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BY BRIAN WILLIAMS
bwilliams@nwitimes.com
219.548.4348 | Friday, September 15, 2006 | (No comments posted.)
Keep it or throw it?
Knowing what to do with flood-damaged possessions is often a simple matter of answering the question: Hard or soft?
The porosity -- or ability of water to pass through -- is a good indicator of whether to junk an item or not, says Jeff Bishop, a technical adviser for the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, a nonprofit association based in Vancouver, Wash.
Soft, porous items, such as upholstered furniture, that have absorbed floodwater and can't be cleaned should be gotten rid of, Bishop said. Microbial contamination in floodwaters carries the threat of disease that can spread through contact or inhalation.
Items made of durable, nonporous materials, such as metal, glass or plastic, can be salvaged if they are thoroughly hosed down and scrubbed with a detergent, he said.
When planning to clean and save possessions, it is not the time to cut corners, Bishop said. Flush and scrub all sediment or contamination from cracks and crevices of an item before washing with a detergent.
"Do it thoroughly or don't do it at all," Bishop said.
Upholstered furniture or beds that have not gotten wet but have been in a flooded room should be thoroughly cleaned because of the threat of contamination through evaporation or humidity, Bishop said.
Bishop offered tips on the following items:
* Clothing, draperies and stuffed animals. Although porous, they can be saved if washed with a detergent in a washing machine. Plush toys that are too big for the washing machine should be discarded to avoid the risk of disease.
* Wood. Some wood furniture can be saved, particularly finished hardwoods that are dried quickly. Porous woods, such as particle board, that have absorbed water should be discarded.
* Dishes, pans, silverware. These and other items that can go in a dishwasher can be safely cleaned that way.
* Food. Throw away anything that has come in contact with water or that has been in a refrigerator without power. Even canned goods are best thrown away.
* Electronics. Specialists can wash computers in de-ionized water. But if it's not top of the line, this might be the time to upgrade.
* Photos. Bishop recommends taking valuable photographs to a photo processor. Damaged photos can sometimes be cleaned, photo-fixed and dried.
Allan Zlatarich, owner of Photography by Allan in Hammond, recommends separating photos immediately before they dry. Otherwise, they will stick to each other or to their frames. You can remove excess water with a dry cloth and weigh them down only at the corners. Negatives, too, will stick together and should be dried separately. Compact discs used for storing photos should be dried as soon as possible.
Finally, Bishop urges people putting a ruined sofa or chair out by the curb to do potential scavengers a favor. Slash it or somehow render it unusable so they won't take it home and possibly infect their families.
To view a photo slide show of Thursday's flood cleanup, go to:
http://www.nwitimes.com/extras/flood2/
To view a photo slide show of Day 1 -- Wednesday's flooding, go to:
http://www.nwitimes.com/extras/flood/
To read a copy of the governor's emergency order for Lake County, go to ...
http://www.nwitimes.com/extras/emergency.pdf
Special trash pickups for flood-ruined items:
* Griffith: today and Saturday. Residents are asked to place damaged items out for pickup by Saturday morning.
* Highland: today and Saturday. Collection will continue Monday, if necessary.
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