Proven Methods To Help Save Your Cherished Belongings

Belongings that are lost as a result of disasters, such as water damage, are usually measured in dollars. Unfortunately, the losses that matter the most though are cherished items that have personal value and meaning and are cherished beyond a monetary value. At All About Contents, we know how devastating water damage can be, especially to the valuable contents of our homes. 

Damaged Contents Restoration Tips

Our team has devoted all their time and energy to learning and developing the best restoration techniques in the industry so we can offer damaged content restoration. That being said, with a little patience, prompt action, and our professional tips and help, you may be able to restore your valued possessions if your home suffers from water damage. Here are some of our best tips to help you with your damaged content restoration:

1. For objects that have just been removed from a water damage section, start by gently rinsing them with clear, clean water. Carefully wipe off any silt and debris with a soft brush or even dab gently with a damp microfiber cloth.
2. If possible, air dry items indoors to prevent any other dirt or debris from getting on them. Avoid direct sunlight or using heat as they can cause materials to fade, crack, warp, split, and even buckle. You want the drying process to be slow and steady. You should increase airflow with the use of fans in the area and even dehumidifiers.
3. For photographs, you will want to remove them from any plastic covering, frames, or paper backing they may be on or in. If photos are stuck to the glass in a frame, leave them in the frame and air dry with the glass side down. If wet photos are stuck together, do not attempt to pull them apart as it will often result in tearing. Instead, soak them in clean water until they separate. We know this sounds counter-intuitive but restoring photos by literally soaking them in water is a tried-and-true method. This may be the only chance you have at saving cherished memories. Do not touch or blot the surfaces when you remove them from the water. Air dry them by hanging them with clips placed at the photo’s edges or you can lay them flat on absorbent paper to dry.
4. Books and paper documents need to be handled with care since paper quickly deteriorates with water damage. For leather, cloth, or paper materials that have multiple pages, place wax paper in between the pages for drying. Find a container that you can pack books into, spine side down, in a single layer, and place the containers in a freezer set at the lowest temperature. This process is slow, and may take several weeks to several months, but yields the best results when it comes to salvaging books. Documents can be treated the same, but you should stack documents before freezing them.

We understand the difficulty of having to do these steps, but with years of experience, these methods are the best ways that can help you salvage your items. For more information or examples on how to treat wood furniture, metal objects, fabrics, and textiles reach out to the damaged contents restoration specialists at All About Contents. They’re ready to help you every step of the way.