Protecting Your Belongings: Content Cleaning in High Risk Flood Areas

6/6/2023 (Permalink)

When your property suffers a flood or disaster, contact a professional.

When flooding occurs, it can cause significant damage to homes and businesses. Even after the water recedes, there can be lasting effects, including damage to contents such as furniture, electronics, and personal belongings. Content cleaning is an important part of the flood restoration process, especially in areas with a high risk of flooding. In this blog, we'll discuss content cleaning and what you can do to protect your belongings in the event of a flood.

What is Content Cleaning?

Content cleaning is the process of cleaning and restoring personal belongings that have been damaged in a flood or other disaster. This can include furniture, electronics, clothing, and other items. The goal of content cleaning is to salvage as much as possible and return items to their preloss condition.

Steps to Protect Your Belongings in the Event of a Flood

Prepare in Advance

If you live in an area with a high risk of flooding, it's important to prepare in advance to protect your belongings. Make sure to keep important documents, such as insurance policies and identification, in a safe, waterproof location. Consider elevating furniture and appliances off the ground, and store valuable items on high shelves or in waterproof containers.

Act Quickly

If flooding occurs, it's important to act quickly to protect your belongings. Remove items from the affected area as soon as possible to prevent further damage. Wear gloves and other protective gear, as flood water can contain contaminants that are harmful to your health.

Dry Out Your Belongings

Once your belongings have been removed from the flooded area, it's important to dry them out as quickly as possible. This can be done using fans and dehumidifiers, or by taking items outside to dry in the sun. It's important to dry out items thoroughly to prevent the growth of mold and mildew.

Consult with a Professional

In some cases, it may be necessary to consult with a professional content cleaning service. A content cleaning professional can assess the damage to your belongings and provide recommendations for restoration. They have specialized equipment and expertise to clean and restore items that may be difficult to salvage on your own.

Document Your Losses

Finally, it's important to document your losses for insurance purposes. Take photos of your belongings before and after the flood, and keep a list of all items that have been damaged or lost. This will help you to file an accurate insurance claim and ensure that you receive appropriate compensation for your losses.

Content cleaning is an important part of the flood restoration process, especially in areas with a high risk of flooding. By preparing in advance, acting quickly, drying out your belongings, consulting with a professional, and documenting your losses, you can protect your belongings and ensure that you receive appropriate compensation for your losses. If you have experienced a flood or other disaster, contact a content cleaning professional to learn more about your options for restoration.

Restoring Your Content After a Mold Loss: A Comprehensive Guide

5/23/2023 (Permalink)

Restoring content after a mold loss can be a challenging and time-consuming process.

Mold is a common problem in many households, and it can cause extensive damage to your belongings, including furniture, clothing, and sentimental items. Dealing with a mold loss can be overwhelming, but with the right knowledge and approach, you can restore your content and minimize your losses. In this comprehensive guide, we will provide you with valuable information and practical tips on how to restore your content after a mold loss.

Safety First: Mold Remediation

Before you start restoring your content, it's crucial to prioritize safety. Mold can pose serious risks, and it's essential to take proper precautions to protect yourself and others. If the mold loss is extensive or if you have any concerns, it's best to hire a professional mold remediation company to assess the situation and handle the cleanup process.

Assessing the Damage

Once the mold has been remediated, it's time to assess the damage to your content. Take an inventory of all the items that have been affected by mold and determine the extent of the damage. Some items may be salvageable with proper cleaning and restoration techniques, while others may need to be discarded if the damage is too severe.

Sorting and Prioritizing

Sorting and prioritizing your content is a crucial step in the restoration process. Start by categorizing your items into three categories: salvageable, questionable, and unsalvageable. Salvageable items are those that can be cleaned and restored to their pre-mold condition, questionable items are those that may require additional assessment or testing, and unsalvageable items are those that are beyond repair and need to be discarded.

Prioritize the restoration process based on the value and sentimental importance of each item. Items with sentimental value such as family heirlooms or irreplaceable photographs may be worth investing more time and effort into restoring, while items of lesser importance may be lower on your priority list.

