After a flood, you may be at a loss in figuring out where to begin with water damage restoration. Between your belongings and your home itself, lingering water can cause a lot of damage and leave you with expensive repairs and replacements of some of your possessions. There’s also the risk of mold growth that can cause serious illness if ignored. Getting to work on water damage restoration immediately is the key to minimizing the potential for costly damages. After you’ve disconnected the power and removed appliances and furniture, follow the below tips for restoring your floors and furniture.

Restoring Floors

You’ll want to begin removing the water as carefully as possible, without walking on the flooded floors too much as this can further damage the floors and cause the water to seep into other areas. Depending on how much water there is, you can fill buckets or use towels and mops to soak it up. It is not recommended that you use a vacuum as you’ll run the risk of the plug coming into contact with water, not to mention all of the water can ruin your vacuum, resulting in the added expense of replacing your vacuum cleaner. If you have a wet vacuum, such as a Shop-vac®, you can use this to vacuum up the water. Once you’ve removed as much water as possible, open windows to air out the floors and if you have battery-operated fans, use those to create air circulation.

Restoring Furniture

Upholstered furniture that has come into contact with small amounts of water is usually salvageable and should be removed and placed into a safe area as soon as possible. If the furniture is too heavy to move, try elevating it with wooden blocks or wrap the legs in aluminum foil or plastic to protect them from the water if the water is shallow enough. For wooden furniture, wipe up as much water as possible and begin drying it as quickly as possible. Do not put wooden furniture in the sun to dry, as this can cause it to crack, warp and discolor.

Trust Stanley Steemer with Your Water Damage Restoration

Even though these tips can help minimize the potential for costly damages, you should still call in an expert as soon as possible for water damage restoration and extraction to ensure your home is safely and completely restored after a flood. Stanley Steemer of South Florida has certified professionals who are committed to quick responses and water extraction techniques that get your life back on track as quickly as possible. If you have water damage, don’t wait to call in the professionals. Contact Stanley Steemer of South Florida today by visiting our website or calling (888) 982-3553.