To clean up wet chemical fire extinguisher residue: Shut off all cooking equipment in the area and put on rubber gloves. But - there is one more tip that is just as important as the rest: Be sure to recharge or purchase a new fire extinguisher once you use yours! For eye exposure, flush the eyes with water until the pain or irritation goes away. The chemicals most often used in these kinds of extinguishers are monoammonium phosphate and sodium or potassium bicarbonate. Once you have cleaned up from discharging your fire extinguisher - Congratulations! Is Fire Extinguisher Powder Dangerous? Do not add water to chemical water extinguisher discharge. Also important after extinguishing the fire is properly cleaning up the fire extinguishment residue and taking the appropriate personal precautions in the process. Before you start vacuuming, though, you should first gear up in a dust mask, safety goggles and pair of gloves, as the fire may have created toxic fumes and dust. To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience. Dry Chemical Fire Extinguisher – Compact and portable designs makes these extinguishers best qualified for protection of minor hazards in industrial and commercial settings. All information is provided "AS IS." The most versatile fire extinguisher type for home use is the dry chemical fire extinguisher, which is recommended for normal fires as well as grease fires and electrical fires. Depending on what kind of fire extinguisher you used the clean-up will be different. Vacuum or sweep up loose debris. Website operating 3. You've successfully put out a small house fire and avoided the need for extensive fire damage restoration. Scrub the spot you are having trouble with vigorously, and you should be able to get it out. How to Clean Up After Using a Fire Extinguisher. Soot and smoke damage may cover walls, smoke odors may linger, and there may be fire extinguisher residue from putting out the fire by yourself. Though they are usually easy to clean up, different chemicals require different methods. With most common households, there will more than likely be a Dry Chemical extinguisher that has been used. There are many different kinds of fire extinguishers used in homes, but two kinds will not require special cleanup. Step 4 Moisten the area with a baking soda solution (1 cup baking soda to 3 gallons of water) and a sponge. If you cannot vacuum for some reason, or do not own a vacuum cleaner, sweeping the residue away with a broom or a dry cloth will work just fine. Be sure that you are using the correct class of Fire Extinguisher to put out your fire. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". You will want to make sure you are cleaning that up properly and taking safety precautions while doing so. All rights reserved. Once you know what chemicals you are cleaning up, you are ready to get started. Ventilate the area thoroughly. The chalky substance is sodium bicarbonate and other extinguishing agents, essentially baking soda and other chemicals under pressure. Apply the paste to the copper surface with a paint brush. Angelo is a contributing writer for DoItYourself.com. The fire extinguisher is a marvelous invention, and its use in successfully combating a fire before it spreads out of control is a major triumph. In the tight areas around the top and bottom of the cylinder, daub the paste on thickly with the brush. Portable fire extinguishers are incredibly vital in stopping the spread of a fire in it's tracks, but cleaning up after using one can be a challenge if you don't know the proper steps! How to Choose and Use a Fire Extinguishe... How to Choose and Use a Fire Extinguisher. How do I clean up fire extinguisher powder? Since the vast majority of fire extinguishers contain ammonium phosphate and/or ammonium sulfate, you need to be careful about cleaning up. The main problem is, all of these extinguisher chemicals leave a powder that can damage any … This residue can be removed safely by using a vacuum. Rinse with clean water and dry completely before powering equipment back on. We welcome your comments and Cleaning Dry Chemical Fire Extinguisher Residue Dry chemical fire extinguishers use substances such as monoammonium phosphate, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium bicarbonate. home improvement and repair website. These leave behind a corrosive powder, so it’s important to clean up dry chemical fire extinguisher residue quickly, especially if it has come in contact with metal surfaces. Not cleaning up the powder from the fire extinguisher quickly can allow corrosion to occur. 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