Key points
- Act within 48 hours — mold can start on wet paper fast.
- Freezing wet papers buys time until they can be dried.
- Do not separate stuck photos by force.
- Prioritize irreplaceable items over things you can reprint.
First steps
- Move wet documents and photos out of the wet area.
- Rinse off dirty water gently with clean water if needed.
- Air-dry flat on clean towels with a fan circulating air — not blowing directly on them.
- If you cannot dry them within a day or two, put them in freezer bags and freeze them.
What not to do
- Do not use a hair dryer or heater
- Do not pull apart photos stuck together — soak them in clean water first
- Do not store damp items in sealed boxes
Help with contents
Joseph Miles, our Contents Cleaning & Restoration Specialist, handles pack-out and contents cleaning — see contents cleaning and pack-out and contents restoration. Items touched by sewage are usually not salvageable — see what to throw away.
Water damage to your belongings?
Call (385) 250-2825 — answered live 24/7 by the Vault crew.