If you’ve worked hard and lived a good life, one of the most devastating things that can happen to you is a fire or other incident in your home. Fires are, by nature destructive forces, and while they may not burn everything in a home, the combination of smoke, burn, and even water damage can leave many items and furnishings in a home damaged.

In the past, this usually meant that residents would have to take an accounting of damaged home components, such as the roof, and get them replaced. However, for cherished items within the home, such as a family sofa that had been passed down, or a dining table set gifted by grandparents, there was often far more distress about getting rid of these items with brand replacements.

Restoration Is Possible

Today, however, just because an item in the home has been in a fire, and exposed to smoke or other contaminants, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the item is beyond recovery. New techniques make it possible for some damaged furnishings to be salvaged and repaired.

The Inspection

The first thing you should have done is to get a professional inspection of all home items. Anything that can be saved, or may potentially damaged further in its current condition is classified and treated. For example, acidic residue on a furnishing may be immediately removed upon inspection to prevent further deterioration.

Cleaning

Once professionals have taken an accounting of what can be saved, those items will be cleaned according to their specific needs. Fabric, for example, has different needs than wood. So there may be ultrasonic treatments, soil removal, or even deodorizing to remove the smell of smoke from wood, for example.

Depending on the item, an arsenal of different cleaning agents may be required to remove dirt or odors without incurring further damage safely. Surfactants, degreasers, disinfectants and even ozone treatments may be all be used, depending on what the item is and requires.

Component Replacement

In some cases, there may be some replacement of parts or components, in order to preserve the overall integrity of a piece. Plants, for example, should have the top layer of soil removed and replace with new soil, as this is a likely place for contaminants to remain after a fire or other home incident. Without taking this step of replacement, the continued safety of the plant will be jeopardized.

Talk To The Experts

Because of the complexity and different materials used in different home items, it’s always important to make sure you get a professional assessment of what in your home can be recovered and what can’t be. You may not have the understanding of the underlying chemical characteristics of woods, fabrics, and metals, but a professional restorer has the experience, equipment, and know-how to find out which belongings in a home may not be as beyond recovery as you had previously imagined. Always get a professional opinion before throwing those items out!