Cleaning and Restoration Techniques

The cleaning and restoration techniques you use will depend on the type of content that has been affected by mold. Here are some common content categories and the recommended restoration techniques:

Furniture: For moldy furniture, start by vacuuming the surface with a HEPA filter vacuum to remove loose mold spores. Then, clean the furniture with a mild detergent solution or a commercial mold cleaner, following the manufacturer's instructions. If the furniture is made of porous materials such as fabric or wood, it may need to be professionally cleaned or refinished.

Clothing: Moldy clothing can usually be cleaned by washing them with a mild detergent and warm water. For delicate or valuable clothing, it's best to consult with a professional cleaner.

Electronics: Mold can damage electronics, and it's crucial to handle them with care. If your electronics have been affected by mold, do not turn them on, as it can cause further damage. Instead, unplug them and wipe the surface with a cloth dampened with isopropyl alcohol or a commercial electronics cleaner. If the mold has penetrated the internal components, it's best to consult with a professional electronics technician for restoration.

Documents and Books: Moldy documents and books should be handled with care to prevent further damage. If the pages are still wet, carefully separate them and lay them flat to dry in a well-ventilated area. Once they are dry, you can gently brush off any loose mold with a soft brush or cloth. If the documents or books are valuable or have sentimental value, it's best to consult with a professional document restoration service for further cleaning and restoration techniques.

Artwork and Decorations: Moldy artwork and decorations may require special care depending on the type of material they are made of. For paintings, you may need to consult with a professional art restorer for proper cleaning and restoration techniques. For other decorations such as ceramic or glass items, they can typically be cleaned with a mild detergent solution or a commercial mold cleaner.

Restoring content after a mold loss can be a challenging and time-consuming process. If you are unsure about the restoration techniques or if you have valuable or sentimental items that require special care, it's best to seek professional help, such as our SERVPRO of La Crosse County team. Our technicians have the expertise and equipment necessary to properly restore your content and ensure that it is safe to use or display again.

Textile Restoration After a Fire: What You Need to Know

4/13/2023 (Permalink)

Restoring textiles after a fire can be a challenging process, hire the professionals.

Fires can be devastating, causing damage not only to the structure of a building but also to personal belongings such as clothes, bedding, and furniture. While it can be challenging to restore these items after a fire, it is often possible with the help of professional restoration services. In this blog, we will explore the specific challenges associated with textile restoration after a fire and discuss the methods used to restore fabrics to their original condition.

Types of Damage Caused by Fire and Smoke

The damage caused by fire and smoke can vary depending on several factors, including the intensity of the fire, the type of materials that burned, and the length of time that the fabric was exposed to smoke and soot. Common types of damage include discoloration, odors, and soot buildup. Smoke and soot can penetrate deep into the fibers of fabrics, making it challenging to remove them without causing further damage.

Methods Used for Textile Restoration

When it comes to restoring textiles after a fire, there are several methods that restoration professionals may use. These include dry cleaning, wet cleaning, and ozone treatment.

Dry Cleaning: This method involves using solvents and other cleaning agents to remove soot and smoke damage from fabrics. Dry cleaning is typically used for delicate fabrics that cannot be wet cleaned, such as silk or wool.

Wet Cleaning: Wet cleaning involves using water-based cleaning agents to remove soot and smoke damage from fabrics. This method is typically used for more robust fabrics that can withstand water, such as cotton or polyester.

Ozone Treatment: Ozone treatment involves exposing fabrics to high levels of ozone, which helps to break down the odor-causing molecules left behind by smoke and soot. This method is often used in combination with other cleaning methods to remove odors from fabrics.

Challenges of Textile Restoration

Restoring textiles after a fire can be a challenging and time-consuming process. It requires specialized equipment and expertise to ensure that the fabrics are properly cleaned without causing further damage. In addition, fabrics that have been exposed to water during the firefighting process may be at risk for mold growth if not properly dried and treated.

Why You Should Hire a Professional Restoration Service

If you are dealing with textile damage after a fire, it is essential to hire a professional restoration service, such as SERVPRO of LaCrosse County, with experience in textile restoration. Our team has access to specialized equipment and cleaning agents that can effectively remove soot and smoke damage from fabrics without causing further damage. We also have the expertise to determine which cleaning method is appropriate for each type of fabric, ensuring that your belongings are restored to their original condition.

