msdgc.org
What Can Be Saved and What Cannot?
What Can Be Saved?
In general, items made of hard plastic, glass, metal, ceramic, wood or concrete can be cleaned and saved. Examples include:
- Bicycles
- Tools
- Washers and dryers
- Plastic tubs
- Fishing rods
- Solid wood furniture
Items that may have been located in the flooded area but not in contact with the water, such as TVs, computers and stereo equipment, can usually be saved. The cleaning crew will move all saved property to a safe place away from the flooded area. These things may be covered with plastic or put up on blocks so that they won’t get wet when the floor is cleaned.
What Cannot Be Saved?
Many household items cannot be adequately cleaned
and disinfected after they have been contaminated with sewage. The following
are examples of items that cannot be cleaned if they have been soaked
during a sewer backup:
- Wet carpeting, padding
- Wet linoleum, floor tile
- Wet mattresses and pillows
- Wet upholstered couches or chairs
- Wet pressboard furnishings
- Wet paper bags, cardboard boxes, papers, magazines, letters
- Wet records, books, photos, picture
- Wet children’s toys, playpens, baby bottles, blankets, etc.
Damaged property that has been approved
for removal will be taken outside by the cleanup crew and placed
in a truck or dumpster for off-site disposal. If you do not give permission
for a damaged item(s) to be removed and disposed, you will need to
indicate those items on the “Permission to Enter” form.
