The rule of thumb
- Hard, non-porous items (glass, metal, hard plastic, sealed tile) can usually be cleaned.
- Porous items (carpet pad, mattresses, upholstery, cardboard, paper) are hard to save — especially with dirty water or mold.
- Sewage or floodwater means most porous items go.
- When in doubt, photograph it first — insurance needs the record.
Usually keep (after cleaning)
- Glass, ceramic, and metal items
- Hard plastic
- Solid wood furniture, if dried quickly and not moldy
- Clothing and washable fabrics from clean-water losses — wash promptly
Often discard
- Carpet pad (almost always)
- Mattresses and box springs that got soaked
- Upholstered furniture soaked by dirty water
- Particleboard furniture that swelled
- Cardboard boxes and paper goods
- Food, medicine, and cosmetics that water touched
- Stuffed toys and porous children’s items from sewage losses
Special cases
- Photos and documents — can sometimes be frozen and restored; ask before throwing away
- Electronics — don’t power on; have them evaluated
- Rugs and drapes — specialty cleaning may save them from clean-water losses
Vault’s contents team handles pack-out, cleaning, and inventory for insurance. See contents restoration and contents pack-out.
Not sure what can be saved?
Call (385) 250-2825 — answered live 24/7 by the Vault crew.
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