In conclusion, restoring textiles after a fire can be a challenging process, but with the help of professional restoration services, it is often possible to restore fabrics to their original condition. By understanding the specific challenges associated with textile restoration after a fire and the methods used to address them, you can make informed decisions about how to restore your belongings and get your life back on track after a fire.

Restoring Your Belongings: The Importance of Contents and Textile Restoration After Water Damage

3/11/2023 (Permalink)

Content restoration is an essential part of the restoration process, give SERVPRO a call today.

When a home or business suffers damage from water, fire, mold, or other disasters, contents restoration is often necessary to restore personal belongings and valuable items. Restoration professionals are trained to handle contents restoration and use various techniques and equipment to achieve the best results. In this blog, we'll discuss how restoration professionals handle contents restoration and the different techniques and equipment commonly used.

Inventory and Sorting

The first step in contents restoration is inventory and sorting. Restoration professionals will carefully document and catalog all items that need restoration, making note of the type of damage and the materials involved. They will then sort the items into categories based on the severity of damage and the restoration techniques needed.

Cleaning and Deodorizing

Once the inventory and sorting is complete, restoration professionals will begin the cleaning and deodorizing process. Depending on the type of damage, different techniques and equipment may be used.

For example, if items have been damaged by smoke or fire, restoration professionals may use ultrasonic cleaning equipment to remove soot and smoke particles from the surface of the items. If items have been damaged by water, they may use specialized drying equipment, such as dehumidifiers and air movers, to remove moisture and prevent mold growth.

Electronics Restoration

Electronics such as televisions, computers, and other devices can also be damaged by disasters. Restoration professionals can use specialized equipment to clean and restore these items.

Ultrasonic cleaning equipment is often used for electronics restoration. This process involves immersing the electronic device in a tank of cleaning solution and using ultrasonic waves to dislodge dirt and debris from the surface.

Document Restoration

Documents, photos, and other paper items can also be damaged by disasters. Restoration professionals can use specialized equipment and techniques to restore these items.

Freeze drying is a common technique used for document restoration. This involves freezing the documents and then using a vacuum to remove the moisture. This process can help to prevent further damage and preserve the documents for future use.

Textile Restoration

When your home or business experiences water damage, your textiles and fabrics can be heavily impacted. From carpets and upholstery to drapery and clothing, water damage can cause staining, discoloration, and even mold growth. Textile restoration professionals are trained to handle these issues and can use specialized techniques to restore your textiles and fabrics to their pre-damage condition.

The first step in textile restoration after water damage is to remove any standing water and dry the affected area. Once the area is dry, restoration professionals will assess the damage to the textiles and fabrics and determine the best course of action.

Depending on the severity of the damage, restoration professionals may use a combination of cleaning techniques and equipment to restore the textiles. For example, they may use steam cleaning equipment to remove dirt and stains from carpets and upholstery. They may also use ozone generators to remove any odors that have resulted from the water damage.

If the textiles have been heavily damaged and cannot be restored, restoration professionals may recommend replacement. However, in many cases, textiles can be successfully restored using specialized techniques and equipment.

Storage and Moving

During the contents restoration process, it may be necessary to move items out of the home or business to a secure storage facility. Restoration professionals will carefully pack and transport the items to prevent further damage and ensure they are stored in a safe and secure location.

Once the restoration process is complete, restoration professionals will carefully move the items back into the home or business and ensure they are properly placed and secured.

Contents restoration is an essential part of the restoration process after a disaster. Restoration professionals use a variety of techniques and equipment to carefully clean, restore, and preserve personal belongings and valuable items. If your home or business has suffered damage from water, fire, mold, or other disasters, it's important to contact a professional restoration company to ensure the best results for contents restoration.

How to file a water damage claim.

2/12/2023 (Permalink)

When your in need of water restoration, give SERVPRO a call today.

Water damage can be devastating. It's a stressful time for everyone involved, including you and your insurance company. With the right information and support, however, you can get through this quickly and easily. So here are four steps to take if you have water damage at home or business.

