If You're Insured

Ask your insurance company to recommend companies that clean and restore personal items after a fire. Find out whether you or your insurance company will pay for this cleaning. Get a written cost estimate before agreeing to any work.

If You're Not Insured

If you're not insured, you may be able to clean some items yourself. But be careful, the soot and dirty water left after a fire can be unsafe to touch and may harm your health. Take care when you enter your home or handle any fire-damaged items.

Cleaning Up Smoke Damage

Smoke odors and soot are difficult to remove, so the work may be best handled by professional fire restorers. However, if you choose to address the smoke damage yourself, keep the following tips in mind:

• Avoid touching soot and ash. They smear easily and can leave oily black stains on anything they touch.
• Ventilate your home. Open windows and run fans. Also ventilate your attic and other insulated spaces—insulation often holds onto smoke odors.
• Vacuum carefully. If possible, use a vacuum with a HEPA filter, which traps tiny particles like soot and ash instead of scattering them into the air. Avoid attachments with brushes or rollers, since they can grind soot into surfaces. Move the vacuum gently and avoid pressing down.
• Clean or replace filters. Clean or replace the filters in your air conditioner, heating system, and any air purifiers to remove smoke and soot.
• Clean painted walls. Mix four to six tablespoons of TSP (available at paint and hardware stores) with one gallon of water. Wash a small area at a time, then rinse immediately and thoroughly with clean water. Consider using a smoke sealer before repainting.
• Replace smoke-damaged pillows. Smoke odors are difficult to remove from pillows because feathers and foam hold onto them. It's usually best to replace affected pillows.
• Clean locks and hinges. Take locks apart, wipe them with kerosene, and oil them. If a lock cannot be removed, put a small amount of machine oil into the bolt opening or keyhole and turn the knob to spread the oil. Clean and oil hinges thoroughly.
• Check your refrigerator and freezer. If the inside smells smoky or has soot, throw out the food. Do not refreeze food that has thawed. To remove odors, wash the inside with a mixture of baking soda and water, or vinegar and water. You can also leave an open container of baking soda inside to absorb odors. 
• Deep-clean rugs and carpets. Steam clean, shampoo, and steam clean again. Then dry thoroughly.
• Wash machine-washable clothing. Take the clothing outside and shake it to remove loose soot. Let it air out outside for at least 24 hours. Once dry, spray it with a mixture of equal parts vinegar and water. Then wash it in the machine with a cup of vinegar and baking soda added on top. Wash it again with detergent before drying. It may take several wash cycles to fully remove the smell.
• Deodorize non-washable fabrics. Baking soda works well for fabrics that can't go in the washing machine. Take the fabric outside and sprinkle baking soda generously over it. Let it sit for at least a day, then vacuum it off. Repeat as needed.
• Have electrical appliances inspected. Do not run appliances that got wet until a service professional has inspected them.
• Wash cookware and dishes. Wash pots, pans, flatware, and other dishes with soapy water, rinse, and polish with a fine-powdered cleaner.
• Dry wood furniture carefully. Do not dry wood furniture in direct sunlight, since it can warp the wood. Remove drawers and let everything dry thoroughly. Scrub the wood with a stiff brush and a cleaning solution. Dry the wood well. Wet wood can rot or grow mold. If mold appears, wipe the wood with a cloth soaked in a mixture of borax and hot water.

Addressing Water Damage

Water damage is not just unsightly and unsanitary, it can also be dangerous. From wallboards to rugs, items that are not thoroughly dried can sprout mold and mildew. Depending on the level of water damage incurred, it can take weeks or months for your home’s structural elements to be thoroughly dried. Your first task in addressing water damage is to remove any water that remains:

• Remove standing water. The longer standing water sits, the more damage it can cause, so remove it as soon as possible.
• Dry and dehumidify your property. Keep doors and windows open with fans running, or keep them closed and run dehumidifiers to pull moisture out of floors and walls. Proper drying can protect your home's structure and help make it safe to repair.
• Air out soft items. Bring soft items—such as sofas, clothing, towels, curtains, bedding, and throw rugs—outside if possible. Sunlight and wind will help them dry faster.
• Throw away items that can't be cleaned. Some items that absorb water, such as mattresses, carpeting, cosmetics, and stuffed animals, can't be fully cleaned or disinfected. These should be thrown away.
• Sanitize your home. Unsanitary water can leave behind bacteria, odors, and other contaminants. Removing all excess water and moisture, as described above, is an important step toward making your home safe and healthy again.
• Replaced damaged drywall. Call a professional to replace any drywall or insulation that has been soaked by water. Once these materials are wet, they usually can't be dried without losing their structural strength or becoming resistant to mold and mildew.