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Electricity, gas and water

If your electricity, gas or water supply was damaged in the fire, or was disconnected following it, you should contact your supplier to arrange reconnection. You shouldn’t attempt to reconnect or turn on the supply yourself.

Replacement of valuable documents and records

If important personal documents are lost or damaged in your house fire, you will need to contact a range of organisations to get replacements. Use the list below to find out who you should contact about your:

• driver's licence - contact the DVLA, or use the link below to replace your licence online
• bank books - your bank, as soon as possible
• insurance polices - your insurer
• passport - the UK passport service, as soon as possible; use the link below to get a replacement
• birth, marriage and death certificates - the General Register Office; follow the link below to do this online
• divorce papers - either the court where the decree was issued or the Decree Absolute Service; use the CourtFinder tool below, or follow the link for Decree Absolute Service contact details
• benefits and social security payments - the Department for Work and Pensions; find the relevant benefit or entitlement in the A-Z listing below
• credit cards - the issuing company or bank
• property titles or deeds - the Land Registry; use the link below to contact them
• stocks and bonds - the issuing company, or your broker
• wills - your solicitor
• medical records - your doctor
• income tax records - the HMRC office where you filed your accounts, or your own accountant; use the link below to find contact details for individual HMRC offices
• vehicle registration - you can do this online, follow the link below

• Replace your passport Opens new window
• Order a birth, marriage or death certificate online Opens new window
• Find a court using the CourtFinder tool Opens new window
• Contact details for the Decree Absolute Service
• A-Z contact details for entitlements and benefits Opens new window
• Contact the Land Registry about property titles or deeds Opens new window
• Find contact details for tax offices Opens new window
• Apply for a vehicle registration certificate V5C (form V62)

Cleaning up after a fire

Cookware

- pots, pans and utensils should be washed in soapy water, rinsed and then (if necessary) polished.

Electrical applicances

- any appliances that may have been in contact with water or steam should not be used until an electrician has checked them and told you that they are safe to use.

Food

- cans and jars of food can be washed in soapy water, but throw away any cans that have bulged or are dented or rusted. Freezers usually have enough insulation to keep food frozen for at least a day. If you are in time, you could move your food to a neighbour’s or relative’s freezer or a rented locker. Never re-freeze food that has thawed or partially thawed.

To remove the smell of smoke from your fridge or freezer, wash the inside with a solution of baking soda and water. Placing some baking soda in an open container, or a piece of charcoal in the fridge or freezer will also help to absorb smells.

Flooring and rugs

– water underneath lino can create smells and also warp the floorboards beneath. If this happens, you should remove the lino – if it’s brittle a heat-lamp can be used to soften if up so that it can be rolled without breaking up. It can be re-laid once the floor has completely dried. Any small blisters in lino can be punctured (with a nail, for example) and then re-cemented using diluted lino paste squirted through the hole.

Rugs and carpets should be allowed to dry completely, then cleaned by beating, sweeping or vacuuming before shampooing. For information on cleaning and preserving carpets, call your carpet dealer or installer, or a carpet-cleaning professional.

Mattresses and pillows

 – it is almost impossible to get smoke out of pillows as feathers and foam retain the smell. If they are only slightly soiled, you could try dry-cleaning them, but it is likely they will need to be replaced.

Re-conditioning mattresses is also very difficult. You may be able to get a damaged mattress renovated by a specialist company, but if you need to use it temporarily, you should put it out into the open air to dry and then cover it with rubber or plastic sheeting.

Leather and books

– wipe leather goods with a damp cloth, then a dry cloth. Newspaper stuffed into purses, shoes and bags should help them to retain their shape as they dry. Leather goods should always be dried away from heat and sun, which can cause them to curl and crack. When your belongings are dry, you can clean them with saddle soap (use steel wool or a suede brush on suede items).

Wet books should be taken care of as quickly as possible. The best way is to freeze them in a vacuum freezer – which removes the moisture without damaging the pages. They can be kept in a normal freezer until you can find a vacuum freezer.

Locks and hinges

- locks (especially iron locks) should be taken apart, wiped with kerosene and oiled. If they can’t be removed, squirt machine oil through a bolt opening or keyhole, and work the knob to distribute the oil. Hinges also should be thoroughly cleaned and oiled.

 Walls and furniture

- to remove soot and smoke from walls, furniture and floors, mix together:

4 to 6 tablespoons of tri-sodium phosphate (available from hardware stores)
1 cup of household chlorine bleach
1 gallon of warm water

or use a mild soap or detergent. Wear rubber gloves when cleaning and, after washing each item, rinse with clear warm water and dry thoroughly.

Walls can be washed down while they’re still wet. Wash a small area at a time and rinse the wall with clear water immediately. Ceilings should be washed last. Do not repaint until the walls and ceilings are completely dry.

Wallpaper also can be repaired. Use a commercial paste to re-paste any loose edges or sections. ‘Washable’ wallpaper can be washed like an ordinary wall, but care must be taken not to over-soak the paper.

More useful links

• Information on choosing a good builder, plumber, electrician or other trader
• Repairs to council homes