What Can Be Salvaged After Smoke Damage?

3/1/2022 (Permalink)

While house fires can be very destructive, there may be items and elements of your home that can be saved.  Although there are a variety of these items, most can be put into a couple categories.

Hard, Nonporous Items

Items in this category will fare relatively well after a fire, assuming they are not burned or melted.  This is because their nonporous characteristics allow them to not be penetrated by discoloration, foul odors, or water used in firefighting efforts.

Glass - windows, dinnerware, and other glass items stand up well in heat, and can be easily washed until clean. 

Metal - Metal will rarely melt in a normal house fire, so they can also be washed

Hardwood flooring - due to most floors having a finish on them, they can be cleaned and refinished after remediation is complete.

Washable Items

On the other hand, cloth items will probably be penetrated by smoke and soot, unlike hard materials.  But they can be more vigorously cleaned in the washing machine, where hard materials cannot.  Anything that can go in the washer can usually be saved, provided that they are not directly damaged by the fire.

Clothes, furniture covers, curtains, and other cloth items can easily be put into the washing machine to be cleaned.  It may take an extra wash or two to completely remove odors, but it should get the job done.

What most likely won’t be salvageable:

- Nonperishable foods

- Perishable foods left at room temperature

- Medicine, cosmetics, and hygiene products

- Damaged cloth items 

The usual rule of thumb is to discard anything that you are unsure of.  Contaminated items can always be replaced if they are not sentimental.  Contaminated items can also lead to lingering smoke odors in your home. It is important to contact a damage restoration professional as soon as you notice any fire or smoke damage. Greenwich has over 30 years of experience working with people who have had damage to their property.  If you have any type of damage, call us immediately at 203.324.1642.