How to save flood damaged furniture

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There are a few ways to save flood damaged furniture and these are the ones we recommend:

Take Photographs of your flood-damaged furniture

After any home disaster, you should always take photographs of any damage to your property for insurance purposes.

  • Take a wide-angle photo of the affected rooms
  • Take multiple closeup photos of any damaged furniture
  • Send photos to your insurance company

Clean your flood-damaged furniture

Flood water from burst river banks will bring in mud and dirt to your property, therefore, cleaning your furniture afterwards is important.

  • Wipe down with a soft cloth (Use soft strokes, instead of rubbing as this will ensure you’re gently brushing the dirt away)
  • Some dirt may be harder to get off, so just use a bit of clean water to help remove it
  • Dry with a clean cloth

Even with clean water if any pipes burst in your home, cleaning your furniture is something you must do.

  • Wipe down any water stains with a soft cloth
  • Dry with a clean dry cloth
  • If any water stains remain, you can call your local Furniture Medic to assist

Completely dry out your flood-damaged furniture

You will need to dry out any flood-damaged furniture as soon as possible.

  • Remove all items, any drawers and where possible any shelving. If these are stuck from any swelling of the wood, leave until the swelling has reduced and then remove
  • Keep out of direct sunlight as the sun’s rays can cause the wood to warp and crack
  • If water remains on any floors you’ll need to carefully elevate any furniture using bricks or something similar to assist in the drying process. Alternatively, where possible move out of the affected room
  • We would recommend setting up fans or dehumidifiers in your home to help with airflow and to speed up the drying process
  • DO NOT be tempted to use any kind of heat-producing items, like a hairdryer, as this will damage any wooden furniture

Managing any mould and mildew

In a damp and warm environment, mould and mildew thrive, therefore, keeping your eyes on your furniture during the drying process is important.

Mould and mildew on any furniture will usually come into effect after around 48 hours of being in this kind of environment. If any does occur, do the following:

  • Clean off with a dampened cloth that has been dipped in a lukewarm and soapy water solution
  • You can also use white vinegar and water to wipe over the mould or mildew
  • Always wipe again with a dry cloth and repeat if any more mould or mildew reappears

Drying out upholstered furniture

The majority of any upholstered furniture that has been affected by flooding will more than likely need reupholstering as the fabric will dry discoloured and will smell musty.

Leather and vinyl upholstery are more water-resistant and therefore are usually salvageable.

 

We would always recommend calling in the experts to help with any flooding in your property. This would include ServiceMaster Restore to help restore your property after a flood and ourselves to restore your furniture.

For help restoring flood damaged furniture find your local Furniture Medic business here.