A flood can do more damage to your home and your belongings than most people realize, which is why it’s important to know how to clean flood damaged furniture. While a flood technically isn’t as destructive as a house fire, flood damage can still be incredibly difficult and costly to repair, though that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Your damaged belongings can often be saved if you act quickly, especially with the help of emergency cleaning experts. With that being said, here are the steps that you can take to save your flood damaged furniture.
1. Act Quickly and Assess the Damage
Before you attempt to save any of your damaged furniture, you should first assess the damage to find out what can and should be saved. Take plenty of pictures of your home for insurance purposes as soon as it’s safe to do so, and move anything that can be salvaged to a dry area. You need to act quickly as bacteria and mold will start to grow within 24 to 48 hours.
2. Consider if Upholstered Furniture Can Be Salvaged
In some cases, upholstered furniture that has been damaged by a flood may be beyond saving as it can quickly become a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. However, some furniture that has been largely untouched by flood water can still be saved. It’s a matter of acting quickly and moving the furniture to a dry area before the upholstery gets too waterlogged.
3. Refer to Professional Cleaning Services
If you have a valuable piece of upholstered furniture that must be saved, call a professional residential or emergency cleaning service to assess how it can be salvaged. In most cases, this involves stripping the furniture down to its frame and replacing the upholstery itself. Though we do try our best in restoring your furniture, unfortunately not all damage is salvageable, and in some cases, it is recommended to dispose of the piece entirely.
4. Cleaning the Flood Damaged Furniture
Once you’ve safely removed your furniture to a dry area, it’s time to start cleaning it. It’s recommended to do this in phases.
Spray the Furniture
Spray the furniture down to remove any dirt and mildew, especially if it came into contact with greywater or black water. You can also apply special cleaners containing lanolin and other natural products to save the finish while killing mold and bacteria.
Dry the Furniture
Dry the furniture in a well-ventilated area. This area should be separate from the flooded area to prevent mold and bacteria growth. If available, use fans and dehumidifiers and let your furniture dry out. This process may take a while if the furniture is badly damaged.
You might be able to get away with leaving some pieces in the sun, but any wooden pieces might crack if they’re left out for too long. If you think there is any mold growth that you can’t clean away, it may be recommended to throw out the furniture as it may be unsafe to keep in your home.
Re-glue if required.
Finally, re-glue any dislodged veneers if you can, unless the damage is extensive.
5. Contact Furniture Cleaning Professionals
Restoring furniture that has been damaged in a flood is tough work, and there’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to save everything. If you want to make the job a little easier, contact Canadian Carpet Cleaning. We provide residential cleaning services to homeowners in Oshawa, and we will be happy to offer our services to help you restore your damaged furniture after a devastating flood.