Porous Materials

Waterproof mattress covers are described as a barrier against mattress dust and contamination. Leather furniture and washable area rugs are favored over fabric upholstery and wall-to-wall carpeting because they are easier to clean. Porous materials can retain dust, spores, fragments, and chemical residues deep within their layers. Discarding porous items after major contamination can be appropriate because surface cleaning may not reach inner layers. Fabric couches, wall-to-wall carpets, rugs, mattresses, and papers are described as reservoirs after contamination.