Can Fire-Damaged Contents Be Cleaned?

8/30/2022 (Permalink)

After a fire, there is a lot of stuff that needs to be cleaned.

Content Cleaning Methods

A fire can destroy many contents, but it may be possible to clean items that are only exposed to smoke, ash, and soot. Damage mitigation professionals provide a variety of content cleaning methods. These methods range from dry-cleaning to foam and wet cleaning. Learn more about the best treatments for different types of items.

Non-Porous Contents

Hard, non-porous items and surfaces can stand up to heavy-duty cleaning processes. Some of the most effective methods include:

• Abrasion or blasting
• Immersion
• Ultrasonic waves
  
  

Immersion and ultrasonic waves are often combined for maximum effect. These methods work best on smaller items that can be easily dipped in a bath of cleaning solution and treated with high-pressure waves. Larger items or surfaces may call for wet cleaning.

Porous Contents

Porous items absorb moisture and may not be good candidates for immersion or wet cleaning. The following methods are recommended for these materials:

• Dry-cleaning
• Spraying
• Wiping
  
  

Restoration professionals use specialized methods and solutions that may be more effective than consumer-grade treatments. Ask an expert which method is best suited to a particular item.

Delicate Contents

Care must be taken not to damage delicate contents. Books and documents call for different cleaning methods than treatments for textiles or upholstery. The best approaches for cleaning delicate materials may include:

• Chemical sponges
• Foam
• HEPA vacuums
• Immersion
  
  

Books and documents may benefit from being wiped with chemical sponges and carefully cleaned with a HEPA vacuum. Upholstery and furniture are ideal candidates for foam cleaning. Ceramics and glass should be able to withstand immersion.

These are all of the major content cleaning methods used by fire damage mitigation professionals. A service may also provide content storage until on-site restoration is complete. Rely on expert recommendations if you are unsure whether dry-cleaning or another method is the best approach for damaged items after a fire at a residence in Bunker Hill Village,TX.