3 Ways To Deal With Water Damage

1/9/2019 (Permalink)

It is important to care for items that have been damaged by water. No matter if a broken pipe, appliance, or backed-up toilet is the culprit, it is important to fix the source of the leak and carefully care for any vulnerable items in your home as soon as possible. If you wait a long time, these items may degrade or even begin to mold. Depending on the type of items that were exposed and the extent of the water damage, you may want to consult experts on water in the home who provide dry cleaning services.

Whether you think you can handle the water damage yourself or you want to start the cleanup process while you wait for the experts to arrive, here are three general guidelines for handling items with water damage. 

1. Gently clean and rinse items that are still wet. Try not to grind debris into the surface. Be especially careful when handling delicate items such as art, paper, photographs, or other fragile materials. These should be removed from walls or any folders and containers and allowed to air dry.

2. Air dry objects indoors to avoid causing additional damage with sunlight or heat. Direct sunlight can compound the damage resulting from water in the home and lead to splitting, buckling, or even warping items and furniture. 

3. Increase airflow and decrease humidity as much as possible to speed drying and prevent mold from forming. 

If you are dealing with water in the home after a broken pipe or another kind of leak, you should focus on drying and airing out the affected area as quickly as possible. In most cases, it is best to lay out damp items indoors and circulate and dehumidify the air. Skilled restoration experts may also be able to answer any of your questions if you are concerned about whether you can safely clean or dry a delicate item.