Gear to have before you start
- A well-fitted N95 or P100 respirator; cloth and paper dust masks do not protect against fine ash
- Nitrile or heavy work gloves
- Long sleeves, long pants and closed shoes you can wash or throw away
- Safety glasses or goggles
- A garden hose with a gentle spray nozzle
- Heavy-duty trash bags and a damp mop or cloths
- A HEPA-filtered vacuum for indoor work
A safe cleanup sequence
Mist before you move it
Spray ash lightly so it clumps. Dry sweeping lifts the finest particles into the air.
Scoop and bag
Use a shovel or dustpan to bag damp ash. Tie bags closed and keep them away from children.
Rinse hard surfaces gently
Wash decks, patios and outdoor furniture with low-pressure water. Try to keep rinse water out of storm drains and away from gardens.
Wash produce and play areas
Rinse garden vegetables well before eating, and clean play equipment and sandboxes or replace the sand.
Clean up yourself
Take off work clothes outside or just inside the door, wash them separately and shower.
Methods that help versus methods that spread ash
| Use | Avoid |
|---|---|
| Damp mopping and wiping | Leaf blowers |
| HEPA vacuums indoors | Dry sweeping |
| Low-pressure hose rinsing | Regular vacuums and shop vacs without HEPA filters |
| Bagging wet ash | High-pressure washers aimed at stucco or soffits |
Why ash needs this much care
Fresh wildfire ash is alkaline, a bit like lye in weak form, and can irritate skin, eyes and the airway when wet. The finest particles are small enough to reach deep into the lungs. Ash from burned forest is a nuisance; ash from burned houses, cars and sheds is a bigger concern because of what those materials contained.
Outdoor ash also blows back. In a city as windy as Colorado Springs, ash that isn't bagged will drift into your car, your neighbor's yard and back through your open windows. Doing the yard before the inside of the house, and keeping windows shut while you work, keeps you from cleaning the same rooms twice.
If the amount is overwhelming, if ash got into the attic or ducts, or if you're unsure what burned nearby, a professional inspection is worth considering. Note the date you cleaned and keep a few photos, since insurers may ask what was done before they arrived.
General information for Colorado Springs, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.