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What if a few minutes could save you a few hundred dollars?
No, we’re not talking about those “too good to be true” advertisements. Instead, we’re talking about damaged electronics.
When smoke damages electronic equipment, most people think they must buy new equipment. But it turns out that cleaning smoke damage (including smoke from cigarettes) is easy to do and a great way to save money.
Want to know the secret? Keep reading to learn 5 steps to cleaning smoke damaged electronics!
With any luck, you’ll be able to save the entire piece of equipment from smoke damage. Just in case, though, you need to remove the memory first.
Things like camera memory cards and computer hard drives are less likely to be damaged by the smoke. And even if you can’t restore the equipment, you may be able to rescue anything saved onto the card or drive.
For really important computer files, you should consider saving things to the cloud. That way, you will always have a digital backup!
After you rescue the memory from your devices, you may be eager to clean things. However, the next step is simply to unplug the devices.
Doing so can help to reduce the risk of things like an electrical fire. And if the equipment is damaged, unplugging it may avoid more damage in the coming days.
If possible, try to leave things unplugged for a solid 24 hours. During that time, you have some homework to do.
Ever hear the phrase “hope for the best but expect the worst?” It’s basically the motto of cleaning smoke damaged electronics.
No matter how well you clean the equipment, you may end up having to replace it. That’s why it’s important to go check on your warranty for the affected devices.
There is a chance that the equipment is under warranty and that the warranty covers smoke damage. If that’s the case, you can get a replacement at no extra cost.
So, you’ve unplugged everything and checked your warranty. The next step is actually cleaning the device.
You will likely need a screwdriver to remove things like the outer casing. This lets you assess how dirty and damaged the equipment actually is.
The next step is to spray short bursts of compressed air into the affected area. This may be enough to take care of soot and get things working.
Take the time now to wipe down vent holes and other areas without electronic parts with a damp cloth. This can remove lingering smoke.
The last step is nice and simple: you need to let the equipment air out.
Doing this helps any of the damp parts dry out after your cleaning is complete. More importantly, airing the equipment out for a few days can remove the nasty odor of smoke.
Now you know how to try cleaning smoke damage from electronics. But there are times you need to bring in the professionals.
At Unlimited Restoration, we specialize in bringing homes, businesses, and equipment back from the brink of disaster. To see what we can do for you, just contact us today!
