Restoring Wood Furniture That Was In A Flood

Your home may be nowhere near a river or ocean, but there is always a chance that you can have flood damage. A heavy rainstorm is all it can take for water to start flowing into your home's basement. If you have wood furniture that was damaged due to a flood, you do not need to throw it out. There are ways to restore the wood if it was submerged, or only a little damp.

Restoring Submerged Wood Furniture

Take the furniture outside to an area where it is dry and shaded, because the furniture will need to air out. You should remove all drawers or parts that are removable to speed up the drying process. It will make it easier to access all parts of the furniture for cleaning as well. The wood will already be wet as it is, so spray it down to clean off any grime that is on the wood if necessary.

The furniture will take awhile to dry, but you shouldn't rush the process. Leave the item in the shade, because exposure to the sun can cause the wood to warp.

Once everything is dry, you may need to reassemble components that are loose. You can use wood glue and C clamps to do this. Just verify that the joints are completely dry before applying any glue.

Restoring Damp Wooden Furniture

If the wood surface has water on it, but it was not submerged, you will need to clean the surface well. You can rub the wood using a mixture of 1 part water and 1 part ammonia, or use turpentine. Dry the cleaning solution off the wood immediately, and apply wax or a furniture polish.

Steel wool and linseed oil can be used to restore the wood's color if it still looks a bit hazy. Simply rub some oil along the grain of the wood, and wipe it off with a clean soft cloth. Then re-wax the wood.

When your DIY attempts fail to restore your wood furniture, you'll need to seek professional help. Reach out to a local water damage restoration company in your area. Not only will they be able to help with your damaged wood furniture, but they can help with the interior of your home too. It's the best way to ensure that all of the water is gone for good, and you will not have a problem with mold.


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