1. Call in the experts

At the first sign of damage give the experts at SERVPRO a call. We will send out one of our qualified technicians immediately to begin assessing your situation. They will begin by taking photos of affected areas so that they can be used as evidence later on when filing a claim with insurance companies. Next they will begin removing standing water from carpets and hard surfaces using portable extraction units that produce powerful suction forces capable of pulling up even heavy amounts of moisture within minutes. This process allows them all remaining moisture content within these materials which prevents mold growth during cleanup efforts while also making sure that there's nothing left behind after this step has been completed successfully.

2. Document the damages

Document the damages Once you have a good idea of what was damaged, it's time to document and photograph the damage. You'll want to take multiple pictures from different angles so that you can show how much of your stuff was affected by water. Keep track of what was damaged, including receipts for any cleaning or repairs (if possible). You may also want to write down where each item came from and its value in case there are any disputes down the line about coverage limits or replacement costs. Lastly, keep a list of all contact information for anyone who has been helping out with the process.

3. Determine the cause of your water loss

Once you have your insurance claim form, it's time to figure out what type of damage has been done. You'll want to determine the cause of your water loss so that you can file an accurate claim and get reimbursed for all of your losses as quickly as possible.

There are many ways that water can get into your home, pipes may burst from age or pressure and plumbing fixtures (such as sinks) may leak due to poor installation or damage. Rainwater can seep through cracks in roofs or walls after heavy rain fall.

To determine whether or not filing an insurance claim is right for you, take some time first by asking yourself these questions: What type of insurance do I need? How much time do I have before things start getting worse?

Call the Professionals

If you have water damage at your home or business, call SERVPRO 24/7. When you call us after a flooding event, we will send over a professional technician who will assess how much work needs to be done onsite before beginning any cleanup process. We use advanced equipment and techniques to extract all standing water from your property so that mold doesn't grow inside your walls or under floors where it can cause further damage down the road if left untreated properly now!

Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Water Damage

12/20/2022 (Permalink)

Water damage can cause mold, and mold growth can lead to structural damage.

Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Water Damage

Water damage is one of the most common causes of home repair problems. Even a small amount of water can cause significant damage over time if left unchecked. Water leaks often occur in pipes or appliances and may be hard to detect without you noticing some visual signs. You should call a professional to inspect your home for water damage every time you notice any sign of moisture inside your home.

Water damage will cause mold.

The first step in preventing mold is to act fast. If you’ve got water damage, you need to get it taken care of right away.

If mold stays untreated, it can cause all sorts of damage to the structure of your property and its belongings. 

Water damage can lead to structural damage.

Water damage can cause mold, and mold growth can lead to structural damage. Mold grows when moisture gets trapped inside of a building and has a surface upon which it can grow. If the water leak is severe enough, the fungal spores from the mold will spread throughout your property and take up residence. 

Water damage can lead to rust and corrosion.

The effects are often more severe when left untreated, as water can cause significant damage to your home's structure and building materials. That's why it's important to act quickly if you detect any signs of water in your apartment or home—the sooner we intervene, the less likely it is that the issue will escalate into something expensive down the road!

Make sure you address any water damage in your home right away

The longer you wait to address water damage in your home, the more serious the problem will become. Mold is one of the most common results of water damage, and it can cause serious damage. In addition to mold, rust and corrosion also can lead to expensive repairs if they aren't addressed right away.

If you don’t deal with the water damage quickly, it can grow out of control. In fact, a severe enough leak can cause structural damage to your property and make it uninhabitable. If you think you have a water leak, it's important to act quickly. The longer the leak goes unnoticed and unfixed, the more damage it can do—and that means higher costs for repairs. 

Water damage can cause a lot of problems for your home, and if you don’t take care of it right away, it’s only going to get worse. If you see signs of water damage in your house or notice that there is dampness in the walls or floors, please contact a professional immediately. This way they can do everything they can to avoid mold growth, structural damage, or costly repairs later on down the road when things have gotten even worse! SERVPRO is always on standby and ready to help.

What Does It Mean If My Floors Are Warping?

11/14/2022 (Permalink)

Remember, warping is an easy fix if you catch it early.

What Does It Mean If My Floors Are Warping?

