Salvaging Household Items Clothing Line dry all articles before attempting to clean or treat them. After drying, brush off loose dirt and debris. Wash clothes several times in cold water only. Add up to a cup of bleach per load of wash if it will not harm the clothing. Rinse and dry all items as soon as possible.
Bedding Throw out mattresses and pillows that have been in contact with flood water or sewage.
Clean blankets in same way as clothing. If any materials are still wet or moist after 24-48 hours, you should assume they have mold growing on them. You should generally discard anything in soft packaging or screw-top glass bottles that may have been in contact with flood water. You can sometimes save commercially canned goods in metal cans or rigid plastic containers. This web page includes information provided by the Minnesota Extension Service.