What To Throw Away After Smoke Damage In Your Home

One of the most overwhelming aftermaths of dealing with smoke damage is deciding what to salvage or throw away. With restoration costs going into thousands of dollars and most items holding high sentimental value, it’s understandable that you would want to keep most of them. 

However, while some items may be salvageable, it’s crucial to identify which belongings should be discarded due to smoke contamination after a fire. This article will guide you through the difficult decisions of what to throw away and provide insights into the items that can be salvaged after a fire.

Key Takeaways:

• Perishable and opened non-perishable food, cosmetics and medicines, and children’s items are some of the things you need to throw away after smoke damage.

• Dishware, appliances, and important documents are salvageable with the right cleaning and restoration.

Items To Throw Away After Smoke Damage

1. Perishable Food And Opened Non-Perishables 

Any food that has been exposed to smoke and soot should be discarded. This includes perishable items in your refrigerator or freezer that have been subjected to a power outage. Smoke can penetrate packaging, compromising the safety of the food inside. 

2. Cosmetics And Medicines

Throw away cosmetics and medicines exposed to heat, smoke, or soot. The chemical composition of these products can be altered when exposed to high temperatures, rendering them ineffective or unsafe.

3. Children’s Clothing, Bedding, And Toys

It’s recommended that you throw away children’s clothing, bedding, and other items that have been soiled by smoke. Smoke has acidic properties that can break down the materials producing toxic chemicals and causing odors that are extremely difficult to remove completely. The smoke and soot residue can cause skin irritation or cause respiratory problems if inhaled. 

4. Porous Materials And Soft Furnishings 

Porous materials such as upholstered furniture, mattresses, and foam pillows often absorb smoke deeply, making it nearly impossible to remove all the carcinogens and odors. Additionally, if they are water-damaged, these items can become breeding grounds for mold and mildew.

5. Plastic And PVC 

Items made from plastic or PVC near the heat source may have melted or warped and can release toxic fumes. Such items should be thrown out as they may continue to emit harmful chemicals.

Salvageable Items After Smoke Damage

While the list of things to discard might seem extensive, there are several things you can salvage after a fire with proper cleaning and restoration:

1. Hard And Non-Porous Items

Glass, metal, and ceramic items often survive smoke damage. These can be cleaned thoroughly with appropriate cleaning agents to remove soot and smoke. Professional cleaning services can restore many of these items to their pre-damage state.

2. Electronics And Appliances 

While these should be handled cautiously, some electronics and appliances can be salvaged after a professional assessment. Specialists can clean and restore them if they have not been exposed to extreme heat or water.

3. Important Documents And Photographs 

Smoke-damaged paper items and photographs can pose a challenge but there are document restoration services that can work wonders in salvaging important personal items. These professionals can help restore them, although it’s a good idea to digitize them for future safety.

Let All Hours Restoration & Cleaning Experts Restore Your Home

Have you suffered smoke damage? All Hours Restoration & Cleaning is here for you in this distressing time. Our restoration experts will assess the damage and create a customized plan to salvage as many items as possible and bring your home back to its pristine condition. Contact us to get started.