Throughout the House: Keep movement to a minimum and keep your hands clean as you work. Both these measures will help prevent soot particles from penetrating upholstery, carpets, walls, and woodwork, thereby causing more damage.

Upholstery: Brush off or brush vacuum loose soot particles. Then cover upholstered furniture with sheets.

Drapes and Carpets: Brush off or brush vacuum loose soot particles. Place clean, dry towels or linens over carpets in heavy traffic areas to prevent further soiling.

House Plants: Wash off both sides of leaves. Softened water helps.

Ventilation Systems: Change furnace and air-conditioning filters. Tape double layers of cheesecloth over air grilles.

Food and Drinks: Take inventory and then discard any canned or packaged foods or beverages that may have been stored close to fire, heat, or water. They could be contaminated.

Refrigerator and Freezer: If the electricity is off, empty freezer and refrigerator completely and prop open the doors.

Kitchens and Bathrooms: If the heat is off and it's freezing weather, pour anti-freeze down sinks, toilet bowls, and tubs. Clean and protect chrome on faucets and appliances with a light coating of WD-40®.

Walls: To prevent soot from setting permanently, don't try to wash or paint without first contacting your Puroclean representative.

Carpets and Upholstery: To prevent odor from setting permanently, don't attempt cleaning without first contacting your Puroclean representative.

Electrical Appliances: Don't try to clean or repair TVs, radios, computers, or any other electrical appliances that may have been close to fire, heat, or water. Consult an authorized repair technician.

Clothing: Do not attempt to dry clean or launder smoke damaged items. Contact your Puroclean representative for special instructions.

Ceiling Fixtures: Do not switch on any ceiling fixture or fan if the ceiling is wet. The wiring may be wet or damaged.

Throughout the House: Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping and blotting. Open windows in cool weather to speed the drying process. In hot weather, switch on air-conditioning if it's safe to do so. Call your Puroclean representative for special instructions on how to prevent further damage.

Upholstery: Remove all loose cushions and prop up on a clean sheet so that they'll dry more evenly. Check for possible "bleeding."

Carpets: Remove area rugs from wet wall-to-wall carpets. Pick up any books, magazines, or other items that may be sitting on a wet rug or floor.

Storage Receptacles: Open suitcases and other storage boxes and dry them in sunlight if possible.

Furniture: Place aluminum foil, wood blocks, or saucers between furniture legs and wet carpeting. Open, but do not force drawers and cabinet doors to dry out interiors.

Ceilings: Punch small holes in sagging ceilings to relieve trapped water. Be sure to place drip pans underneath and move any nearby furniture or household items.

Artwork: Remove paintings and other artwork to a safe, dry place.

Clothing: Dry all garments as soon as possible. Hang fur and leather goods to dry at room temperature.

Vacuums: Do not use your regular household vacuum cleaner to remove water.

Electrical Appliances: Do not use TVs, radios, computers, or any other electrical appliance while standing on wet carpets or floors, particularly concrete or tile floors.

Ceiling Fixtures: Do not switch on any ceiling fixture or fan if the ceiling is wet. Avoid rooms where ceilings sag due to a buildup of water.

Throughout the House: Begin emergency measures after the police investigation.

Carpets and Upholstery: Vacuum up glass particles. Blot food spills with a wet cloth or sponge (wring out any excess water first). Be careful not to rub the spill, as this may damage fibers.

Containers and Fragments: Save any containers that can reveal the composition of spilled inks, cosmetics, and paints. Also, save any broken pieces of furniture or household items (wood chips, pieces of porcelain, etc.).

Exterior: Wash off or hose down any egg damage as soon as possible.

Electrical Appliances: Do not use any damaged appliances or lamps.

Stains: Do not try to remove ink, paint, or cosmetic stains.