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Flood Damage Repair Tips: Drying Your Furniture

water damage restoration company in Vancouver

If you’ve suffered any sort of flooding incident in your home, undoubtedly one of your top priorities is going to be trying to save as much of your furniture as possible.  Of course, you can always hire a water damage restoration company in Vancouver to help but, either way, time is of the essence.  You’ve only got around 48 hours to dry out your furniture, or else it’s likely to become permanently ruined by mold and mildew.

Here are some tips to help you safely conduct flood damage repair!

A Water Damage Restoration Company in Vancouver Shares Tips for Drying Out Furniture After A Flood

  1. Ensure the property is safe to enter

It’s not worth risking your life for your furniture.  Before even thinking about flood damage repair, do a survey of your home.  In particular, watch out for loose power lines, gas leaks, cracks in the foundation, and loose floorboards.  These can all do serious harm!  When in doubt, play it safe and call in professionals who know how to work in flood-damaged homes.

  1. Move wooden furniture outside

If you have a lot of furniture and cabinetry made of wood, you’re likely to have good luck drying them out.  Move them outside, where they can get plenty of sun.   Put them on a large tarp, blankets, etc, and be sure to check often to make sure they aren’t sitting in puddles.

  1. Disassemble your wood pieces

To help your wooden furniture to dry, disassemble them as much as possible.  At the least, remove any enclosed drawers from cabinets.  Interior surfaces must get sunlight, or they’ll retain moisture and develop mold or mildew.

As a last resort, you might be able to throw smaller pieces into a dehumidifier or even into an open oven at the very lowest (~100°F) possible setting.  Watch out for warping!

  1. Take upholstered pieces to professional cleaners

You’re not going to be able to safely dry out upholstered furniture on your own – there’s too much chance of dangerous mold developing in them.  You’ll need to take them to pros who have the equipment to dry them out quickly and thoroughly.

Malkin Cleaners: Your Professional Water Damage Restoration Company in Vancouver

For nearly a century, Vancouver has relied on Malkin Cleaners for water and fire damage restoration services.  No matter the scope of the damage, contact us for a cleanup!