rake through (something)
To sift, rummage, search through a substance or group of things. I went raking through the dirty laundry for my keys, but I still couldn't find them. You'll have to rake through these piles of papers to find the contract you're looking for.
rake through something
Fig. [for someone] to rummage through something, as if with a rake. She quickly raked through the mass of loose papers, looking for the right one. I will have to rake through everything in this drawer to find a red pencil.