Water damage can strike your property in many different forms and shapes. At times, the damage is limited to a very small area of the kitchen or the ceiling; at other times, you may not be so lucky. In scenarios where the water damage has affected a large area, such as in a basement flooding, you may have to discard many of your possessions in the subsequent cleanup and restoration process. However, at times, you may be able to salvage some of them. When it comes to mattresses, you may just be able to save a water damaged mattress if you go by the following principles.
Attend to the Damage as Soon as Possible
The first thing to remember is the basic principle of dealing with water damage - time is of the essence. Therefore, you cannot waste time when it comes to taking restorative action. In such cases, you should call a professional water damage restoration service like STOP Restoration immediately.
The longer you wait, the more likely it is that the mold will take root in your mattress and become an inseparable part of it. You can then forget about sleeping on that mattress ever again. So make sure that you don’t leave it soaked for more than 48 hours and kick off the restoration process as soon as you can.
Dry It Out
Before you get fancy with your restoration efforts, start off simple by drying the mattress out completely. The most basic step involves placing the damaged mattress under direct sunlight, so it gets rid of the moisture. The heat provided by the sunlight is highly effective when it comes to causing the moisture in the mattress to evaporate.
So just sit back and let the sunlight do its job. Do not try to hasten the process here. Leave it out in the sun for one to two days so that no traces of moisture are left behind and the chances of mold growth are minimized.
Vacuum It
Once you’re done drying the mattress out completely, follow it up with a thorough vacuuming. A nozzle vacuum cleaner works best for such a task. Cover every bit of the mattress to ensure that nothing is left behind. With some mattresses, there is a way to unzip the upper fabric, which will allow you to reach the internal material.
If you have such a mattress, by all means, dig in and check to see whether the insides have perfectly dried up. Thoroughly go over the insides of the mattress with your vacuum cleaner. Once you’re done, dampen a cloth in an alcohol solution and wipe the entire mattress with it.
A Sniff Test
When all is done, sniff the mattress and try to be extra vigilant of musty or mildewy odors. Despite all the vacuuming and drying, it is very likely that some of the moisture will have done its damage to the mattress. If that’s the case, you may have to discard it. A mold-ridden mattress is just not worth it.
Call In the Professionals
It is better to just call in the professionals early on for such tasks. They know better techniques and have better tools and equipment at their disposal to deal with such a situation. If you ever require any water damage restoration services in Fort Worth, Texas, Arlington, or Benbrook, give STOP Restoration a call on 682-703-0213. We are equipped with the knowledge, the experience, and the best of equipment and requisite tools to carry out water damage restoration.
