Contents Pack-Out & Cleaning After Water or Fire Damage

Your Belongings Need a Plan, Too

When a burst pipe floods a living room or smoke drifts through the whole house, the structure isn’t the only thing at risk. Sofas absorb odor, electronics corrode, and heirlooms can be permanently stained. A well-run contents pack-out and cleaning program saves what matters, proves what can’t be saved, and keeps your insurance claim moving. Here’s how AllStates Restoration handles contents with the same precision we apply to mitigation —so your home and your belongings both make a full recovery.

What “Contents” Means

“Contents” includes movable personal property: furniture, rugs, clothing, kitchenware, electronics, artwork, books, tools, and sentimental items. Properly managing contents:

Prevents secondary damage (odor setting, mold, soot corrosion).
Reduces total loss costs by restoring rather than replacing.
Documents condition so your adjuster can settle faster.

The Contents Workflow—Step by Step

1) Triage at the Loss Site (What to Move First)

We start with the highest-risk items:

Textiles (clothes, bedding) that can absorb odor/microbes quickly
Electronics exposed to moisture or soot (corrosion clock starts immediately)
Porous & high-value items (art, books, heirlooms)

Items are labeled salvage / questionable / non-salvage based on exposure, material, and policy considerations. We photograph everything in place before moving it.

Category 3 water (sewage/storm intrusion): Porous items in contact are usually non-salvage for health reasons. We document and isolate immediately.

2) Photo Inventory

Each item or box is labeled to:

Room/location
Item description & condition
Photos (before/after cleaning)

3) Pack-Out vs. Clean On-Site

On-site “pack-back” zones: In light losses, we clean and stage contents in a clean room or pod on your property.
Off-site pack-out: For moderate to heavy smoke, multi-room water losses, or when reconstruction is needed, we transport items to our contents facility for controlled cleaning, drying, and deodorization.

We wrap furniture, protect corners, and use cushioned bins and wardrobe boxes to keep items organized and safe in transit.

4) Deodorization

Depending on the loss type:

Smoke: Alkaline surface cleaning → contents deodorization (hydroxyl/thermal fog as needed) → sealed storage.
Mildew/Water: Thorough drying to dry standards (RH 40–55%) → antimicrobial where appropriate → odor neutralization.
Sewage/Category 3: Non-salvage porous items are discarded; hard goods get hospital-grade disinfectants and dwell times before deodorization.

5) Pack-Back & Move-In

After the structure is mitigated, dried, repaired, and painted, we return cleaned contents:

Cross-check inventory to room labels.
Protect new finishes during move-in.
Unbox and set major pieces; haul away packing debris.

Salvage vs. Non-Salvage: How Decisions Are Made

The call hinges on contamination, material, replacement value, and sentimental value. We’ll flag items that are technically restorable but not cost-effective (e.g., low-value particleboard soaked in gray water). For sentimental pieces, we’ll attempt specialty restoration and set expectations honestly.

Call AllStates when:

Smoke or soot reached multiple rooms.
Water sat >24–48 hours, or any Category 2/3 water was involved.
Electronics, artwork, books, or heirlooms are affected.
You’ll file insurance and need inventories and proof of cleaning.

Why NJ Homeowners Choose AllStates Restoration for Contents

Rapid 24/7 response with ~60-minute arrival across Monmouth, Middlesex, and nearby counties.
IICRC-certified in water, fire/smoke, and microbial remediation—contents handled within industry standards.
Full contents capability: photo inventory, barcoding, ultrasonic & textile systems, electronics coordination, document freeze-drying.
Insurance-ready documentation your adjuster can approve without delays.
One accountable team: Mitigation, contents, and rebuild—so schedules don’t collide.