Safety with Flammable Liquids at Home

If you are an average homeowner with regular household items like hair sprays, rubbing alcohol, paint thinner, linseed oil under your roof, then you must also be aware of the risks these have to offer. While they may not seem like a serious threat in most cases, they sure can increase your risk during a fire accident. Here are a few handy tips to keep in mind while housing these liquids.

1. Hand sanitizers

 A true fact but hand sanitizers are flammable because of the high alcohol content in them. Whether gel or liquid, all alcohol-based hand sanitizers pose a great risk in case your house gets caught in a fire. A safety measure to follow here would be to keep sanitizers away from heat or direct sunlight. Avoid keeping them near stoves, heaters or in areas directly exposed to sunlight or areas that tend to get warm.

2. Gasoline, paint thinner and turpentine

Paint thinners are a common household liquid used to lighten oil-based paints or clean up after their use. Being widely used, they are also the reason for top residential fire accidents. In most homes, these liquids are carelessly stored in garages and often with negligence, a spillover is capable of causing sparks. To avoid accidents, these flammable solvents should be stored in tightly sealed containers away from sources of heat.

3. Nail polish remover

Because of the acetone content in this liquid, this is considered one of the most common flammable household liquids. The vapours it produces are also flammable as they are able to travel through the air, igniting any nearby flames. If you are using a candle, make sure to blow it out and keep it at a safe distance before you apply or remove any nail polish.

4. Linseed oil

Linseed oil a common household liquid used for staining and finishing work and dried upon exposure to heat. It generates heat as it dries, which can cause the spontaneous combustion of materials. Rags, waste, and other oily materials having residues of linseed oil can cause spontaneous combustion fires if not handled properly. This liquid is to be handled with great caution and stored in an appropriate place away from sunlight.

5. Aerosol cans/sprays

Over half of the household products stored in residential homes are contained in aerosol cans. Aerosol sprays are no surprise in catching fires when sprayed in close proximity of a flame or a fireplace. As much as possible store these cans away from heat-related appliances and warm areas and do not spray them near candle flames and kitchen stoves.

See Also: Fire damage and the Need for Restoration  

Safeguard your homes with these simple tips. In case of fire accidents, fret not! Our team of fire damage restoration experts at Bio Cleanse Services is always there to help. Call – 0427 411 789 in case of an emergency. You may also email us at – info@primerestorations.com.au

5 common causes of water damage

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Water damage is a result of excess water accumulating for long periods in damage-prone areas. Several factors can cause water to pool leading to water damage. It is important to know what these factors are and take precautionary measures to help protect your home from avoidable disasters. Below outlined are common undetected causes that contribute massively to water damage.

Pipe bursts or leaks

Pipes that burst or leak are one of the most common factors that lead to water damage. These often happen as a result of pressure in pipes caused by a blockage or back up in the toilets and drains. Pipes that are old and worn out can also contribute to leakages.

Plumbing issues/failures

While some plumbing problems are hard to identify as they occur within the walls, many issues arise when hoses and pipe joints are not attached properly. Regular inspections under the sink can help keep plumbing problems in check.

Household appliances

Over a period of time, washing machines, dishwashers, water heaters, and refrigerators start to deteriorate. As a result, pipes develop a rust build up and tend to crack, while the hoses become weak. Of all the appliances, the most common ones that contribute to water damage are hot water tanks and washing machines. It is important to perform timely checks for any possible hazard.

HVACs

Heating, ventilating and air conditioning units are likely culprits that could cause considerable water damage. Air conditioners in particular need to be serviced regularly, drained and maintained well to avoid any moisture build up within them. If not done, once the moisture cools, it can come in contact with mould spores in ducts and promote mould growth.

Natural disasters

When it comes to natural catastrophes, all you can do is take precautionary measures to mitigate their impact on your home. Floods, hurricanes and other natural disasters can all lead to a dangerous accumulation of contaminated water. In such cases, it is important to contact a water damage restoration company immediately to have the property remediated before the situation worsens.

If your home is in a bad state due to the above or any other reasons, call our expert team for effective water damage restoration services on 0427411789.

How an unattended death clean-up is handled by professionals

When a deceased person is discovered after a period of time, the whole situation can be intense and overwhelming. But what's challenging is the cleaning up after the unattended death. Apart from the biohazard dangers that arise from a situation like this, there is considerable damage done to the premises as a result of the decomposition process. For times like this, the cleanup and remediation of property should be handled by an expert biohazard cleaning team. Always reach out to a professional that will ensure extensive cleaning and remediation to rid your property of all biohazard dangers.

Below are the steps followed by a biohazard cleaning company to ensure the clean-up is done well.

