulnerable to mold and mildew.
- Mold Growth: Mold spores begin to grow in as little as 24 hours in damp conditions. If not treated immediately, mold can cause health issues like respiratory issues and new or worsening allergies.
- Biohazard Exposure: Sewage backups and chemical contamination pose serious health risks and require specialized equipment and techniques to clean up.
Professional vs. DIY Contents Cleaning
Although it can be tempting to tackle content cleaning yourself, we don’t usually recommend it.
In fact, there are lots of good reasons to call a professional team for property damage restoration.
Here are a few of the biggest:
- Advanced Tools and Techniques: Professionals use specialized equipment like ultrasonic cleaners, freeze-drying chambers, and industrial-grade air scrubbers that homeowners just don’t have access to. This equipment makes cleaning more effective and efficient
- Health and Safety: Removing potentially hazardous materials like mold or soot without proper training can be dangerous. Fortunately, pros have the training needed to conduct these operations safely.
- Time Savings: Experts can work quickly and efficiently, reducing the stress and emotional toll of sorting through damaged items and restoring damaged space.
- Insurance Support: Professional documentation helps streamline the insurance claims process, ensuring you receive the full value of your damaged items.
The Contents Cleaning Process: Step-by-Step
Considering hiring a professional team for content cleaning services?
Here’s what you can expect the process to look like:
1. Damage Assessment & Inventory
Most teams begin the contents cleaning process with a thorough walkthrough and inspection of damaged items.
This step includes detailed photo documentation and tagging to ensure accurate tracking throughout the restoration process.
The team will also create an inventory list to support future insurance claims and provide a clear record of what items have been affected.
2. Pack-Out & Transportation
Once the team has assessed your items, they’ll start carefully packing them and labeled for safe transport to a secure, off-site cleaning facility.
This step is essential for preventing further damage while property repairs are underway, and making sure that salvageable items remain protected.
3. Cleaning, Drying & Restoration
At the cleaning facility, professionals use advanced techniques like ultrasonic cleaning, freeze drying, and deodorization to restore items.
If needed, the team will also perform mold remediation on contaminated belongings.
Ultimately, each affected piece will be evaluated individually to determine the best approach for restoration.
4. Storage & Ongoing Communication
Once the items are all clean, they’ll be stored in a climate-controlled facility while property repairs continue.
During this process, the content cleaning team will work with you to coordinate with insurance adjusters to streamline the claims process.
5. Return & Reinstallation
When your property is safe for re-entry, the content cleaning team will return your restored items back to your home, carefully reinstall them, and reposition furniture and other belongings as needed.
Finally, the team will conduct a comprehensive walk-through with you to make sure you’re satisfied with the results.
Don’t Attempt Content Cleaning on Your Own – Let ServiceMaster of Lake Shore in Chicago Help!
Recovering from a disaster is never easy, but with the right approach to content cleaning, you can salvage much more than you might think.
Acting quickly and hiring a skilled professional like ServiceMaster of Lake Shore will help you save your belongings and your peace of mind.
Contact us today to learn more about our process or get your quote today: (312) 707-8597.
We service all of Chicagoland and the Suburbs.
What types of items can be saved after a disaster?
Depending on the extent of the damage, many household items, including furniture, electronics, documents, and sentimental items, can be restored after a household disaster.
What’s typically not salvageable?
Items with significant biohazard exposure, severe water damage, or heavy mold infestation may need to be discarded for safety.
Is content cleaning covered by insurance?
In most cases, yes. Check with your insurance provider to confirm specific coverage.
How long does the contents cleaning process take?
This varies based on the extent of the damage and the volume of items, but a professional team can provide an estimated timeline after initial assessment.
Need professional help? Contact ServiceMaster of Lake Shore for expert guidance and comprehensive restoration services.
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