What To Throw Away After Smoke Damage

Published on May 09th, 2023

Even small fires can emit thick black smoke, creating soot stains all over your home, including upholstery, drapes, and possessions. Flames can cause furniture damage, and smoke and soot contaminate perishable food and cosmetics. Strong odors or stench can enter air vents and windows, making it necessary to inspect your home thoroughly, including doors, filters, and ducts, for damage. This post examines items that can be salvaged after a fire. In addition, we discuss what personal items, like clothes and belongings, to throw away after a house fire, focusing on their smell and health implications.

What Can Be Recovered After A House Fire?

Hard, non-porous materials and surfaces are the easiest to save from smoke damage. Never, however, keep anything that has been burned, charred, or melted, such as carpets or items damaged by ash. Here are three items that can be salvaged after a fire:

Metal

While fires can leave smoke residue and stains, metal is more resistant to smoke damage. Clean metal items with vinegar and dish soap. Then lightly sand and paint the metal to prevent rusting. When doing so, using proper tools and care will help maintain their quality. It's also a good way to protect your hands with rubber gloves while using cleaning solutions.

Glass

Glass is uncompromising and straightforward to clean after a home fire. To remove smoke odors, scrub soot stains with baking soda and vinegar, then soak in vinegar for fire damage restoration. Make sure to wear proper gloves to protect your hands from any broken glass during the cleaning process.

Hardwood Floors

Unless there is extensive charring or burn marks, it is possible to salvage hardwood floors after a fire. Use oil soap to clean the floors, then refinish as needed. Before attempting to clean, clear away debris with gloves and a filter mask to avoid inhaling particles.

What To Throw Away After A Fire

As fires can spoil almost anything in your home, throw away anything that has been burned, melted, or damaged by heat or flames. The following are the most common items thrown away after a fire:

Canned or Boxed Foods Exposed to Fire

After a fire, throw away any sealed food or aluminum cans, especially open containers. Smoke and soot damage can contaminate food items and can prove detrimental to food safety.

Stained or Melted Plastics

Even small fires damage plastic items because they attract smoke and soot. Since removing these stains is difficult, you should always discard any permeable packaging, such as thin plastic bags and bleach-affected items, after a house fire, as they can contain dangerous chemicals and smoke particles.

Electronics

Before using small electronics such as kitchen appliances, TVs, and game systems, always inspect them for water and heat damage. Repair or discard anything melted, burned, or stained, as its structural integrity is compromised.

Exposed Medicine, Cosmetics, and Hygiene Products

Make sure to dispose of any damaged medicines, cosmetics, or hygiene products. While costly, it is best to assume that smoke and soot contaminated these items following a house fire. If you empty your medicine cabinet, contact your doctor right away. Remember that the health of your skin and overall well-being is essential.

Perishable Food Left at Room Temperature

Following a power outage, you should discard any contaminated food in your refrigerator or freezer. Food spoils in refrigerators in two to six hours, while it takes 12 to 24 hours in a freezer. If a house fire enters your refrigerator, regardless of whether the power goes out, remove all perishable food and non-perishable food items. There are ways to restore a sense of order after a fire, and removing damaged items is a crucial first step.

Fire-Damaged Furniture and Mattresses

Furniture and mattresses burned in a house fire should always be discarded because they can fall apart or become dangerous debris in the aftermath. Additionally, check the condition of upholstery, drapes, and air vents, as well as windows and doors, to ensure that they are not contributing to the stench or posing any health risks. Replace any filters and clean your ducts to guarantee a healthy environment after a fire. However, minor to moderate smoke and soot stains or fire extinguisher dust on hardwood furniture, fabric items, and various household tools can usually be salvaged by cleaning them with oil soap and taking proper care while doing so. With severe stains, you might need to refinish and sand the wood. Objects made of textiles, such as cloth or cardboard, and even your curtains and couch, may pose a risk of further issues if not handled properly. Everything from their composition to the severity of damage should be considered when determining if an item can be saved. Remember to prioritize the air circulation inside your living space, and inspect your fridge for any contaminants that may have entered during the fire.

Burned Clothing, Bedding, or Towels

In the aftermath of a fire, making a list of things that need to be discarded is essential. Burned clothing, towels, or bedding showing signs of fire damage should not remain in the home. Dish soap can be used to remove minor soot stains from these cloth items. Soak other fabrics in a gallon of vinegar before washing to remove any odd odor. For items like cups or other non-porous objects, a thorough cleaning may suffice, but when in doubt, it's better to discard and replace them. The ashes left behind can also be problematic, so involving firefighters or a professional restoration service in the process is recommended. Don't forget to also properly clean your fridge and cupboards, discarding any charred food or jars, as fumes can linger and pose health risks.

Knowing what to save and what to discard is just one of the many things you must do for fire damage cleanup. You must also secure your property and repair any fire damage. In addition, you must replace any damaged items. You can sell your home while its still smoke damaged!

Repairing your home and changing items exposed to flame damage or water damage can be costly, so contact your insurance company right away. Hiring a professional restoration company is best to ensure successful fire damage clean up. A professional cleaner can tackle any remaining soot or contaminants, making it safe to live in the home. It's not safe otherwise to live in the home

When Should You Hire A Fire Restoration Company?

Although minor damage can be cleaned up on your own, you should contact a restoration contractor if:

• The fire destroyed more than a six-foot section of one room.
• The fire damaged more than one room.
• Flames engulfed the walls, floor, ceiling, or roof.
• Your home is filled with a thick smoke odor or victim of soot damage.
• Firefighting efforts arrived and used hoses to extinguish the fire.

How To Get Assistance After A House Fire

Here are the best options to get help after a house fire, regardless of whether you use your insurance or house fire victim assistance.

Insurance Company

Unless the fire is minor, you should always contact your insurance company. They will evaluate the damage and cover the majority of fire damage repairs.

Restoration Company

While minor smoke and soot damage can be cleaned up independently, a professional should always handle larger fires. Fire restoration companies have the training and equipment to repair your home quickly and safely.