What Should You Throw Away After a Fire?

12/15/2021 (Permalink)

If your cosmetics have been exposed to fire you should replace them.

Five Items To Throw Away After a Fire

Exposure to heat and smoke can ruin delicate or perishable contents. While some items can be cleaned and restored, others should be disposed of and replaced. Here are five items to throw away after a house fire in La Marque, TX.

1. Food

Open food packages may become contaminated by smoke, ash, soot, or fire suppressants. It is important to get rid of:

• Open packages or containers
  
• Open pet food
  
• Cans exposed to extreme heat
  
  

Canned or packaged food that was not exposed to high heat may be safe to consume. Remove the label, clean the can, and write the contents and expiration date on the can in permanent marker.

2. Porous Kitchen Contents

Not only do food items pose a re-contamination risk. It is also important to dispose of:

• Plastic cutting boards
  
• Plastic dishes, cups, or utensils
  
• Baby bottle nipples
  
  

Plastic is porous and may absorb toxins. Throw away and replace these items after a fire.

3. Medicine

High heat and smoke can ruin medicine. Examine each product and consider:

• The safe temperature range
  
• Whether the packaging is open
  
• Any visible damage
  
  

It is safer to dispose of and replace medicine after a fire. Extremely high temperatures may make any formula less effective.

4. Cosmetics

Heat can also destabilize beauty and personal care products. Continued use can result in:

• Absorption of toxins through skin
  
• Discoloration
  
• Irritation
  
  

You should dispose of and replace products exposed to smoke or high temperatures. Throwing these items out is safer than risking re-contamination.

5. Burned Clothing

Clothing damaged by smoke or soot may be restored. Burned clothing should be thrown away. This is particularly the case for:

• Charred or singed items
  
• Babies' or children's clothing
  
• Burnt linens
  
  

If you are not sure whether clothing can be cleaned, consult with a restoration professional. You should dispose of items with extensive damage.

All of these contents may pose re-contamination risks. If you are not sure whether to throw away or attempt to clean an item, ask fire damage restoration experts in La Marque, TX.