Is your wooden floor flooded with water? Here's what you need to do! Water and hardwood flooring do not get along. Wood is porous in nature, which soaks and absorbs the moisture. This results in the sogginess of wood and the appearance of stains and spots on the flooring. The wet floor can also contract and expand due to the absorption and drying of moisture. Many people believe that adding sealers and waxers to the flooring makes the wood-proof. However, that's not true. Yes, sealers are in fact water-resistant, however, they can't keep the wood from absorbing water for long periods of time. Sealers and waxers are efficient at protecting your wood by giving you time to resolve the water issue. You can't expect them to keep your wood floor safe while it stays flooded. To minimize the damage to the wood flooring caused by water, you need to dry out your floor immediately. Take a look at the steps that you need to take immediately after you spot water on your wooden floor. Remove the soaked objects immediately When the water covers your wood flooring, it is bound to soak up any objects and furniture that comes in its way. That's why you need to remove all the soaked rugs, carpets, and furniture from the floor, so they don't contribute to the absorption of moisture any further. Moreover, wet objects and surfaces can give birth to mold and mildew, which can damage the floor and your indoor environment even more. Therefore, you need to remove all the wet items and place them out in an area where they can dry out. Soak out the water from the floor After removing the wet items, you need to soak up the standing water from the wood flooring. Use towels, rags, mops, and any extra pieces of cloth to soak up the water from the floor. If you have a vacuum cleaner, use it to dry the larger puddles of water from the wood surface. Once you're done, use the wet vacuum to dry out the entire surface of the wood flooring. Clean the wood flooring It may feel counterintuitive, but after vacuuming the floor, you need to clean the wood with liquid. Flooding often leaves dirt and debris in the pores of the wood, which can cause the growth of bacteria and mold and damage the wood even further. That's why it's essential to use a disinfectant and scrub out the leftover and dirt. Then, use water to rinse the floor and vacuum it dry. Dry the wood completely Even if you think you have dried out the wood, you still need to run a dehumidifier just to be sure. Afterwards, open the doors and windows to allow for ventilation and fresh air. Call Professional Drying Services You may think you can dry out the wood on your own, but it's difficult to remove the moisture from wood pores that eventually weakens your flooring. That's why it's essential to call professional drying services after a water flooding incident. For Professional water damage remediation, call 502-385-4711 or check out our website here.