Site examination:
Firstly, the cleaning crew will investigate and analyse the scene/area to determine the extent of the damage. A number of factors could influence the extent of contamination, from the kind of death to the time period since the death occurred. This study helps the cleanup team to design a plan of action that is best suited to eliminate all odours and decontaminate the area and materials present.

Cleaning up the area affected:
Next comes the cleaning of the decontaminated area. In this step, the cleaners will clean, decontaminate, sanitise and deodorise the area including surfaces, and carpeting. They follow strict procedures to ensure all contaminants are removed entirely from the site. In certain cases, the carpeting and subflooring will also be removed. This is to ensure no contaminants that could give rise to health dangers remain. The whole affected area is treated with advanced odour removal techniques to get rid of unpleasant odours completely.

Removal of contaminated materials:
At times, there are items that are highly contaminated making them difficult to salvage. It becomes necessary for the cleaners to remove and discard such materials. Cleaners follow strict protocols while discarding these. This is to ensure that the community surrounding the site are free from the risk of biohazard contamination.

Are you are facing a traumatic situation like an unattended death in your family or property? Don’t let the clean-up stress you out. At Bio Cleanse Services, we are always ready to help you in times like this. Contact us or call us on 0427 411 789 for any unattended death cleanup requirements.

How can you control mould growth in your home

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Mould has been there on the surface of the earth since the beginning of time. It is always present in the air and needs only some humidity and moisture to thrive. Although it is a part and parcel of nature, you obviously do not want it growing in your home and ruining your pretty walls. Below outlined are ways on how you can control mould in your home.

1. Since mould thrives in humid and damp areas, keeping a watch on the humidity level can be a good preventive measure to avoid mould growth.

2. Promptly fixing any leaks in the roof or any pipe can prevent mould from growing since you eliminate the possibility of a damp environment that mould requires to grow.

3. An area must be thoroughly cleaned and dried up after a flood. By not getting a complete or a professional cleanup done, the area might still have traces of water from the flooding which will eventually give rise to mould.

4. Since showers, laundry area, and kitchen deal with water the most, keeping them properly ventilated will allow most of the water vapours to escape thus reducing the chances of mould growth in these commonly affected areas.

Most of the times, if the mould problem is small then the cleanup can be done by yourself. If you decide to use bleach to do the cleanup, then there are a few things to keep in mind.

• Mixing bleach with ammonia or other household cleaning solutions is a big no-no. 
• Keep the windows and doors open to allow fresh air to enter. Make sure there is proper ventilation in the area being cleaned. 
• Don’t forget to wear protective gloves and eyewear. Remember, safety comes first. 
• Follow the instructions given by the manufacturer when using bleach or any other cleaning product.

See Also: Different Types of Mould that Grow at Your Home

Mould can become a serious problem if not tackled in time. It is advised to get a professional mould cleanup as soon as you spot mould in your home. We at Bio Cleanse Services provide expert mould testing and mould cleanup services. Call now on 0427 411 789 or visit our website to know more.

Understanding Dry Ice Blasting and its benefits over other cleaning methods

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Dry Ice Blasting, also known as CO2 Blasting, is a non-invasive method of cleaning. Dry Ice Blasting is an efficient and cost-effective way for industries to maximise production capability and quality.

Much similar to sand blasting, plastic bead blasting, or soda blasting, in Dry Ice Blasting, a solid media is accelerated under high-pressure air stream and made to hit the surface with a velocity causing the extra layer of dirt to fall off with the extra force.

Dry Ice Blasting is a shortened precision based cleaning procedure which leaves no residue except for the material to be disposed of. Upon hitting the surface, due to the heat present on the surface of the body, the ice evaporates, leaving no residue to be separately cleaned. CO2 is a non-poisonous gas which is both, inexpensive and easy to store in the worksite. Paint, oil, grease, asphalt, tar, decals, soot, dirt, ink, resins, and adhesives are some of the materials removed by this procedure.

Dry Ice Blasting has several benefits over other cleaning methods:

• Pellets are FDA, EPA, and USDA approved. 
• It is a non-flammable, non-abrasive and non-conductive cleaning method. 
• No secondary contaminants/solvents/grit media. 
• Environmentally friendly & safe as the ice sublimes into the atmosphere. 
• No harmful solvents – increases employee safety and longevity of equipment. 
• Faster & more productive than manual cleaning. 
• Allows cleaning in place without disassembly. 
• Reduced labour & other extra costs. 
• Can be as gentle as dusting smoke damage from books or as aggressive as removing weld slag from tooling.

At Bio-Cleanse Services, we provide exceptional customer service for Dry Ice Blasting to all of our valued clients in Sydney, Canberra, Goulburn, Batemans Bay and surrounding NSW. You can count on the quality cleaning and service. Call 0427 411 789 or email us at info@primerestorations.com.au