If you own a home and have wood flooring, you probably know how easy it is to incur damage. Wood floors can be scratched, dinged, and stained by everyday objects like shoes or furniture. But what do you do if your floors are warping? That’s when things get serious. Warped wood flooring is not only unattractive; it can also cause major structural issues in your home that will cost thousands of dollars to fix.

There are several reasons why wood warps. As we explore the topic further below, we hope this information will help homeowners understand what they should look out for so they can prevent their floors from becoming warped in the first place!

Wood flooring is a natural product

Wood flooring is a natural product and will absorb water. The wood that makes up your flooring will not give back the water it absorbs, which means it can cause damage to your floors. Water under the floor can cause warping and cracking or crevices in your flooring.

If you have any cracks in your floors already, or if there are gaps between boards, this can allow moisture to get into them and cause more problems.

Wood absorbs moisture, but doesn’t give it back

The first thing you should know is that wood absorbs water, but it doesn’t give it back. This means that if your floors are warping, there could be a serious problem with moisture under the floor.

If you’re like most people and don’t have any idea what that means—don't worry. It basically means this: wood absorbs water and that then can’t be removed. The trouble is that if there's enough water under your floors or in their support beams to make them warp, then mold can form as well.

Mold grows anywhere there's moisture—and since wooden structures aren't very good at preventing dampness from getting trapped inside them, they're prone to mold growth even without any problems like floor warping happening first!

Warping can cause cracks and crevices in your flooring

Crevices and cracks are not only aesthetically unpleasant, but they can also be a pain to fix. When floors become uneven, their surface becomes more prone to damage. This can lead to serious problems down the road, such as structural issues and costly repairs.

The damage is hard to fix once the damage has been done.

The best thing you can do for your warped wood floors is to stop using them immediately. They are not going to fix themselves, and they will continue to get worse over time. If you have a home warranty, it may cover the cost of repairs or assist in get new flooring altogether. However, it’s far better if you just bite the bullet and do something about this now rather than later when the damage has already been done and more money needs to be spent on fixing it later down the line!

If possible, it is better to get rid of your current flooring and getting new hardwood floors installed before doing anything else. Though it may be expensive at first glance, it can save you a significant amount of money in the long run. 

If you have water leaking through your floor, get help before your warping damage becomes significant.

Water can cause warping by breaking down the glue that holds your flooring together, which results in floors that become soft and unstable. If water has been leaking through your floor, you should call a professional immediately before the damage becomes significant. Cracks and crevices in your flooring can also cause warping due to changes in temperature and humidity.

Remember, warping is an easy fix if you catch it early. Don’t let your floors get so warped that they need to be replaced—or worse, that they crack and crevice. If you see any signs of water damage in your wood flooring, get help before it’s too late.

How Do You Estimate a Fire Damage Loss?

10/14/2022 (Permalink)

Severe fire damage in a commercial business

How Do You Calculate Fire Damage Loss?

Fire damage cleanup is a process that takes time, skill, and patience. The first step to estimating the fire damage restoration costs is assessing the extent of the fire damage. This means assessing how much smoke and soot was produced by the fire, as well as how much heat was generated during its course of action. We can then further assess any structural damages caused by thermal exposure; this includes charring or warping of wood, steel beams being exposed to high temperatures and other such issues that may arise due to exposure to these conditions.

The extent of the fire damage

The first thing you should do is contact a professional fire damage restoration company in your Holmen, WI area. The sooner they can get to work on fire damage, the better chance they have of minimizing its effects. Professional help is also necessary because it’s best suited for restoring your home back to its original condition after a fire has been put out and all smoke has cleared.

This type of service requires an initial inspection by professionals who know what they are looking at in terms of potential hazards and risks in your home. They will then begin removing damaged areas as well as any debris (including water) that may be present due to efforts used during putting out the flames or things such as sprinklers going off during evacuation procedures. This process can take anywhere between two days up until several months depending upon severity levels experienced inside your home during those initial moments when everything happened so quickly with little time afforded anyone involved before leaving without warning!

Water damage post-fire

Once the fire has been put out, out is very common to see excessive moisture present. The water used to extinguish the fire and clean up after it will also influence how much damage you can expect a fire to cause. The moisture of the buildings materials and contents is another factor that needs to be considered while estimating the mitigation and restoration costs. 

