Water damage can be a significant issue for companies, especially when important documents are stored in basements, attics, or other unsafe locations. In such cases, it is crucial to act quickly and take appropriate measures to prevent the growth of mold and mildew.
Here are some steps that can help you deal with water-damaged documents:
Step 1: Make quick decisions. Mold and mildew can start growing on wet paper within 24-48 hours, so it's essential to act fast. If you're not sure what to do, contact us for a free consultation .
Step 2: Dry the documents and circulate air as soon as possible. To prevent mold and dry wet documents, follow these steps:
- Use air dry: Place fans around the documents to circulate the air.
- Use towels carefully: Towels can absorb some moisture and prevent the documents from sticking to hard surfaces.
- Separate the documents as much as possible, so as much surface area as possible is exposed for drying.
- Consider drying the documents on a clothesline if they are strong enough. Gravity will pull out much of the moisture.
- Use a method called "interleaving" for books: Put paper (such as kitchen paper) between different pages of the book to absorb moisture. Don't put paper between every page; every 25 pages or so is enough.
Step 3: Keep in mind that mold spreads quickly in warm and humid environments, while it doesn't grow at low temperatures. Therefore, consider the following:
- Keep wet documents in a room that is as cold as possible.
- If you can't dry the documents immediately, use a freezer to stop mold growth and save time.
- If you need further assistance, contact us again for help. Dasta has a cold room available for this purpose.
Flooded archives and damaged company documents can be a serious problem, particularly during tax audits. Restoring documents can be time-consuming and expensive, so it's important to store them in a protected area. If you need help dealing with water-damaged documents.
Give us a call. We have experience in recovering wet documents, and our initial consultation is always free.
