Curious to know what four things you should throw away after a fire? Keep reading!
Experiencing a house fire is challenging to go through. Deciding what to throw away after a house fire can be heartbreaking and devastating. Some items hold sentimental value, and homeowners become upset about money going down the drain. However, in the long run, throwing away certain things will help homeowners. For example, eating contaminated food jeopardizes health and safety. Curious to know what four things you should throw away after a house fire? Keep reading!
1)Non-Perishable Foods Exposed to Fire or Chemicals
Discarding food in open containers or that has packaging that has exposure to air is a given. Cardboard, cloth, and thin plastic bags all fall under this category. However, what about the food inside of cans? It may seem as if you can salvage sealed food, but if these food items were close to the heat of the fire, then they may not be edible.
Extreme heat can cause bacteria to be present, making the food untasty. It can even cause the food to spoil, regardless if there was damage to the container or not. Toxic fumes can also find their way inside of aluminum or glass. Throw away any food contaminated by smoke, water, heat, or chemicals that firefighter may have used to put out the fire. How can you tell? Cans that have changed shape, as well as the presence of fire extinguisher dust, are indicators.
2) Perishable Food Stored at Room Temperature
Even during a power outage, efficient refrigeration can keep items inside of it fresh for a maximum of four hours. If you open your refrigerator and discover any of these issues, then the food should be thrown away immediately:
- The fridge smells like smoke
- Soot made its way inside
- The refrigerator lost power and items, and the temperature has been above 40 degrees for over two hours
- There’s a weird smell as if food has rotted
- The freezer is no longer cold
3) Medicine and Makeup
Extreme heat can cause medicine and makeup to warp or melt. Check your makeup bag for signs of soot, charring or fire extinguisher dust.
4) Scorched Clothing
If you clean and disinfect clothes adequately, then there’s a chance to salvage them. However, if your clothes became burned during the house fire, then discard them regardless of how sentimental or expensive they may be. If you have babies in the house, be especially careful in your discernment.