What To Throw Away After Smoke Damage In Massachusetts

Published on June 16th, 2023

Even small fires can emit thick black smoke, creating soot stains all over your home. Flames can cause furniture damage, and smoke and soot contaminate perishable food and cosmetics. This post examines items that can be salvaged after a fire. In addition, we discuss what personal items to throw away after a house fire.

What Can Be Recovered After A House Fire In Massachusetts?

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. 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.

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.

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.

What To Throw Away After A Fire In Massachusetts

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, 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.

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 the house fire entered your refrigerator, regardless of whether the power went out, remove all perishable food and non-perishable food items.

Fire-Damaged Furniture and Mattresses

Furniture and mattresses burned in a house fire should always be discarded because they can fall apart. However, minor to moderate smoke and soot stains or fire extinguisher dust on hardwood furniture can usually be salvaged by cleaning it with oil soap. With severe stains, you may need to refinish and sand the wood.

Burned Clothing, Bedding, or Towels

Burned clothing, towels, or bedding showing signs of fire damage should be discarded. Dish soap can be used to remove minor soot stains. Soak other fabrics in vinegar before washing to remove any odd odor.

Where Can I Get Assistance After Fire Damage In Massachusetts?

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 cleanup. It's not safe otherwise to live in the home.

When Should You Hire A Fire Restoration Company In Massachusetts?

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 In Massachusetts

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 damages 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.

References:

https://www.restorationlocal.com/what-to-throw-away-after-a-fire/

https://restorationmasterfinder.com/restoration/what-can-be-salvaged-after-a-house-fire/