In the aftermath of a house fire, you’re likely going to feel compelled to save everything that you can. But unfortunately, even objects that seem unaffected may have sustained damage from smoke, toxic chemicals, or water. Remember: just because it’s salvageable, doesn’t mean it’s safe.
Read on to learn what you can keep (and what should definitely be tossed) in the aftermath of a house fire—and how your homeowners’ insurance can help you recover after the loss.
Why Do I Need to Throw Things Away After a House Fire?
Unfortunately, house fires don’t just mean property damage: they also mean the loss of personal property. That’s because smoke and soot can secretly worm their way into items in your house, and leave behind:
- Toxins (such as carbon monoxide or formaldehyde)
- Acidic residue
- Airborne particles
These materials are incredibly dangerous, and long-term exposure to them can lead to health issues. That’s why it’s so important to learn what is and isn’t safe to keep after a house fire, so you can protect yourself and your family from unseen harm.
What’s Salvageable After a House Fire?
You’ll be happy to know that, after a house fire, not everything in it is lost. However, of the things you can salvage from a house fire, you should be prepared to get them professionally cleaned.
1. Clothing & Upholstery (Sometimes)
Although clothing, curtains, carpets, and upholstered furniture are highly absorbent, that doesn’t mean they need to be immediately tossed. If they’re not too affected, there’s a chance that they can be saved after a professional cleaning, such as thermal fogging, ozone treatment, or dry cleaning.
To see if it can be saved, make sure there is:
- No visible soot, scorch marks, or fire damage
- No overpowering odor (some odor is fine)
- No signs of mold
Pro tip: If your clothes still smell bad after running them through the washing machine, that doesn’t mean they’re goners. Washing machines often don’t have the scent-odorizing capabilities a professional dry cleaner does.
2. Electronics & Appliances
Smoke can be incredibly corrosive to electronics and appliances, especially if it gets into the internal wiring and circuit boards. Luckily, your laptop, cellphone, television, refrigerator, washing machine, and more have a chance of being saved—especially if your electronics or appliances were unplugged at the time of the fire.
To see if it can be saved, make sure there is:
- No external damage or signs of melting
- No soot or ash residue
- No moisture or condensation around the ports
- No corrosive or acrid smell
Pro tip: Be careful when plugging in your electronics or appliances to check if they’re working! There is a chance they may catch on fire if ash or soot has gotten into them. If you’re unsure whether or not something is safe to plug in, you may want it to get checked by a professional.
3. Hard-Surfaced Furniture
Since wood, metal, and glass are non-porous, they have a much better chance of standing up against smoke and water damage than upholstered furniture does. Oftentimes, these can just be cleaned yourself with high-strength cleaners.
To see if it can be saved, make sure there is:
- No signs of damage to the seal, varnish, or laminate
- No signs of discoloration
- No damage to the hardware
- No visible charring
Pro tip: Porous wood or furniture with unsealed finishes can still trap odors. They will oftentimes require a deeper clean, or may need to be thrown out entirely.
4. Glassware & Metalware
High-quality glassware and metalware can typically withstand high temperatures, and they very rarely absorb smoke or soot. Most of the time, they just need to be thoroughly washed to remove ash or debris from the fire.
To see if it can be saved, make sure there is:
- No cracks or breaks
- No signs of melting
- No damage to any non-stick coatings or plastic handles
- No visible scorch marks
Pro tip: To properly clean glassware and metalware, use heavy-duty cleaners such as degreasers (to cut through greasy soot), trisodium phosphate (available at major hardware stores), or white vinegar mixed with dish soap.
What’s NOT Salvageable After a House Fire?
Unfortunately, some things after a house fire should be thrown out IMMEDIATELY. That’s because certain items in your home are highly porous and easily absorb smoke and other toxins.
1. Food & Beverages
Whether it’s perishable or non-perishable, you’re going to want to throw out any food or beverage products. Even if the packaging appears intact, there’s a high likelihood that it was affected by the gaseous smoke, toxic soot, or high heat.
Throw away:
- Any open food, including grains, spices, and pantry staples (like sugar and flour)
- Food packaged in cardboard or plastic wrap
- Refrigerator or freezer items, especially if you lost power
- Canned goods with signs of soot, ash, or fire extinguisher residue
- Anything with a slight odor
Pro tip: Don’t do “taste tests” to see if something is still good! There may be dangerous particulates from the fire on it. Even if it seems fine, it can still be hazardous to your health.
2. Medications & Cosmetics
Medications and cosmetics (especially liquid ones) can easily become unsafe after being exposed to heat, soot, or ash. There’s also a chance they may lose their potency, making potentially life-saving medications useless.
Throw away:
- Prescriptions and over-the-counter medications
- Vitamins and other health-related supplements
- Opened cosmetics or makeup containers
- Anything stored in a plastic or damaged contained
Pro tip: If you need to throw out your medication, your local pharmacy should be able to provide you with an emergency prescription. Oftentimes, this can be anywhere from a 3-day to a 30-day supply.
3. Paper Products & Books
Unfortunately, paper products are HIGHLY porous and easily damaged by smoke and soot. It also doesn’t take a lot of water (from the fire being put out) for them to become moldy. Oftentimes, paper products are among the hardest items to salvage. If you don’t already have one, consider investing in a fireproof safe to store important papers or documents.
Throw away:
- Napkins, paper towels, tissues
- Smoke-damaged books, files, coloring books, and notebooks
- Gift boxes or wrapping paper
- Anything that looks waterlogged
Pro tip: If you don’t want to throw away important documents or sentimental books, there is a chance they may be salvaged by a professional restoration company. For proof of identity documentation, reach out to your local government to start requesting replacements.
4. Items Made From Plastic & Rubber
Like paper, items made from plastic or rubber are incredibly porous. This means they’re absorbing all the dangerous chemicals and toxins from the fire, and then, after the fire has been put out, will slowly release them. Even if they appear completely intact, they’ve likely been compromised.
Throw away:
- Plastic food containers and utensils
- Personal care items, like toothbrushes or hairbrushes, made from plastic
- Soft plastic children’s toys (especially teething rings and pacifiers)
- Any rubber items that are warped, discolored, or sticky.
Pro tip: The reason it’s so important for these to be thrown away is that overheated plastic or rubber alters its chemical structure, making it completely different from what it was before.
How Can My Homeowners Insurance Help?
After a house fire, your homeowners’ insurance should cover:
- Debris removal
- Smoke, soot, and water damage
- Home restoration (or a total rebuild)
- Personal item replacement
Make sure to review the details of your homeowners’ policy before submitting a claim. It’s important to understand if you have actual cash value (ACV) insurance or replacement cost value (RCV) insurance. Actual cash value will replace your items but subtract to account for depreciation, while replacement cost value will replace items to their pre-loss condition.
Struggling After a House Fire? Contact Fortitude Today
After a house fire, dealing with debris removal and personal item replacement can seem overwhelming, especially if you’re navigating the insurance claim process alone. After all, insurance companies purposefully make the process difficult so they can pay you as little money as possible!
At Fortitude Public Adjusters, we’ll work with you to help get your life on track. We’ll negotiate with your insurance company, file the paperwork, and offer support and guidance until you’re back on your feet. Contact us today to learn more.
