What to Salvage After Water Damage

If carpets and flooring have been exposed to contaminated water for long periods of time, they could contain unhealthy toxins. However, if water damage from clean water is found quickly, carpets, rugs, and flooring may not have to be completely torn out and replaced. With proper drying, your flooring and rugs can be repaired and restored back to their pre-water damage condition. The use of air movers and dehumidifiers can remove moisture from rooms, walls, and floors, so you may not have to say goodbye to your favorite rug after all.

If you were able to remove furniture and other large items from the flooded room early on, most pieces can be dried out and put back to use. The longer pieces sit in water though, the worse the damage will be. Wood furniture that was exposed to water could take weeks to dry completely, but may still be useable. Furniture will need to be washed before they are left to dry. If you have metal knobs on drawers, you will want to remove them during the drying process so they do not corrode. If you have furniture pieces made of particle board, odds are they will have to be tossed. Particle board absorbs water quickly, and deteriorates from water even faster. Any furniture that is upholstered will have to have the fabric removed and more than likely the inner padding will have to be tossed.

Mattresses hold water, and even after they dry they leave stains and can hold onto mildew and foul smells. Do not try to save mattress that have sustained water damage, they should definitely be on the toss list.

When photos sustain water damage, it can be the most devastating loss of any person item. Possessions with sentimental value should try to be saved at all costs. Though it may seem hopeless, wet photographs can still be treasured. If wet photos are stuck together, fill a bucket with clean water and submerge the photos. Gently swish them around until they begin to separate (you can do this with photos that have stuck to the glass in frames also). Once the photos have separated, lay them on a flat surface and let them dry out. If the damage is more severe, you can take them to photo restoration professionals to see what they can save. Documents may be able to be saved if they have not begun to deteriorate in the water. Lay them on a flat surface lined with parchment paper and let them dry. Paper documents may not hold up as well as photos, so some may not be salvageable.

If you are stuck trying to determine what to hold onto and what to get rid of after water damage to your property, you can always ask your restoration team. Our technicians have dealt with water damage countless times and will be able to help guide you when dealing with your belongings. Swift Restoration knows the loss that comes from water damage, and we know how to handle it quickly and effectively. We work with many insurance companies to help make sure you get the most out of your damaged items. We proudly serve our neighbors in Layton and Ogden, and are available any time of the day to recover and restore your property after water damage.