Tips to Salvage Your Furniture After a Flood

Whether our furniture can be saved after a flood depends on the type of furniture you have and the magnitude of flooding. Because they are less porous, solid wood furniture has a better chance of being salvaged than upholstered or particle board furniture. Although water damage restoration is better left to professionals, here is what you should consider if you want to restore your furniture after a less impactful flood:

• It’s important to act quickly and inspect your home and its contents as fast as possible. The more time has passed after a flood, the bigger the damage will be.
• Take photos of damaged items; they will help you when filing the insurance claim. When deciding which items to salvage, take into account the severity of damage, sentimental value and the cost of restoration.
• If possible, move salvageable furniture to a dry area to begin the drying process. If a piece is too heavy to move, consider placing wood blocks or aluminum foil under the legs to protect it from the wet floor.
• Upholstered furniture can sometimes be salvaged if it came in contact with just a small amount of clean water during the flooding. In this case, separate upholstery fabrics and other colored items to prevent color bleeding, then start drying it completely to prevent mold or mildew.
• Upholstered furniture that has been soaked in floodwater is usually not worth saving, as contaminants are very hard to remove. If you choose to restore heavily soaked upholstered furniture, professional restoration services are required.
• Solid wood furniture is more resistant to water damage and can usually be salvaged. First, dirt and mildew must be cleaned, then the piece should be dried completely and re-glued where necessary.
• Don’t attempt to use force to open or close swollen doors or drawers. To help solve the problem, air should be allowed to circulate until the wood dries fully.
• Wood furniture must be air-dried with the help of fans in a shaded and well-ventilated area. Furniture should not be exposed to the sun, as it may cause wood to crack or warp.         

Learn how to protect your home from flooding by following these tips. Information on how to remove mold from wood can be found here. For professional fire, water and mold restoration services, contact your local PuroClean office.