Do's and Don'ts the Day After After damage from a fire, water leaks, or smoke, what you do first can make a big difference — for good or bad. While you want to restore some sense of normalcy to your space and your employees/tenants, doing the wrong thing can make the damage worse. Fire and Smoke Damage  DO Blow off or brush-vacuum loose soot particles from upholstery, drapes, and carpets. Cover carpeted traffic areas with towels or old linens to prevent additional soiling — and "ground in" soot. Discard any open food packages (Food could be contaminated by chemicals released in the fire) Send clothing with heavy smoke damage to a professional restoration cleaner rather than a dry cleaner. Clean Formica and fixtures (both chrome and porcelain) in the bath and kitchen to prevent permanent tarnishing. Wipe the leaves of surviving plants to remove smoke residue. Change the furnace/AC filter. Tape damp cheese cloth over air outlets (both intake and output) to capture loose soot in the air (and to reduce damage to your system). If the outside temperature and security procedures will allow it, air out the building to reduce smoke odor. DON'T Do not try to wash any papered or flat painted walls. Do not try to clean carpets or upholstered furniture. Do not use electrical appliances before they've been checked. Do not use ceiling fixtures before they've been checked. Try not to touch things — and keep your hands as clean as possible. Soot on your hands can 'migrate' to places that didn't have any. Do not eat any food that has been exposed to fire or smoke. Do not wait to call for professional help — Response in the first 24 hours can make a HUGE difference in how much is saved. Water Damage  DO Cut off the power, if you can do so without standing in a damp place. If the outside temperature and security procedures will allow it, air out the building, using dehumidifiers and fans. Remove as much water as possible by blotting or mopping. Wipe furniture dry. Lift draperies off the carpet. Prop up wet furniture cushions for even drying. Remove area rugs or floor coverings if wet. For wet furniture, if it has doors or drawers, open them to improve drying. Move photos, paintings, or other art objects to safe locations. Remove damp books from shelves and open to dry, flipping the pages from time to time. If it's cold outside, leave your heat on. If it's very hot, leave your AC on. DON'T Do not use an ordinary vacuum to remove water. Don't use electrical appliances on wet carpet or floors. Don't go into rooms with standing water if the power is still turned on. Don't lift tacked down carpet. (Doing this wrong could increase shrinkage — let the professional handle it.) Don't wait to call a professional. Water damage starts at once and gets worse as time passes. Bacterial growth can start in just a few hours. A professional response in the first 24 hours can make all the difference.