Tips on Salvaging Furniture after Flood Damage

Flooding can be a very stressful, very messy situation that we wouldn’t wish upon anyone. Not only is it time-consuming to clean up, but it also has a lot of potential of damaging, or even ruining, your personal items, appliances, other household items, and furniture. When sorting through the damages, It can be especially hard to determine what furniture is salvageable and what’s not. Here are some tips on how you can salvage household furniture.

Whether 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 is extremely important to act quickly and inspect your home and its contents as soon as possible. The more time has passed after a flood, the bigger the damage will be. However, it is your safety is more important. Before you tackle a water damage on your own, make sure it is safe to do so. Watch out for damaged walls or ceilings that could fall or cave in, also make sure no water is has access to electricity (the two don’t mix well)

Before you start doing anything, be sure to 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 or cement blocks or aluminum foil under the legs to protect it from the wet floor.

Upholstered Furniture

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, 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, such as Challis Restoration, are your best bet. They have the right training and tools to properly clean upholstery.

Solid Wood Furniture

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.

Water Damage can be tricky. If you ever begin to have doubts or don’t even want to try and clean up the mess on your own, call Challis Restoration. We can help you with the entire process of a water damage cleanup.