Can a rug that has been in dirty flood water be saved?

Often, yes. Silt and contaminated water are removed by full-immersion washing. The outcome depends on the fiber, the dyes and how long the rug stayed wet.

Will my insurer accept your report?

Our reports are written for insurers and adjusters, with photographs and a clear account of damage, treatment and cost. We are happy to speak with your adjuster directly.

What if the colors have already run?

Dye bleed can often be reduced or removed if it is treated before it sets. The sooner the rug reaches us, the better the result.

Water damage

Water-damaged rug restoration.

Flooding, leaks and burst pipes are among the few situations where hours matter. A wet rug can bleed its dyes, develop mildew and begin to rot within days. We collect urgently, dry correctly, and document everything for your insurer.

What to do while you wait for us.

First hours

If it is safe to do so, lift the rug off the wet floor and away from the source of water. Do not leave it folded or rolled while wet, and do not lay it in direct sun or over a radiator, which can shrink the foundation and set any color run.

If possible, raise the rug on a clean surface with air beneath it, and blot, do not rub, any standing water. Photograph the room, the water line and the rug before anything is moved further; your insurer will want to see them.

Then call us on the studio line.

Lift it off the wet floor
Air beneath the rug slows damage.
Never fold or roll it wet
Trapped moisture causes rot and dye transfer.
Avoid heat and sun
Fast, uneven drying shrinks and distorts.
Photograph everything
The room, the water line and the rug.

How we restore a flooded rug.

Restoration

At the studio, the rug is inspected and photographed, and the dyes are tested. Where color has begun to run, we treat the bleed before it sets, which is the single biggest factor in how well a water-damaged rug recovers.

The rug is then washed by full immersion to remove silt, sewage or other contaminants, rinsed thoroughly, and dried flat under controlled conditions so that the foundation relaxes evenly rather than shrinking or cockling. Odor and mildew are treated as part of the wash.

Once dry, we assess the structure. Water can weaken cotton foundations and cause dry rot to develop some time after the event; we test for this and stabilize any weakened areas. Staining, shrinkage, and damage to edges and fringes are repaired by hand as required.

Not every flooded rug can be returned to its former state, and we will tell you plainly if that is the case. When it is, the written report will say so, which is exactly what an insurer needs.

Working with your insurance claim.

Insurance

We prepare written reports for insurance claims, recording the rug's construction, origin, approximate age, pre-existing condition where evident, the damage caused, the treatment recommended and its cost. Where a rug cannot be restored, the report explains why.

Tell us at the outset that a claim is involved, and give us your adjuster's details if you have them. We are happy to speak with them directly.

Frequently asked.

Questions

Can a rug that has been in dirty flood water be saved?: Often, yes. Silt and contaminated water are removed by full-immersion washing. The outcome depends on the fiber, the dyes and how long the rug stayed wet.
Will my insurer accept your report?: Our reports are written for insurers and adjusters, with photographs and a clear account of damage, treatment and cost. We are happy to speak with your adjuster directly.
What if the colors have already run?: Dye bleed can often be reduced or removed if it is treated before it sets. The sooner the rug reaches us, the better the result.

Related services.

Inquiry

Water damage? Call first.

For urgent pickup call 516 234 1095. For anything less pressing, send photographs through the form below.