What to Keep and What To Toss After a Home Fire

11/27/2019 (Permalink)

Protect your home with fire alarms.

If you recently suffered a home fire in Johnson City, TN, you may be wondering if all is lost or if you can save some of your property. To find out the answer, you'll need to consider whether the integrity of the valuables is compromised. Throw away anything that may hurt you or others. This means asking yourself if you could suffer from chemical exposure or whether it could have spoiled from environmental changes. Here is a rundown of what to keep and what to ditch.
Toss It
Even if the entire house didn't become engulfed in flames, it may have received impact from the high heat. In fact, the fire's temperature may have hit between 100 and 600 degrees; this is hot enough to ruin structure and effectiveness of numerous common household goods. With this in mind, look closely in household cabinets and refrigerators. It's best to get rid of anything questionable. This could include the following materials:

Food
Medicine
Cosmetics
Beverages
Pet Food
Cleaning Supplies

Play it safe. Throw away consumables.
Wash It
Some belongings might be salvaged using fairly easy methods. Look over your cooking ware such as silverware, pots and pans. These may just need a good soak and scrub. Grab some liquid dish detergent and warm water. Let them in the soapy water for a bit. After a while, grab a wash cloth and wipe them, hoping to see them return to normal. What about other areas with fire damage? Leather assets such as furniture, purses, or shoes may also be sanitized with a damp cloth and some saddle soap. As for the rest of your clothes, try a cold wash using detergent and pure vanilla extract. This may help remove the smoky odor. Any other areas should have consultation from a fire and water restoration company. The crew can evaluate your place's furniture as well as personal things, determining the best course of action.
Inspect each good, and use the following as a rule of thumb. Throw away items that you apply to your body or which you would consume. Consider cleaning anything else. If in doubt, ask the experts for advice.