DIY Cleanup

Safety Precautions During Cleanup

Clean up may seem trivial compared to the larger tragedy, but protecting yourself is crucial. We don’t recommend you do it yourself, but if you have no choice, here are some key tips to follow:

1. PREVENT ASH EXPOSURE

If you get ash on your skin, in your eyes, or in your mouth, wash it off as soon as possible.

People with heart or lung disease such as asthma, older adults, children, and pregnant people should use special caution around ash.

1a. Pets should not be nearby while you clean up ash, and clean ash off pets and other animals. Keep pets away from contaminated areas.

1b. Wear gloves, long-sleeved shirts, long pants, shoes and socks, and goggles to avoid skin and eye contact. Contact with wet ash can cause chemical burns or skin irritation. Change your shoes and clothing before you leave the cleanup site to avoid tracking ash offsite, into your car, or other places.

2. PROTECT YOUR LUNGS

Wear a tight-fitting respirator that filters ash particles from the air you breathe. Wear a respirator that has the words “NIOSH” and either “N95” or “P100” printed on it. These have two straps and are available online, and at many hardware stores and pharmacies.

Buy respirators in a size that can be tightened over your mouth and nose with a snug seal to your face. Surgical masks and one-strap dust masks will not protect your lungs. They are not designed to seal tightly to the face.

If you have heart or lung disease, talk to your doctor before wearing a respirator or working around ash.

3. ASH CLEANUP

Wear your protective gear while cleaning up ash. Wear a respirator, gloves, long-sleeved shirts, long pants, shoes and socks, and goggles to avoid skin and eye contact.

Avoid stirring or sifting through ash and avoid actions that kick ash particles into air, as much as you can.

When vacuuming ash, use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA)-type vacuum to clean dusty surfaces. Do not use a typical household vacuum or a shop vacuum, which will send the collected dust or ash out into the air.

Do not use leaf blowers or do anything else that will put ash into air.

Before sweeping ash off surfaces, wet down ash with as little water as you can. Continue to use caution while cleaning the wet ash, as contact with wet ash can cause chemical burns or skin irritation.

On surfaces with a lot of ash, mist ash with water to keep dust down, then sweep. Wet mop area after sweeping. Avoid dry sweeping.

On areas lightly dusted with ash, use a damp cloth or wet mop.

Change your shoes and clothing before you leave the cleanup site to avoid tracking ash offsite, into your car or other places.- After cleanup, rinse exposed skin with water, but take extra care. Even invisible ash can cause stinging, burns, or irritation.