How to Handle Water-Damaged Belongings

2/11/2021 (Permalink)

Documents damaged by water.

How to Handle Water-Damaged Belongings

A flooded company building in Otay Mesa, CA can be incredibly stressful to deal with. Not only is the building itself affected, but your belongings may be damaged as well. Luckily, it is possible to salvage many of these items.

1. Items With Hard Surfaces
Because they do not absorb water, belongings with a hard surface are generally the easiest to save. In many cases, these will only need to be wiped down and allowed to dry.

2. Fabric Items
Objects made with fabric and other absorbent materials can be a bit more tricky. If these items are small enough, tossing them in a washing machine might be enough. Larger items will need to be dry cleaned or, if thorough cleaning is not possible, thrown out and replaced.

3. Furniture
Depending on the type of furniture that has been damaged, the treatment of these objects will vary. Like larger fabric items, dry cleaning is often the best choice for upholstered furniture. However, bacteria and mold can grow if they have absorbed a lot of water, so some items may need to be replaced instead. Less absorbent types of furniture can be cleaned more easily.

4. Electronics
Electronics in your flooded company building should be handled with caution. Do not turn anything on until it has been drained and is completely dry. Otherwise, these devices could be permanently damaged.

5. Paper Items and Documents
When salvaging items in your flooded company building, you may assume that paper items are a complete loss. This is not necessarily the case. A water damage remediation company has access to equipment that can both dry and sanitize documents, artwork and other paper objects.
Whether it is from a broken pipe, a storm, or another source, water damage can cause you a lot of trouble. However, you can often save a large portion of your affected belongings if you take action right away. While larger, absorbent objects may need to be replaced, smaller items and those with hard surfaces are generally salvageable.