What to throw away after smoke damage, and what you can save.

A fire does more damage than you can see from the room where it started. The U.S. Fire Administration warns that things the flames never touched may still be ruined by smoke or soaked by the water used to put the fire out. It also warns that anything you want to save will need careful cleaning.

So you are standing in your home, looking at a house full of things, and wondering what is safe to keep. Here is how to sort it, using guidance from USDA, the FDA, the Red Cross and the State of Michigan.

Before anything goes in the trash

This matters more than any list below. Ready.gov, the American Red Cross and Michigan’s Bureau of Fire Services all say the same thing: do not throw away damaged goods until an inventory has been made. Michigan’s insurance regulator, in its April 2026 advice on storm claims, puts it this way: take pictures or videos and do not get rid of the items until your insurer tells you to.

“Do not use it” and “throw it out today” are two different things. Stop using the items below straight away, but keep them until they are on your list. If something will spoil or smell before the adjuster comes, photograph it, write it down and call your insurer to ask what to do with it.

1. Wait for the all clear. Do not go in until the fire department says it is safe. Floors and walls may not be as safe as they look. Do not turn the utilities back on yourself.
2. Protect yourself. Soot and dirty water may contain things that can make you sick. Michigan’s guide says to wear a mask and gloves if you have to go in. The Red Cross suggests leaving children with a relative or friend for the first visit.
3. Call your insurance company first. Ask what to do and who to use. Michigan’s guide warns that if you sign a contract without the insurer knowing, it may refuse to pay.
4. Photograph every room and every damaged item. Do this before you move anything, as long as it is safe.
5. Make your list. Some policyholders must show the quantity, description, purchase date and purchase price of each item, so start writing those down. Michigan’s homeowners guide also suggests noting the date, name and title of everyone you speak to at the insurance company.
6. Keep every receipt. Save them for anything you spend because of the fire. The U.S. Fire Administration says you may need them for the insurer and your tax return.

If it is safe, look for these first: IDs, credit cards, insurance papers, medications, eyeglasses, hearing aids, cash, jewelry and photos. If you cannot stay in the house, take your valuables with you.

What to throw away after smoke damage

Household chemicals need separate care. The Red Cross warns that products can give off toxic fumes if they mix, so wear rubber gloves and follow local advice on disposal. Portland Fire & Rescue adds that damp charcoal briquets can ignite by themselves, so get rid of them or store them in a non-combustible container with a lid.

Canned food: where the advice differs

You will see different answers on cans, so here is where each one comes from. Michigan’s guide says to wash canned and jarred goods in detergent and water, not to use any that are bulged or rusted, and to discard food that was exposed to heat. USDA says cans close to the heat may no longer be safe, even if they look fine.

There is one exception. USDA says cans and cookware exposed to firefighting chemicals can be decontaminated. Wash them in a strong detergent solution, then dip them for 15 minutes in 1 tablespoon of unscented liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water. If you cannot say how hot a shelf got, treat the cans as heat exposed and do not eat them.

Freezer food: ice crystals are not enough

The Red Cross says freezer food can be used if it still has ice crystals, and the CDC uses the same test after a power outage. That tells you the food stayed cold. It does not tell you about smoke, and USDA says food exposed to smoke fumes should be discarded, including food in the fridge or freezer. If smoke reached the kitchen, or the inside smells smoky or has soot on it, we would follow USDA and throw it out.

The CDC also says never to taste food to find out whether it is safe. If you are unsure, USDA’s meat and poultry hotline is 1-888-674-6854, and the FDA’s line for other foods is 1-888-723-3366.

Medicine: one important exception

The FDA says that if a medicine exposed to fire is needed for a life-threatening condition and you cannot get a replacement right away, it may be used if it appears unchanged. Replace it as soon as you can. Medicine that is wet or otherwise altered should not be used at all. Call your pharmacist or doctor for help getting a new supply.

What you can usually save

These are starting points, not promises. The result depends on what the item is made of and how much heat, smoke, soot and water reached it. If your insurer is paying, ask it to recommend a cleaning company, find out who pays, and get a written estimate before you start washing everything yourself.

How to clean clothes after a fire

1. Sort first. Burned items go on your list and stay out of the wash. Keep heavily sooted items separate. One restoration company warns that washing them at home can spread residue and set the odor, so those are better sent to a professional.
2. Shake and air. San José’s fire department says to take clothes outside, shake off the loose soot and let them air for at least 24 hours.
3. Wash. San José says to spray them with equal parts vinegar and water, wash with a cup of vinegar and baking soda, then wash again with detergent before drying. It may take several cycles.
4. For clothes that can be bleached. Michigan’s guide and the Red Cross give a stronger mix: 4 to 6 tablespoons of tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) and 1 cup of chlorine bleach per gallon of warm water, then rinse with clean water and dry. TSP is caustic. Wear rubber gloves, read the label, test the garment first and keep it away from children and pets.