If the fire caused significant damage to your property, it is likely that you have water damage present on your property as well. It is important to call a company, such as SERVPRO of La Crosse County, that can handle both the water mitigation and fire, soot, and smoke damage cleanup! 

Estimating the time frame

In general, we can estimate how long it will take to complete the fire damage restoration process by taking into consideration several factors. These include:

1. The severity of the fire damage (e.g., whether there was smoke or water damage)
2. Your location and proximity to a restoration facility
3. The amount of work that needs to be done (e.g., cleaning up soot from walls, cleaning carpeting)

The length of time depends on these factors, but typically ranges from 3-21 days. However, this is just an estimate; every job is different and may take longer or shorter than expected based on its specific circumstances.

The fire damage restoration process can be very long and complicated. That’s why it’s important to have a professional contractor assess your property and give you an estimate for the damages. SERVPRO of La Crosse County is the leading expert in fire and water damage cleanup and restoration in the La Crosse, WI, area. If you are ever in need of disaster restoration services, our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

5 Common Questions About Mold

8/26/2022 (Permalink)

Mold damage in New Amsterdam, WI

Protect Your Home From Mold Damage

Mold is an extremely common residential issue that many homeowners have to tackle at some point. Putting a stop to spreading mold is a big part of the remediation process, but even that is only the beginning. Read on to learn how to better protect your New Amsterdam, WI, home from mold damage.

1. What Is Mold?
Mold is a living organism. Many people mistake it for a plant or bacteria, but it's actually a member of the fungus kingdom.

2. How Does Mold Spread?
Mold spores are always present in the air around us. Mold itself needs moisture and a source of organic matter in order to actually grow, however. Mold growth occurs when the spores in the air attach to a damp surface or object. After that, it only takes about 24 hours for signs of black mold to appear.

3. How Can You Stop Mold from Spreading?
The first step to putting a stop to spreading mold is to identify the source of the problem. Perform a thorough home inspection to figure out where the moisture is seeping into your home, then resolve the issue.

4. What Are Some Common Mold Causes?
Any number of factors could contribute to your home's mold growth. Water damage, such as leaks or flooding, are common cause. You're also likely to find mold growing in your walls, ceilings or window sills if your home's humidity levels are too high.

5. How Do You Get Rid of Mold?
You can tackle smaller mold issues on your own using a non-toxic, homemade cleaning solution. A simple mixture that consists of equal parts water and white vinegar can work wonders. Larger problems might require mold remediation experts, however.

Spreading mold can quickly take over your home if you don't handle the issue swiftly and effectively. Contact mold remediation experts for assistance with your residential mold issues.

How To Be a Grill (Cleaning) Master

8/21/2022 (Permalink)

Proper grill maintenance will minimize the risk of a grease fire.

Grill (Cleaning) Master

No grill master ever earned the title without first being a grill cleaning pro. Whether it’s a yard sale steal or a top-of-line splurge your summer staple needs regular maintenance and cleaning to remain the master’s tool it is. Before you grab your apron grab your gloves and prepare for major seasonal cleaning, making your grill the best it can be for a Rockland,WI summer!

Gather Your Materials

As every master knows, a successful grill session requires all materials to be prepared beforehand. With the same concept in mind, prepare for your grill cleaning session with a few necessary supplies:

• Work gloves
• Grill brush
• Stainless-steel wipes
• Whisk broom
• Bucket
• Dish soap
• Foil
• Paper towels

Know Your Terrain

Proper grill maintenance will minimize the risk of a grease fire, improve the performance of your grill and provide a clean aesthetic for your grill mastery. While there are some variances for cleaning charcoal and gas grills, start with the basics:

• Wearing work gloves, remove grill grates, racks and pans and set them in a bucket of hot water and dish soap. It is best to start this process while the grill is still slightly warm, but ensure all dials are off and the propane tank is disconnected.
• Cover heating elements with foil and use the grill brush to vigorously scrub the underside of the hood and inside walls of the grill and wipe down with a wet paper towel.
• Remove the components from the bucket and scrub down with the grill brush before replacing inside the grill.