How to Salvage Valuables After a Flood

​Even before a flood comes, homeowners and renters should try to save their birth and marriage certificates. If you're in a flood-prone area, don't wait for a flood to come. Always bring with you a utility bill as proof of your residence. Also, have photocopies of essential documents. Meanwhile, you need to know how to save your valuables after the flood.

Rinse and Dry Metal Objects and Other Stuff
If you find your valuables wet or floating in the floodwater, rinse them. You may use a fine hose spray or clean, clear water. You can use a soft brush to do this. Also, you should rinse metal objects. Afterward, use a soft cloth to dry these metal objects.

Remove All Visible Mold
You can find mold and mildew growing in fans, open windows, dehumidifiers, and air conditioners. Remove mold from baseboards, walls, household surfaces, commercial disinfectants. However, just take care not to use disinfectants on wallpapers, including commercial types of disinfectants. 

Be Careful When Holding Books and Photographs
You should know that books, documents, photographs, and paper art are too fragile when they're wet. This is a warning for you not to pull them apart when they're still wet. Soak your books and pictures in clean water until they naturally separate. After that, rinse them with clean water thoroughly. Also, you can't save digital photos printed with water-soluble ink.

Air Dry All Other Materials
Textiles, leather as well as other natural materials need air drying. Also, air dry wet paintings face up away from direct sunlight. You should also air dry objects indoors as well as materials that can buckle, warp, or split. In addition, free paper art and prints from frames and matting, then air dry them. In case a white haze or bloom develops on furniture and painted surfaces, then you need professional service.

Some Final Words
The flood will undoubtedly hurt you and will make many of your valuables useless already. Also, if you salvage valuables after a flood, make sure that you rinse many of them and air dry them under the sun. In some cases, you'll need a professional to salvage some stuff completely. However, you need to have flood insurance for your peace of mind. Without flood insurance, your home insurance can't replace what the flood has damaged. 

At Sherzer Insurance Agency, we do our best in making sure that our clients are well-protected with affordable and comprehensive policies. We make sure to go the extra mile to help you with your needs. To learn more about how we can help you, please contact our agency at (239) 673-9301 or Click Here to request a free quote.