Water damage, whether from fire-fighting, flooding, burst pipes or other mishaps, can ruin clothing and other fabrics. Water damage is not always immediately visible, but can worsen in a short amount of time. Bacteria, mold, and mildew can begin growing in wet or damp items, so it is important to begin restoration as soon as possible.
The success of restoration efforts depends on what kind of water affected the items and how long ago the damage occurred. Waiting more than 72 hours significantly reduces the likelihood that the items can be restored. If you do not have time to wash soiled clothing right away, or if your washing machine / laundry room was also affected and cannot be used, take the items to a professional dry cleaner. Dry clean only items that have been water damaged can usually be restored by a regular dry cleaning as well.
If garments are still wet, lay in the sun to dry. Dry heat and light help to kill mold. If your item is labeled dry clean only, take it to …
Removing mold / mildew from machine-washable items Read More »
Do not put quilts stuffed with cotton batting in the washing machine – the stuffing will get bunched up and clumpy. Hand wash in a large laundry tub or bathtub. …
Black water is water that is contaminated and unsanitary. It may not always appear “dirty,” so it is important to know the source of the water. Flooding from sea, river, …
Grey water is water that has biological organisms, contaminating chemicals, dirt, or other organic matter in it. It may have a cloudy appearance and would be unsafe for human consumption. …
Clean water is water that has no contaminants or organic matter in it. If your clothing was damaged by water from a fire hose, broken water line, clean toilet, sink, …
In cases of severe flooding, no matter where the water came from, it has probably come into contact with many other substances present in your home and surrounding areas. For …
