Before

After

Water damage to your belongings

Water damage to furniture as a result of a flood or weather is not always as bad as it seems. Often the damage is quite manageable, or at least subject to partial repair. Read on for steps you can take to restore your water-wrecked furniture and carpeting.

Step 1 - Drying Wood Furniture

When a piece of wood furniture has been soaked in water, the very first thing to do is to let it dry. Place it in a room with warm temperature and good air circulation. You may want to turn on the heating and the fans. Alternatively, if the weather permits, you can leave the furniture to dry outside. 

Make sure the temperature is right. If it is too cold, the wood piece will dry too slowly and mold will form. If it is too hot, cracks will form in the furniture.

Step 2 - Treat White Spots

If white spots have formed on the furniture, mix a solution of equal parts toothpaste and baking soda. Dip a wet cloth in the solution, and rub it both in and around the spots. Polish the area with a dry piece of cotton fabric. If your furniture has leather padding, use other methods to clean those areas.

Step 3 - Clean Mildew

Black spots on your furniture indicate that water has seeped through the finish into the wood, leading to the formation of mildew. In this case, you will have to remove the finish, clean the mildew with a bleach solution, and coat it with a new layer of finish.