10/12/2026
After a fire, the hardest part often isn't the walls. It's the things on the shelves.
Sports memorabilia, framed photos, a dresser that's been in the family for years. When smoke moves through a house, it settles on all of it, and the first instinct is either to wipe everything down right away or to throw it all out.
Usually neither is the right first move. On a fire job we photograph and inventory belongings room by room, then clean each piece with the method that fits it: dry soot removal first, then gentle wet cleaning where the surface can handle it. Wood, glass, metal, and collectibles each get handled differently, and anything that needs a specialist gets flagged instead of experimented on. More can be saved than most people expect.
If smoke or soot has reached your home, hold off on the paper towels and spray cleaner. Call MaxClean Restoration in Freehold at 732-539-2942. We'll help you sort out what can be cleaned, what can't, and what to document for your insurance company.
