Give away or throw away - furniture & sewage

[dbsam]

Last Saturday my basement filled with raw sewage. We are in the process of gutting it and I noticed people going through our trash piles taking things. If I see them I mention it was sewage and not just water and they say they know. I destroyed the few children‘s items because I know some of the ‘street shoppers’ are from resale shops and I don’t want them to sell children’s items to people unaware of the history. Anyway…my furniture was in perfect condition. After the sewage and the workers sitting on it, moving and scratching it, the dirt/dust from the drywall removal, etc…I am not keeping it. But, I hate throwing it away if someone else doesn’t mind those things. The dumpster was delivered yesterday and my husband thinks the stuff should go right in. I am wondering if I should leave it out in the drive for a day or two in case someone wants it. (Meaning it will need to be moved twice. Plus the dumpster takes up most of the drive so it will definitely be more of a mess out there. Prior to the dumpster the city came by and removed one pile of ‘stuff’.)

WWYD? Do you think anyone will want it? It w/b easier to throw it out; but it is difficult to do – such a waste.

[fek&fuzz]

Anything that had sewage on it should be destroyed. It's more wasteful to risk someone getting very sick from sewage than to throw away some stuff.

[dbsam]

Originally Posted by fek&fuzz

Anything that had sewage on it should be destroyed. It's more wasteful to risk someone getting very sick from sewage than to throw away some stuff.

Thanks. That was my original thought. But after seeing people wanting the stuff...even people putting notes on doors asking for stuff, I started doubting throwing it out. Plus some people feel wood furniture can be cleaned. After seeing what it was sitting in I definitely do not want it but I am also grossed out easily and can be wasteful.

[sassafrass94]

Ooooh, I think you should definitely throw it out. As you mentioned in your post, the ones picking through your curbside may not be saving the stuff for themselves, but could be taking it for resale. I'd hate to think that any of my resale treasures came from someone's sewerage-filled basement. EEEEk. It may even be necesary to take it a step further and render it undesirable for resale...shred fabric, stain? Sorry, I'm sure you have plenty on your plate with the flood....

[dbsam]

Originally Posted by sassafrass94

Ooooh, I think you should definitely throw it out. As you mentioned in your post, the ones picking through your curbside may not be saving the stuff for themselves, but could be taking it for resale. I'd hate to think that any of my resale treasures came from someone's sewerage-filled basement. EEEEk. It may even be necesary to take it a step further and render it undesirable for resale...shred fabric, stain? Sorry, I'm sure you have plenty on your plate with the flood....

I did damage the few children's items - two wooden rocking animals, a wooden rocking chair from when I was little , and a Maclaren double stroller. Now that we have a huge dumpster, we'll just load the furniture in there and close the back end. I don't think people will take it out of the dumpster. Strangely, one woman who was shoulder deep in the trash bags when I drove up, took my toilet brush set - :

[dbsam]

This whole mess is making me sick and sad. We are very lucky compared to many people who’ve suffered losses. I am past the frantic overwhelming stage and am now just tired, wishing this mess was all gone and the reconstruction completed. Tonight we are dismantling the pool table. It is a custom made Golden West Billiard table. Although the legs are trashed from the sewage, I keep thinking someone may want the slate, rails, or something. I considered asking on Craigslist but my husband said someone would probably fall carrying the heavy slate up the stairs…then sue us!

There is one item I’d like to keep but should throw out because the legs were sitting in sewage. My dad gave me an old Victrola he was given by his brother many years ago. It’s not that I love the old record player or that it even ‘fits’ in the room, it just reminds me of our house growing up and of my dad. We used to play the old 78’s and prior to his passing, my dad was able to find replacement needles so we could still play the records.

Sorry for the OT vent on my own thread. I’d better get back to work.

[Barcino]

I would trash it for sure. That lady with the toilet brush is the most extreme recycle I have ever heard off OMGOODNESS crazyness!

[Aliviasmom]

double post

[Aliviasmom]

Originally Posted by fek&fuzz

Anything that had sewage on it should be destroyed. It's more wasteful to risk someone getting very sick from sewage than to throw away some stuff.

:

[2mama]

Normally I am all for reusing and giving things away but I would put it in the dumpster. The raw sewage can cause illness and you don't want to contribute to that sort of reckless endagerment.


Throw it out!!!!!!!!!!!

[happyhats]

If the legs are the only thing that had the waste on it, could you take the legs off and have them replaced at a later date? I can understand not wanting to throw things out, I am the same way, but I agree it is probably healthier. The people taking things of their own accord are taking a risk for themselves, but it doesn't seem right to subject others to possibly very nasty things, kwim? If you cannot salvage the Vitrola, could you possibly take a picture of it to remember it by (um, without the sewage tainting your memories...)

I'm very sorry for your losses. Kudos to you for thinking of what's best for the environment and others in such a nasty situation.

[dbsam]

Originally Posted by happyhats

If the legs are the only thing that had the waste on it, could you take the legs off and have them replaced at a later date?

Thanks...I'm going to put it in the garage for now. I've contacted a restorer to see if he can replace the legs. But we will probably end up throwing it out.

As I mentioned originally, I was planning on throwing everything out and I feel ridiculous even considering giving away the furniture. I just wanted another opinion since so many people seem to want the stuff. :

[cloudswinger]

Well, depending on the quality of the furniture and how long it's been soaking, it can be stripped down and refinished. Wood and metal would not soak up the sewage, sewage bacteria doesn't grow on it, it'd be fine to reuse. I'd slash all cushions and fabrics so that they'd have to be refinished.

[dbsam]

Originally Posted by cloudswinger

Well, depending on the quality of the furniture and how long it's been soaking, it can be stripped down and refinished. Wood and metal would not soak up the sewage, sewage bacteria doesn't grow on it, it'd be fine to reuse. I'd slash all cushions and fabrics so that they'd have to be refinished.

Thanks - This is where I am getting conflicting information. The water restoration/cleanup crew was shocked we are throwing all the wood furniture out. They said because it is all quality solid wood and not particle board it can be fixed. The insurance adjuster said to throw it all out because it was sewage and not just water. Most of it was already thrown out so it is no longer an issue. They are coming tomorrow to carry out the rest. I may have some of the antiques restored. I spoke to the pool table manufacturer and they may re-use the top and build new legs. As I mentioned...just seeing what it was sitting in I really don't want most of it anyway.