Electronics Cleaning After a Fire

10/7/2022 (Permalink)

Cleaning Up Electronics After a Fire

If you've been through a fire, you know the stress that comes with it. But did you also know that cleaning up electronics after a fire can be one of the most dangerous parts of the process? If not done correctly, it's possible to damage your electronics—and even worse, expose yourself to harmful chemicals. That's why we recommend hiring SERVPRO of Burlington/Woburn! We have experience working with fire damaged electronics, and we use state-of-the-art cleaning equipment and processes to ensure your devices are safe and clean before being returned to you (or resold).

Cleaning electronics after a fire.

• Clean all components of the device.
• Inspect all components such as keyboard, mouse, and monitor for damage.
• If any of these are damaged, replace them before you proceed to the next step.
• Take care not to touch anything with your bare hands. Use gloves or cloths instead.

Why SERVPRO of Woburn/Burlington?

SERVPRO of Woburn/Burlington is a local, family-owned business that has been serving the community for over 30 years. We have the experience and expertise to handle any size fire, and we’re always available 24/7. We are also certified by IICRC (International Institute of Certified Raters).

Electronics cleaning equipment.

If you have any electronics that have been damaged in a fire or flood, it’s important to clean them thoroughly. Using the wrong cleaning supplies could damage or destroy your device. Here are some specialized electronics cleaning tools and equipment:

• Water damage restoration equipment. This may include drying fans and dehumidifiers, which help remove moisture from the air.
• Electronics cleaning tools. These can be used to gently wipe down surfaces without scratching them or using too much force, which could cause further damage to circuits inside of them.
• Electronics cleaning agent. 

Electronics cleaning process.

• If possible, turn off the device and unplug it.
• Remove the battery if you can. If not, it's okay to leave the battery in place while you're cleaning.
• Remove any memory cards or hard drives that were in use at the time of the fire.
• If possible, remove all external casing from your devices (like a computer monitor). 
• Use a vacuum to remove any dust/debris from inside these devices before cleaning them with water as well as gently wiping down their exteriors with a damp cloth

Don't try this at home!

Don't try to clean your electronics yourself. Not only will you likely damage the device, but you could end up hurting yourself in the process. Don't use water or a wet cloth to clean anything—the moisture can cause corrosion and can damage sensitive components inside your devices. Similarly, don't use a hairdryer or an iron as this can also lead to overheating and other malfunctions of your product that are difficult if not impossible for us repair technicians to fix at home.

If you have any questions about the process of cleaning electronics after a fire, please feel free to contact us at (781) 935-8222. We are happy to answer any questions and provide more information on this topic.