Salvageable Items After A House Fire In Texas [Quick Guide]

What you can save often depends on what things are made of and how much they're affected by fire, smoke, and water.

Many items — like wood flooring, glassware, metal objects, fabrics, electronics, personal items, and even paper goods like books and documents — can often be cleaned and saved with the right approach.

Resilient Materials

Resilient materials like metal, glass, and ceramics often survive fires because they can withstand high temperatures and resist damage from smoke and water.

Unlike other flooring options, resilient floors like linoleum and vinyl remain stable even in uneven areas and may withstand the aftermath of fire better.

However, if any of these materials have melted, changed shape, or cracked, it's safest to throw them.

Although wood is typically considered porous, having to salvage hardwood floors is easier as they are more durable.

Hardwood and Other Resilient Flooring

Hardwood floors can be saved after a fire because they're usually covered with a protective coating. This prevents fire or water from penetrating the porous wood underneath.

Solid hardwood floors are sturdy and can be restored to their original form with light sanding and refinishing.

Glass and Ceramic Objects

Glass and ceramic objects, such as dishes and vases, commonly endure fires and can often be restored unless they're directly exposed to flames or extreme heat.

Glass is known for its heat resistance and typically withstands fires well. Similarly, most glass cookware can tolerate minor smoke damage without significant harm.

Resilient to high temperatures, they're generally "cleanable" after a fire, although ceramics and other porcelain may require professional cleaning.

Metallic Belongings

Metallic belongings like jewelry, silverware, and frames are often salvageable after a fire despite potential tarnishing or corrosion.

While extreme heat can compromise their integrity, most house flames don't reach temperatures high enough to melt metal.

Cleaning with vinegar and dish soap, light sanding, and repainting can restore metal objects.

Fabrics and Textiles

Fabrics and textiles are highly susceptible to smoke and soot damage, but professional cleaning techniques can often effectively eliminate odors and burn marks.

While charred or severely burned textiles are best discarded, clothing, carpet, upholstered furniture, and bedding with minor soot stains or water damage can usually be salvaged.

Clothing and Bedding Recovery

Clothing, blankets, bedding, and other textiles can often be salvaged if not directly exposed to the fire. Specialized washing and drying techniques can remove smoke and soot stains.

However, be cautious with children's clothing due to children's sensitivity to chemicals on fabric. It's best to throw away children's clothing after smoke exposure.

Professional emergency services may be needed if washing doesn't remove the smoke smell.

Electronics and Electrical Appliances

TVs, computers, fridges, and other electronics can often be saved if fires don't directly hit them.

Often, electronics and appliances can be fixed because some parts are easily replaceable or can be bought from stores. However, it's crucial to get them checked by an electrician to ensure they're safe to use.

This step is vital to avoid the risk of these items causing more fire-damaged property issues in the future.

Personal Belongings

Personal items like photographs, letters, and other sentimental belongings can often be saved with careful handling and special restoration methods.

Even some materials made of hard plastics might still be salvaged if they weren't directly touched by flames.

Saving these items can help keep a sense of normalcy in the tough times following a fire.

Paper Goods: Books and Documents

Quick action to dry and clean these paper goods can make a big difference.

If the items have moderate to heavy smoke damage, it's best to seek help from a professional restoration company.

Such companies have the technology and expertise to save even wet or moldy books, photos, and other documents.

While you can sometimes clean and recover items, disposing smoke-damaged items is also important after a fire.

The damage from smoke and intense heat may have altered their structure and potentially infused them with toxic substances.

This includes the following:

• Plastics that have melted or been stained
• Food items that may have been compromised by smoke and chemicals
• Personal care items

Plastic: Melted or Stained

Plastic items often become unsalvageable due to melting, warping, or irreversible staining from the high temperatures of the fire.

This includes everyday items like plastic toys, containers, and other household items, which can also absorb smoke and soot. This makes them unsafe even if they don't show visible signs of melting.

Also, plastic food packaging can be contaminated by firefighting chemicals.

Consumables

Be very careful with food. Anything edible that's been exposed to high heat, smoke, chemicals, or water might not be safe anymore.

Don't keep refrigerated or canned foods since they can absorb harmful toxins and chemicals that may have changed the food inside.

Packaged Foods

It's best to throw away packaged food items like cereals and snacks because toxic fumes can contaminate them. Even non-perishable food products that appear okay might not be safe.

The high heat from the fire can activate bacteria, and firefighting water and chemicals can also contaminate the food.

Throw away any open or damaged food items, even if they only have small stains or burn marks.

Refrigerated Perishables

If the refrigerator loses power for over six hours or has a smoky smell, the food within is likely unsafe. Also, discard any food if the fridge temperature exceeds 40° Fahrenheit, since this can cause spoilage.

But, of course, discarding all food, especially perishable food products, is still safest.

Personal Care Items: Cosmetics and Medicines

It's also important to discard all cosmetics, medicines, and similar products. Flames and smoke can change their chemical makeup and make them unsafe.

Even if makeup is expensive, it's not worth the risk to your skin and eyes. Get a new prescription for any medicines that you throw away.

Clean and sanitize everything. Don't sort or clean up burnt property items by yourself because it can be dangerous.

Finally, be careful with items that have touched smoke since they may have harmful particles.

Smoke Particle Contamination Risks

When things burn, they create soot that can be harmful. These soot particles stick to walls and other surfaces, harming your health.

To stay safe, try to limit exposure to affected areas.

If you need to go into a place with smoke damage, wear a respirator mask that filters out the contaminated air. This helps protect your lungs from the smoke particles that can make you sick.

Safety Measures with Recovered Items

Here are some basic steps for handling items recovered during fire damage restoration:

1. Clean and sanitize items you save from a fire to get rid of soot and smoke.
2. If furniture or other items are too damaged, throw them away.
3. Don't try to clean up burnt things by yourself.
4. Determine what your insurance covers and report any damaged items.
5. Handle and store saved items carefully.