Furniture and Carpet Salvage After Flooding

2/1/2022 (Permalink)

Furnishings and Carpets

Remove all furniture, bedding, and carpeting outdoors to be cleaned and dried (or discarded).

• Flooded carpets and rugs are best replaced since floodwater may contain contaminants. Flooded carpet pads should always be discarded and replaced.
• Remove water-logged rugs, carpets, and pads within 48 hours after flooding subsides.
• If salvage is attempted, spread out rugs and carpets outdoors. Hose off. If soiled, professionally clean, or work in carpet shampoo with a broom. Rinse well with a solution of 1-gallon water and 2 tablespoons liquid household chlorine bleach to sanitize (if colorfast). If the carpet is wool, do not add bleach.
• Dry the carpet and subfloor thoroughly as quickly as possible. If the carpet is installed damp, it can mildew.
• The carpet might shrink, but a professional may be able to stretch it.
• All upholstered furniture and mattresses contaminated by floodwater should be discarded. If an upholstered furniture piece is valuable, the stuffing and upholstering will need to be replaced.  Solid wood, metal, and plastic furniture may be cleaned and restored.  Hose off any mud, clean, sanitize and let dry completely out of direct sunlight.