The importance of cleaning and disinfecting water-damaged furniture and appliances should be stressed, since not doing so will encourage the growth of mold and mildew that can be potentially harmful not just to your furniture but to your health as well. That is why the number one consideration when you decide to keep your furniture is whether it can be cleaned or not. Number two priority is whether that piece of furniture can still be reused or not. Obviously, if it has been soaked in water for a long period of time, it may not be fit for use anymore and you should consider buying a new one.



What to do with furniture that have been through water damage

There are also other things that you need to consider when determining whether a piece of water damaged furniture can be saved or not. One is the value of the item. If the money you are going to spend restoring an item is greater than the value of the item itself, then don't bother salvaging it. However, there are items that cannot be easily replaced, such as antiques, so you might want to take pains in restoring them.

The extent of damage must also be considered. The more soaked a furniture is, the more impossible for it to be restored. Those that are only mildly damaged can be worth salvaging. Also, those damaged by contaminated water may be harder to restore than those damaged by clean water.

Finally, the materials used should be taken into account. There are more durable and water-resistant materials that can be salvaged easily, but there are those that are extremely sensitive. Consider this when prioritizing which ones you will save.

Upholstered furniture may need to be discarded, especially if it has been soaked in water for more than 48 hours. Also, if there are any signs of mold growth, there is no need to keep them. However, hardwood furniture has a chance of being saved from water damage if it is dried within 24-48 hours, and there is no evidence of mold growth.

The wood under delaminated laminate furniture absorbs water and makes them hard to dry, so this type of furniture must be disposed of. Same goes for particle board or pressed wafer board furniture, except if it has become wet because of a steam leak. In that case, you can keep the furniture.

What to do with appliances that were affected by water damage

Be careful in examining appliances and other electrical devices, since they might pose some health hazard. It is advisable to let an electrician do the work for you. Also, discard all wet fuses and circuit breakers. Never attempt to plug any appliance until it has been checked by an authorized technician.

While you really cannot decide for yourself which appliance to keep or which ones to discard after water damage, you may want to start cleaning the hard surfaces of these appliances. Making use of a heavy duty cleaner with hot water, plus two tablespoons of chlorine bleach for one quart of water can help remove stains caused by water damage.