What To Do With Belongings After Water Damage

6/25/2018 (Permalink)

Professional help to restore belongings to original state

If your Towson, MD, home has experienced water damage, salvaging your valuable belongings should be dealt with quickly. Any water in your home resulting from a flood, severe storm, broken pipe, or a leaking roof or window can lead to significant damage to your household items. Whether you are concerned for your everyday tools or sentimental keepsakes, your objects will benefit from quick action to preserve whatever possible.

Salvaging Your Water-Damaged Belongings

It’s important to quickly take stock of affected items if damage from water in your home has recently threatened your possessions. Follow these tips to recover items as best as possible:

• If objects are still wet, rinse with clear water first. You can also wipe off dry debris with a soft cloth or brush. This prevents any remaining debris or silt from further harming your items.

• Whenever possible, allow objects to air-dry indoors. Avoiding sunlight can help prevent warping and buckling of many materials.

• Air-dry photographs, documents, and books for best ventilation and recovery. Papers are very fragile when wet – be sure to handle important documents carefully and utilize indirect airflow to dry.

• Airflow and quality is important while recovering your items. Use open windows, fans, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers to your advantage while drying out your belongings. Also, be sure to preclude any mold or mildew from growing in the space. If you have visible mold growth, clean it with a disinfectant to prevent further growth and moisture in the air.

• If there are metal objects that have been exposed to flood water, wash with clear water and dry with a clean cloth as soon as you’re able.

• For clothing and other textiles, dry cleaning is often the most effective method of preservation. Air dry first and take to a professional soon.

Get Help From a Professional

With quick action, many objects can be saved and restored to their original state. It is possible, unfortunately, that some items may be damaged beyond repair after a natural disaster. It is always a good idea to contact a restoration specialist or professional conservator to help treat damaged goods while recovering from water in your home.

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