Wet items must be handled carefully to prevent damage, contamination, and mold growth. The general steps for dealing with wet items include:
- Separate and rinse wet items with clean water to avoid color running or contamination.
- If items cannot be washed immediately, rinse them with clean water and lay them flat to air dry.
- Use designated cleaning methods such as washing with hot water or disinfecting with a bleach solution according to item type.
- For delicate or heirloom textiles, assess dye stability and fiber type, handle gently, and use specialized cleaning when necessary.
- Upholstered furniture soaked with water should often be discarded, but minimally affected furniture can be cleaned and disinfected and dried thoroughly.
- For wet evidence items, they should be air dried before packaging in breathable containers to avoid decay and cross contamination.
- When storing wet clothes in luggage (such as during travel or camping), use waterproof bags, separate wet from dry, and dry items as much as possible before packing.
In summary, wet items should be rinsed if possible, disinfected if necessary, dried thoroughly to avoid mold, and carefully stored or handled based on their material and usage context.
