Everyone has certain belongings that mean more to them than others. It may be because of sentimental value, it was expensive, or because it is a family heirloom. If your home floods, you may not want to get rid of some of them, but you also may not want to keep them if they are damaged.

Before calling for professional property damage restoration services (see water damage restoration Tinley Park if you’re nearby), look for belongings you can salvage. Here’s a list of some possessions that may be worth saving:

1. Furniture

If floodwaters have soaked your furniture, it’s probably not worth trying to save. Waterlogged furniture is heavy and difficult to clean and disinfect. It may also be a breeding ground for mold and mildew. However, if your furniture is only mildly damp, you may be able to salvage it.

First, try to prop up the furniture so that it can air dry. If possible, remove the cushions and set them in the sun to dry. Once the furniture is dry, you can clean it with a disinfectant solution. If your furniture has been contaminated by sewage, it’s best to get rid of it.

2. Appliances

Appliances, such as refrigerators, freezers, washers, and dryers, can be expensive to replace. If they’ve been soaked with floodwater, they should be inspected by a professional before you consider throwing them out. In some cases, water-soaked appliances can be cleaned and repaired. However, if they’ve been contaminated by sewage, it’s best to get rid of them.

3. Carpeting

Carpeting that floodwaters have soaked is difficult to clean and disinfect and is also a breeding ground for mold and mildew. Roll up the carpet and set it in the sun to dry. Once it’s dry, you can vacuum it and treat it with a disinfectant solution. It’s always safe to get rid of it if it has been contaminated with sewage.

4. Photo Albums and Books

If the photo album is made of paper, there’s a good chance it can be saved. If the photos are stuck to the pages, gently separate them and let them dry separately. If the photos are wrinkled, you can try ironing them on a low setting. You can put them back in the album once they’re dry. It might be harder to restore if the photo album is made of cloth or other materials.

On the other hand, books can usually be restored if they’re made of paper. Gently brush off any mud or dirt and let them dry separately. Once they’re dry, you can flatten them out with a heavy book or put them under something heavy overnight.

5. Baby Clothes

If the baby clothes are made of cotton or other natural fibers, you may be able to restore them. First, gently brush off any mud or dirt and let them soak in cold water for a few hours. Wash them in your washing machine on the delicate cycle. If the clothes are stained, you can try pre-treating them with a stain remover before washing them.

You should get rid of them when they’re made of synthetic fibers or if they’ve been contaminated with sewage.

6. Documents

If your documents, such as birth certificates, passports, and social security cards, have been soaked in floodwater, you’ll need to dry them as soon as possible. The best way to do this is to put them in a freezer. Once they’re frozen, you can thaw them out slowly by putting them in a bowl of cool water. Once they’re thawed out, you can dry them with a hairdryer on the lowest setting.

What if your documents are wrinkled? You can try to flatten them out by putting them under something heavy overnight. If they’re still wrinkled, you can take them to a professional to have them restored.

7. Electronics

Many electronics are expensive to replace, so you may want to try to salvage them if they’ve been soaked in floodwater. You should turn off the power and remove the batteries first. Then, let the electronics air dry. If possible, disassemble them and let each piece air dry separately. Once they’re dry, you can clean them with a disinfectant solution.

If you’re unsure of what to do, bring it to a professional immediately to check if it can be repaired.

8. Jewelry

If your jewelry has been soaked in floodwater, you’ll need to clean it as soon as possible. First, gently brush off any mud or dirt and let the jewelry soak in a bowl of cool water. Then, wash it in your sink with mild soap and cool water. Dry it with a soft cloth. You should then take it to a professional to have it cleaned and inspected for damage.

Conclusion

After a flood, it’s essential to assess which household items can be saved and which ones should be thrown out. Furniture, appliances, carpeting, photo albums, and books can usually be restored if soaked with floodwater. However, if they’ve been contaminated by sewage, it’s best to get rid of them.

On top of these, call professionals to help with the restoration process. Go to this website to see how it works.