A pipe may have broken in your upstairs bathroom, flooding both the bathroom and the bedroom on the floor below it, or rainwater may have leaked into the guest bedroom through that dormer window your cousin installed last week. Beds are soaked through to the mattresses, and you're not sure how to cope with the damage. In both these scenarios, mattresses and bedding are damaged by clean water that is not contaminated. Water damage restoration of some of the items is possible.

Mattresses

Remember, all mattresses that have been in contact with contaminated water should discarded. Two factors determine whether or not a mattress damaged by clean water can be salvaged: how wet it is and how long it's been wet. Water damage restoration of a slightly wet mattress damaged by clean water should be done right away. If the mattress stays wet for any length of time, mold will begin to grow - and a moldy mattress is a serious health hazard. You may try to salvage a mattress that has suffered minimal clean water damage by first cleaning its surface (wipe using equal parts of water and rubbing alcohol) and then taking it out to dry in the sun. Lay the mattress on garden chairs or blocks so that all its surfaces are exposed to the air. You may also use a fan to speed the drying process.

Pillows

Water damage restoration is only possible for pillows that damaged by clean water. Pillows (feather and fiberfill) may be washed, two at a time, in the warm cycle of a washing machine. Add disinfectant to your regular detergent, and run through an extra rinse cycle. Dry the pillows in the clothes dryer (moderate heat). Make sure they are thoroughly dry before removing. It may be simpler, weather permitting, to hang them outside to dry. Water damage restoration of foam rubber and urethane pillows is slightly different: after removing covers, soak the pillows in cool water, machine wash and do not dry in a dryer. Old foam rubber pillows will probably crumble, and are not worth salvaging.

Quilts, Acrylic Blankets and Comforters

Machine wash these items, one at a time, using chlorine bleach (unless contraindicated on care labels) and the hottest temperature stated on the care label. You may have to use over-sized commercial washing machines for larger comforters and quilts. If stains persist, wash again with an enzyme detergent. Rinse several times in warm water. Complete the water damage restoration process by drying (in a dryer at moderate temperature, outside, or in a warm room, using a fan).

Woolen Blankets

For water damage restoration of washable woolen blankets, put the blankets in a bathtub in barely warm water, add mild detergent and disinfectant. Do not add chlorine bleach, and do not machine wash. Rinse, and dry in the sun. Wool blankets are not as easy to clean as other bedding. If your wool blanket is heavily soiled, consider replacing it. Dry-cleaning is a possible water damage restoration method for wool blankets - but most wool blankets will shrink when dry-cleaned.

Tackle water damage restoration of mattresses, pillows and bedding as soon as possible to prevent mildew damage and mold growth. Do not use your washing machine unless you know that your water supply is safe.