A house fire is one of the most devastating experiences a person can go through. Beyond the visible damage, the lingering effects of smoke, soot, and toxic chemicals pose hidden dangers that many don’t fully understand. When a fire burns through a home, it releases a cocktail of hazardous substances—volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carcinogens, acids, and other toxins—into the air. These contaminants don’t just disappear when the flames are extinguished; they settle into walls, furniture, and, importantly, the clothing and textiles we rely on daily.
Clothing, bedding, and other soft goods act like sponges, absorbing smoke, toxic gases, and microscopic particles. This raises a critical question: Can smoke-damaged clothing ever be truly clean and safe to wear again? We often hear about ozone treatments, special detergents, and dry-cleaning methods being used to “restore” textiles after a fire. But can these methods really remove every trace of harmful chemicals and heavy metals? And if they do, how can we be sure?
The Industry’s Double Standard
In the restoration world, when textiles are exposed to sewage, mold, asbestos, or lead dust, they are typically considered a total loss—too hazardous to clean. Yet, when the same items are saturated with toxic compounds from a fire—some of which are even more dangerous—there’s often a different approach. Many restoration services claim that ozone treatments, industrial detergents, and dry cleaning can fully sanitize and deodorize soft goods. But are these methods truly effective, or are we being given a false sense of security?
Ozone, for example, is often marketed as a miracle solution for smoke damage. However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has warned against unsubstantiated claims about its safety and effectiveness, stating:
“There is a large body of written material on ozone and the use of ozone indoors. However, much of this material makes claims or draws conclusions without substantiation and sound science… For almost a century, health professionals have refuted these claims.”
If ozone and conventional cleaning solutions were as effective as claimed, wouldn’t there be solid scientific proof backing them? The truth is, much of the research on fire-related contaminants and cleaning efficacy is still in its infancy.
What We Don’t See Can Hurt Us
The greatest danger lies in what we can’t see or smell. Smoke-damaged clothing may appear clean and even have a pleasant scent after treatment, but microscopic toxins can still be embedded in the fibers. If a baby’s clothes, for example, still contain fire-related toxins, could those chemicals be absorbed through their skin? The unfortunate answer is yes.
Most restoration professionals rely on sight and smell to determine whether an item is clean, but true cleanliness goes far beyond the senses. If we know that smoke from a fire contains harmful chemicals linked to cancer and other serious health issues, then shouldn’t we demand more from the cleaning process?
The Need for Scientific Proof
For those who have lived through a fire, there’s already enough trauma to process—worrying about whether “cleaned” items are truly safe should not be another burden. If restoration companies claim their methods work, they should provide scientific verification—testing that proves no harmful residues remain. Without this, we are left with uncertainty.
Your health and safety should never be an afterthought. When it comes to restoring smoke-damaged textiles, the question we should all be asking isn’t just “Does it look clean?” but rather, “Is it truly safe?”