The short answer
Start with a Quick Triage
Begin by sorting belongings into three groups: items that are dry, items that are wet but salvageable, and items that are soaked or contaminated. Focus your first efforts on the salvageable group. The longer wet items sit, the more likely they are to warp, stain, or grow mold.
Move the dry items to a safe area away from the cleanup zone. For wet but salvageable items, carry them to a space with good airflow, like a garage or covered porch. In a warm, humid climate, drying time can be short, so work quickly.
Lift Everything off the Floor
Water wicks upward into wood, fabric, and cardboard. Place plastic sheeting or aluminum foil under furniture legs to create a barrier between the wet floor and your belongings. For sofas and chairs, remove the cushions and stand them on end so air can circulate around them.
Books and papers are especially vulnerable. Stand wet books on their edges and fan the pages. Put a sheet of wax paper between pages of valuable books to slow the sticking. For important documents, place them in a freezer bag and refrigerate them until you can deal with them properly.
- Use plastic bins to keep dry items off wet floors
- Hang wet clothes and drapes on sturdy hangers
- Remove area rugs and take them outside
- Prop up mattress corners so air can reach underneath
- Keep electronics unplugged until fully dry
- Set aside items with sentimental value for careful handling
Handle Fabrics and Upholstery
Wet fabrics hold moisture against your floors and walls, which slows drying and encourages mold. Strip beds of all linens and wash them in hot water if the water was clean. For contaminated water, such as sewage or chemical overflow, bag fabrics separately and ask a professional about safe handling.
Upholstered furniture needs special care. Remove all loose cushions and set them on end. Place wooden blocks or plastic caps under the furniture legs to keep them out of standing water. Do not try to dry upholstery with heat, as that can set stains and shrink the fabric.
Protect Electronics and Documents
Electronics are among the hardest items to save. Unplug everything immediately and do not turn anything on until it has dried for several days. Remove batteries from devices if you can. For circuit boards, some people rinse them with distilled water, but this only works if you can dry them thoroughly afterward.
For documents and photographs, the priority is to separate stuck pages and lay them flat on clean towels. Change the towels as they absorb moisture. Do not use a hair dryer or iron, as heat damages the ink and paper. If documents are covered in contaminated water, wear gloves and handle them minimally.
Know When to Let Go
Some items simply cannot be saved. Porous materials like particleboard furniture, mattresses, and stuffed toys that absorbed contaminated water should be discarded. The same goes for drywall and insulation, which lose structural integrity when wet. Trying to save these items can create health risks later.
If you are unsure about an item's safety, use your judgment. When in doubt, throw it out. For items you decide to keep, watch them over the next few days for signs of mold or musty odors. See a doctor if you feel unwell while handling water-damaged belongings, especially if the water may contain sewage or chemicals.
- Discard soaked cardboard boxes and paper bags
- Throw out any food that touched floodwater
- Remove and replace wet drywall up to the water line
- Let go of mattresses and pillows that got soaked
- Treat contaminated items as waste, not laundry
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Call Now (817) 799-6732Frequently asked questions
Can I save wet photos and documents?
Sometimes, if you act fast. Separate stuck pages gently and lay them flat on clean towels. Change towels often. Do not use heat. For very valuable items, place them in a freezer bag and refrigerate until you can consult a professional paper conservator.
How do I protect furniture that is too heavy to move?
Use plastic sheeting or aluminum foil under the legs to block moisture from wicking upward. Place wooden blocks or plastic caps under the legs to lift them off the wet floor. Remove drawers and set them aside to dry separately. Check underneath periodically for trapped water.
What should I do with wet carpets and rugs?
Remove area rugs and take them outside to dry on a flat surface. For wall-to-wall carpet, pull up the edges and use fans to circulate air underneath. If the water was contaminated, the carpet and padding may need to be removed entirely. Ask a professional for guidance.