Minnesota Water Damage Restoration
We understand that property damage is a stressful situation for anyone who has the misfortune to endure it; that is why we take great care to be especially sensitive to your needs during these trying times.
Your clothes can be damaged by water under a variety of circumstances, including saturation from water due to fire fighting, broken water pipes, sewage and drain backups, punctured water beds, leaking roofs, malfunctioning washing machines, smashed aquariums, and storms and floods.
While damage to your clothes from water may not be as obvious as fire damage or smoke damage, it can often be just as, if not more, destructive. Untreated, water damage can worsen until treated. It is essential, therefore, that water damage restoration begin within forty-eight to seventy-two hours from the initial event because bacterial growth can begin within hours.
In the unfortunate event that you do sustain water damage, there are a few simple steps you should take:
- Be Careful! Avoid any areas where electricity may come into contact with water. Step carefully and make sure your footing is good on potentially slippery surfaces. Water can weaken structures, so keep an eye out for potential falling objects such as ceiling tiles or bookshelves. Avoid areas with raw sewage or if you come across odd smells or vapors that could be toxic.
- Find the source. If the reason for the damage is not a natural occurrence, find the source of the water damage (such as a broken pipe) and stop it.
- Move Valuables. Move your valuables away from the water to a dry place.
- Insurance. Call your insurance agent to determine the extent of your coverage. They'll want to know how the water damage occurred and what you have done to address the situation.
- Remember. You do not have to use your insurance company's clothing restoration service. You can choose your own.
Water damage restoration of your clothing will depend upon several factors including the volume of water involved, the types of items involved, and the amount of time that has elapsed since the initial water damage event, and the type of water involved.
There are three types of water that that will be involved in any given water damage restoration situation:
- Clean Water. Clean water poses little threat to humans, such as water from a broken water line, bath tub or sink water containing no contaminants, water from malfunctioning appliances, rainwater or ice or snow melt,or toilet water that does not contain contaminants or cleansers. Clean water can become grey water within forty-eight hours.
- Grey Water. Grey water is contaminated enough that it could cause discomfort or illness if a person is exposed to, or consumes it because it contains microoganisms. Sources of grey water can include dirty dishwater or washing machine water, toilet overflows with urine but no feces, water from sump pump malfunctions, and water from punctured water beds or broken fish tanks. Grey water can have chemical or biological contaminants. Grey water can become black water within forty-eight hours.
- Black Water. Black water is completely unsanitary because it is heavily polluted. Black water can include sewage water (including toilet overflows that have feces) and flooding from seawater, ground surface water, or river or lake water. The silt and organic matter from natural bodies of water can be enough to be classified as black water. Additionally, flooding from disasters can create black water that contains pesticides, heavy metals, or other man-made or organic toxins.
Mold & Mildew Removal
Mold and mildew are another way in which water damage can destroy your clothes and fabric. We offer mold remediation services using the following procedures:
- Ozone kills mold and germs by destroying their chemical bond.
- Wet cleaning with a mildewicide kills molds, mildew, and bacteria.
- Dry cleaning with appropriate germicides kills many molds and bacteria.