SAVING WATER DAMAGED PROPERTY

(January 2019)

Be Safe, Then Act Quickly

Salvage experts, property specialists and government agencies; advise that quick action is critical when faced with water-damaged property. Many types of personal property can be saved within 48 hours of the property suffering damage.

Before trying to save property, make sure that YOU are safe. Flooded buildings can be hazardous. Make sure that there is no danger of electrocution by turning off power and avoiding fallen utility lines. Do not come in contact with water containing sewage and make sure the floor, ceiling and wall supports pose no danger. Important – if applicable authorities have not authorized a return to flooded property, DO NOT return until permitted to do so.

Tips on Handling Personal Property

The following is helpful information on the special handling that could preserve several classes of fragile property:

Baskets Rinse, drain and blot to remove excess water, stuff with clean paper towels or cotton sheets to retain shape and absorb stains, cover with clean towels and air dry slowly, regularly changing blotting material.

Books

If rinsing is necessary, hold book closed. If partially wet or damp, stand on top or bottom edge with covers opened to 90° angle; air dry. If very wet, lay flat on clean surface; interleave less than 20% of book with absorbent material; replace interleaving when damp.

CDs/DVDs

Remove item from casing and bathe in clean distilled water, dry with lint-free towels and insert diskette into new casing and copy.

Clothing/Fabrics

Brush off all loose, dried dirt. Rinse thoroughly in cold water as soon as possible until as much mud as possible is removed. Repeat if necessary. Do not use hot water as it sets stains from red or yellow clay. Machine wash when no more dirt can be removed via cold water rinses.

Electronics/Appliances

Unfortunately, extended exposure to water usually means such property is ruined. However, it may be worth the effort to try rescue by disassembling (including battery removal when applicable) separately cleaning and drying parts. Use of materials that naturally remove moisture (rice, kitty litter) may help. Do not assemble and attempt to power up devices until all parts are completely dry.

Glass and Ceramics

Many glass objects can be saved by, first, being very careful about making transitions to account for temperatures. If the object has been outside during very cold weather, be sure that a transition to a warmer area is done to avoid cracking or breakage.

Once at a safe temperature, clean object with a source of gentle, fine spray and then blot dry.

Note: Ceramic objects and/or painted objects should be handled by professionals.

Leather (including shoes) and Rawhide Rinse/sponge with clear water to remove mud, drain and blot to remove excess water, pad with toweling or unlinked paper to maintain shape, air dry. Manipulate tanned fur skins during drying to keep skins flexible.

Metal

Use gloves to handle, rinse/sponge and blot metal object, air dry. If object has applied (rough) finish, do not clean. Air dry; keep flaking surfaces horizontal.

For larger objects, it may be best to allow heavy mud deposits to dry and then be removed. Professionals should be contacted to handle saving valuable metal objects.

Paintings

Remove from frames in a safe, dry place. Do NOT separate paintings from their stretchers. Keep paintings horizontal and paint-side up with nothing touching the surface. Avoid direct sunlight.

Paper

Air dry flat as individual sheets or in ¼" or smaller piles, with absorbent paper placed between each wet sheet (interleaving). Do not unfold or separate individual, wet sheets. Keep coated papers wet by packing in boxes lined with plastic garbage bags; freeze (maps or manuscripts), sponge water out; pack loose flat sheets in flat boxes or plywood covered with plastic sheets. If there are too many items for air drying: interleave (by groups or individually) with freezer or waxed paper; pack papers or files, standing up in sturdy containers; pack containers only 90% full and freeze.

Photographs

Remove from plastic/paper enclosures or frames; carefully rinse with cool, clean water; DO NOT touch or blot surfaces. Air dry, hang with clips on non-image areas, or lay flat on absorbent paper. Keep photographs from contact with adjacent surfaces or each other.

Textiles

Such property needs special care. First, such property should be kept and treated separately and it must be properly supported during movement from one area to another. Gentle, consistent pressure can be used to attempt to remove excess water, then blot with towels or sheets. DO NOT roll material as this can exacerbate damage. Once dry, objects should be rinsed and dried repeatedly until satisfactory results are reached. Air drying (indoors) with fans is generally effective. When such materials can’t be handled quickly, they can be frozen to help preserve them until they can be treated.

Upholstered Furniture If antique or VERY valuable, get a professional estimate on cleaning/restoring. For other pieces, attempt to carefully separate cushions and thoroughly rinse off mud. Towels and sheets may be used to wrap the furniture and cushions to assist drying. In some instances, it may be worthwhile to strip the upholstery material and save the frame by rinsing and carefully drying it.

Wood Furniture

Rinse/sponge surfaces gently to clean, blot, and air dry slowly. If any painted surfaces are blistered or flaking, air dry slowly without removing dirt or moisture. It may be necessary to use humidifying equipment and to gradually lower humidity rather than allowing the property to dry too fast and be damaged by that process.

Weigh down or clamp veneers in place while drying; separate weight from veneer with protective layer. (Finishes may develop white haze; treat later with wood cleaning product.)

Furniture consisting of shelves, drawers and comparable parts should be separated, cleaned, blotted and then allowed to dry.

Be Practical and Prioritize

Often it is impractical or impossible to save everything, so prioritize. Work on property that is MOST important to you which has the greater financial value and that is most vulnerable to permanent damage. One practical consideration is to forget about fully upholstered furniture and mattresses. Such property is usually impossible to properly dry and is often contaminated. Immediate isolation and disposal of these items is frequently the only option.