Never mix ammonia with bleach. Colorado’s health department, writing about cleaning up fire ash in homes, warns against harsh chemical cleaners and vinegar because they can react with chemicals in the ash, so plain detergent is the cautious place to start. Be realistic about the result too. BELFOR says a washing machine cannot fully remove smoke odor, while government guides say it sometimes can. If a smell stays after several washes, stop and ask a professional. For the smell itself, see our guide to smoke odor removal.

Soot: do not rub it

San José’s fire department says to avoid touching soot and ash, because they smear and can leave oily black stains. If you can, use a HEPA vacuum without a brush attachment, and move it gently. Clean or replace the filters in your heating and cooling system and any air purifiers. For walls and ceilings, see our guide to how to clean soot off walls.

Photos, papers and heirlooms

FEMA’s salvage guide was written for floods, but much of it fits belongings soaked by fire hoses:

• Air dry gently, indoors if you can. Hair dryers, irons, ovens and long exposure to sunlight do irreversible damage.
• Separate things. Take photos out of damp albums and paintings out of frames, and put paper towels between the pages of wet books.
• Rinse photos carefully in clean water, then dry them on a plastic screen or paper towel, or hang them by a corner. Keep the image from touching anything.
• Short on time? Freeze photos, papers, books and textiles if you cannot get them dry within 48 hours.
• Call a conservator for anything precious that is badly damaged or has touched chemicals or contaminated water. The American Institute for Conservation has a “Find a Conservator” directory. Keep any broken pieces.

Burned money

Handle it as little as possible, and try to wrap each bill or piece of a bill in plastic wrap. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing redeems damaged notes for free. It pays full value when clearly more than 50% of a note is present, along with enough of its security features. If 50% or less remains, it pays only if the evidence shows the missing part was totally destroyed. Ask your bank where to start. The U.S. Fire Administration says damaged savings bonds are replaced through TreasuryDirect.

What is a contents pack-out?

A pack-out means a restoration crew removes your belongings, makes an inventory, cleans and stores them, and brings them back when the house is ready. It keeps things from getting more damaged, clears the rooms for repairs and creates a record for your claim.

1. Assessment. The crew works out what can be saved, ideally with your adjuster.
2. Inventory. Each item is photographed and logged.
3. Packing. Boxes are labeled and matched to the inventory.
4. Cleaning and storage. Items are cleaned by the method that suits them, then stored until the house is ready.
5. Return. Everything comes back and gets checked against the inventory.

Before you agree to one, ask these questions:

• Will my insurer pay? In many cases, yes, but check yours. Find out who pays and get the cost in writing.
• Can I have a copy of the inventory? You will want it for your claim.
• What are you throwing away? Ask for a list, with photos, before anything is disposed of.
• Can I get something back during storage? Access can usually be arranged with notice. Ask how it works.

Be careful who you hire. Michigan’s insurance regulator warns that fraudsters often go door to door after a disaster, posing as adjusters or contractors. Contact your insurer before hiring anyone, and check licenses, references and insurance. Insurance company adjusters are paid by the insurer and should never ask you to pay for their services.

Will insurance pay for smoke-damaged belongings?

Usually, if you carry coverage for your belongings. Michigan’s homeowners insurance guide lists fire and smoke among the causes of loss that policies name, and says a home’s contents are generally covered against named causes. Your own policy decides the details, so read it or ask your agent. The guide is dated 2019, so check anything that matters against your current policy.

• Actual cash value or replacement cost. The guide says belongings are usually paid at actual cash value, which is replacement cost minus depreciation. Its example is a 10-year-old TV that might be worth only $50. Many companies offer replacement cost coverage for a higher premium. Check which you have.
• Limits on special items. Money, jewelry, computers and furs have special limits that vary by company. Extra coverage for valuable items has to be bought ahead of time, so it only helps if you already have it.
• Living somewhere else. Additional living expenses coverage pays the extra costs when you have to live away after an insured loss, such as a hotel, an apartment or restaurant meals. The guide says it is typically 20% of the insurance on your house.
• Temporary repairs only. Make only the repairs needed to prevent more damage, keep the receipts, and hold off on permanent repairs until your insurer has inspected.
• Renters. Michigan’s fire guide says renters are not usually covered by a landlord’s policy, so your belongings depend on your own renters policy.

Michigan’s regulator says there is no time limit for the insurer to finish its investigation, so stay in touch. If it seems unreasonably slow, you can file a complaint. Its call center is 877-999-6442, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

No insurance? The regulator suggests the Red Cross at 800-733-2767, or a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center at 800-621-3362. The U.S. Fire Administration also lists the Salvation Army, religious organizations and community groups. If you live in Grand Rapids, our fire damage page covers what surprises people about Michigan fire insurance, and the city’s free smoke alarm program.

Frequently Asked Questions