Water damage in your home can be absolutely catastrophic, turning your life upside down. Whether your property suffered from flooding due to a storm, a burst pipe, or another cause, you’re suddenly faced with the logistical nightmare of salvaging what you can from the water.
At Keans, we’ve become experts in one specific area of flood cleanup: restoring and saving water-damaged clothes and other fabric goods. Having served Louisiana for 125 years, we want to share some of our hard-earned knowledge with you, in case you ever find yourself picking up the pieces after a flood.
Assessing Water Damage to Your Clothing
After a flood, quickly assessing which of your clothing and fabric items can be saved is crucial. Before handling any water-damaged garments, wear gloves and masks, especially if you suspect the water could be contaminated by sewage or chemicals.
Sorting Your Items: Begin by sorting your clothing into two categories: salvageable and likely unsalvageable. Natural fibers like cotton, linen, and wool generally withstand water damage better and can often be restored with professional cleaning. Delicate items, such as silk and leather, require more careful handling and may not be as resilient.
Noting Damage: Look for obvious signs of damage such as tears, holes, or thinning fabrics. Items with severe structural damage may not be worth the cost of restoration. However, items with high sentimental or monetary value are always worth the effort, and water damage restoration pros may be able to save them.
Documenting: Take photos and make a detailed list of the damaged clothing for insurance purposes. This documentation can be crucial for claim processes, especially when dealing with high-value items. Insurance companies generally cover clothing cleaning when water damage results from contaminated sources. However, they typically do not cover cleaning costs for damage caused by clean water, such as from a burst pipe
With your garments assessed and sorted, you’ll have a clearer understanding of what needs professional attention and what you can handle at home. The quicker you can identify the extent of the damage, the better your chances of successful restoration.
Initial Cleaning Steps
Once you’ve assessed your water-damaged clothing, it’s important to start the cleaning process as soon as possible. If you aren’t able to immediately get your items to a restoration professional, here are some home steps you can take until then:
Rinsing: Start by rinsing any salvageable wet clothes in cold, clean water. Rinsing helps remove contaminants and debris that may have settled into the fabric during the flood. If you have access to a hose, gently spray your garments to avoid damaging delicate fabrics.
Pre-Treatment for Stains: Address obvious stains as soon as possible. For organic stains like mud or grass, you can gently apply a small amount of mild detergent and lightly rub it in with your fingers or a soft brush. Be carefully not to scrub too vigorously, which can push the stain deeper into the fabric or hurt the material.
Deodorizing: If clothes have absorbed odors from the floodwater, soaking them in a solution of water and vinegar (one cup of white vinegar per gallon of water) can help fight the smell. Soak for up to an hour before rinsing thoroughly.
Preparing for Drying: After rinsing and treating stains, gently squeeze out excess water from your clothes. Avoid wringing out delicate items to prevent stretching or distorting the fabric. Lay flat on clean, dry towels, and roll up the towel with the garment inside to blot additional moisture.
Drying Techniques
It may seem like the hard part is over, but incorrect drying is unfortunately where many people go wrong when trying to save their clothes. Underdrying can leave your clothes vulnerable to mold and mildew, while drying too fast can make stains permanent and prevent even the most seasoned professionals from restoring your items completely.
Air Drying: The safest method for most fabrics, air drying helps maintain the integrity of materials that are vulnerable to heat damage. Hang clothes on a sturdy rack or clothesline in a well-ventilated area, spacing them out to allow air circulation.
Use Fans & Dehumidifiers: If there isn’t good natural air flow, you can utilize fans or dehumidifiers around the drying area to help increase air movement and remove moisture. Make sure that fans don’t blow directly on your clothes, which can cause especially delicate fabrics to become misshapen.
Avoid Heat: While it might be tempting to speed up the process, avoid using heat sources like hair dryers or traditional dryers for drying water-damaged clothes. High temperatures will shrink, warp, and permanently set stains into fabrics.
Next Step: Hiring Water Damage Restoration Professionals
After initial home care, it’s important to bring your water-damaged clothing to professional dry cleaners with experience handling water damaged items. Home treatments are vital for stabilizing your wardrobe, but professionals use advanced techniques and specialized equipment to safely remove stubborn stains, prevent further damage, and guarantee that each item is thoroughly sanitized and deodorized. This is especially important after exposure to potentially harmful floodwaters, which can leave behind nasty contamination that you don’t want touching your skin.
The team at Kean’s has the expertise to tackle severe issues like color bleeding, deep-set odors, or mold growth, restoring garments that might seem beyond repair.
Should you ever find yourself reading this article out of necessity, give us a call, and we’d be honored to help you pick up the pieces after a flood.
