Sort early
Time matters more than technique for many materials. Separating wet items from dry ones quickly prevents the affected group from growing.
Handle by material
Paper, textiles, upholstery, wood and electronics each respond differently to water and require different handling.
- Do not power on wet electronics
- Keep wet documents flat and cool rather than stacking them
- Remove upholstered items from contaminated areas entirely
Document before disposal
Photograph items that must be discarded and record them before removal, so the loss can be represented accurately.