Can Items Be Saved After a Fire?

6/27/2022 (Permalink)

If your business suffers from a fire loss, give our SERVPRO team a call. We have the experience and equipment needed to restore your business.

Is It Possible To Save Items After A Fire?

One of the hardest things about experiencing a fire in Longmont, CO can be the loss of personal belongings. Walls and floors can be repaired, a roof replaced and plumbing and electrical redone. The contents of the building, however, can have meaning and personal attachment that makes them difficult to do without. Dry-cleaning and other techniques can be used to save many items.

What Methods are Used to Clean Contents?

There are several methods that can be effective depending on the material the items are made up of. Here are a few of the favored content cleaning choices:

• Dry-cleaning — For clothing and draperies and fabrics with soot stains
• Laundering – For other fabric items not contaminated with soot
• Cleaning with detergent – metal and hard surfaces
• Shampooing – Carpet my possibly be cleaned this way if the damage is only from smoke
• Ultrasonic treatment – This method works well for many non-porous materials

Cleaning and Storage

The first two options are best for cleaning smoke and odors from clothing and fabric items that suffered soot stains in the fire. You may also be able to save draperies, sheets and bedding and bathroom linens this way.

A soapy wash with an anti-bacterial detergent may help save some of your washable items like dishes, glassware, and surfaces like laminate or tile. For non-porous items, a dip in an ultrasonic unit can loosen and break up soot and smoke residue. They should be thoroughly cleaned to remove stains and odors.

Content cleaning is a particular process best handled by fire restoration professionals. Using the wrong method can cause permanent damage. Professionals in Longmont, CO know what works best to salvage anything possible. In some cases, cleaned items may be put into content storage to protect them from becoming contaminated until restoration is complete.

If a fire disaster happens, get help that understands the way dry-cleaning and other methods can help save your content. They can help make it “Like it never even happened.”