Facing the aftermath of a devastating flood can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to dealing with water-soaked items like mattresses and upholstered furniture. Understanding how to safely extract these porous objects is crucial in preventing further damage, mold growth, and potential health hazards. In this guide, we'll walk you through practical steps that every homeowner should follow during the flood cleanup process.

1. Assess the Situation:
Before attempting any extraction activities, it's essential to ensure your safety by assessing the overall condition of your property post-flood. Verify that there are no structural damages or electrical hazards present before proceeding with the extraction process.

2. Prepare for Extraction:
Gather all necessary tools and supplies you will need such as rubber gloves, goggles, masks (N95 or higher), plastic sheets or tarps, heavy-duty garbage bags, a wet-dry vacuum cleaner with HEPA filters (for limited water saturation), fans or dehumidifiers for ventilation purposes.

3. Move Delicately:
When moving water-soaked mattresses and upholstered furniture items such as couches or chairs out of affected areas en route to their temporary resting place outdoors ("dry zone"), handle them gently using proper lifting techniques to prevent additional damage. Avoid dragging them across surfaces which may result in tearing upholstery fabric fibers.

4. Tip Lightly for Drainage:
If possible without causing more harm or injury risk since larger pieces can weigh significantly when saturated - carefully tilt mattresses at an angle towards one corner so excess water can drain out naturally onto waterproof sheets while being cautious not exceed load capacity limits nor injure yourself nor others around you handling/assisting on-site operations due potentially slippery floorings common situations following inundation events alike floods!

5. Remove Excess Moisture Using Vacuum Techniques:
Utilize a high-quality wet-dry vacuum cleaner with HEPA filters to extract excess moisture from the water-soaked items. Gently move the nozzle across the surface of mattresses and furniture, using small overlapping strokes to cover every inch thoroughly. Make sure to focus on areas that show visible signs of saturation, such as darkened spots or increased weight.

6. Promote Air Circulation:
After removing as much standing water as possible, it's important to promote air circulation around the extracted items for successful drying. Position fans or dehumidifiers strategically by aiming them at a low angle towards the objects while ensuring plenty of space between each item for adequate airflow.

7. Monitor Drying Process:
Regularly check and monitor both indoor humidity levels and visual progress during drying process over time until they reach an acceptable level (usually below 50% relative humidity). If necessary, rotate or flip cushions regularly for even drying.

8. Professional Assistance if Needed:
In instances where severe flooding has occurred or if you are unsure about safely executing any aspects mentioned above yourself, it is highly recommended seeking professional assistance from experienced flood cleanup companies who specialize in extracting water-soaked objects like mattresses and upholstered furniture.

The safe extraction of water-soaked mattresses and upholstered furniture is critical following a flood event to prevent further damage and potential health risks associated with mold growth. By following these steps outlined above, homeowners can take decisive action toward restoring their property back to its original state efficiently whilst avoiding unnecessary complications along the way.