Hi ladies, we just got about a foot of water in last week's storm, our electric went out and sump stopped and we were on vacation.... I've managed to get the basement floor cleared out (unfinished basement, lucky for us), and am left w/ about 4 boxes of wet, slimy, very heavy hardcover books that I really have no idea what to do -- each book weighs from 5 - 10 lbs wet, and each one has been sitting in its wet, slimy box for the last 3 days. I have contemplated putting one or two in a plastic grocery bag and tossing out in weekly garbage, but there are four boxes of them!! This will take weeks! Has anyone ever had this problem, and how did you deal with it? I don't want to hire a flood company, we're just back from $$ vacation and it's just not in budget... I have already checked w/ Glen Ellyn, they say "business as usual", there is no special pickup for flood damaged goods, only a special "branch pick up"... Thanks for any advice! N
Thanks for all the good advice. In reading the advice, it seems like a simple solution, to just let them all dry, but these books are each 5 inches DRY, so wet they are about 8 inches - 10 inches spread out, soaking wet... I'm going to try drying them out as much as they will dry out, and put in our bins for the recycling guys. :)
You could also call people who pick up junk. I've seen their name in different ads (Junk King maybe?) It says they pick up and haul away. Good luck!
i would certainly take the boxes outside and let them air dry a little, but do you have a local dump? those books can probably be recycled even thought they are wet. or if not, then you can dump them and avoid a mold problem. as for the rest of the basement fans and dehumidifiers 27/7 immediately. you have to completely dry out the basement to avoid MOLD. thats one thing you do not want to be breathing in. there are companies that you can rent industrial size fans and dehumidifiers for a marginal cost. and look into if you home owners insurance covers your sump going out. if not, you should add it. good luck
maybe put them out in the sun to dry and then throw them out with the weekly garbage.
Take them upstairs (a few at a time,in an old plastic grocery bag. Open the books in the middle and spread them in the garage or, better yet,yard. They will start drying out immediately. Still wet, you can put them in your recycle bin. You DO recycle, right :) They don't actually have to fit in the bin. You can put them in paper or plastic bags and set by the bin.
What WE did was spread out papers and opened books, borrow two DEhumidifiers and let them dry out in the basement. About halfway through the dry out we put in recycle bin what could not be salvaged.
1-800-GOT-JUNK They have trucks that drive around and pick stuff up. I know they do charge, but it might be cheaper than your alternative. Do you have any kids in the neighborhood you know that might want to make ten bucks or something? Ask them to help after school.
Call the local dump and see what they suggest. Also try one of the dumpster companies, sometimes they will come out and get smaller loads, of course you will pay for it either way you go, unfortunately but maybe it will be re-imbursed by your insurance?
Some schools have recycling dumpsters and they earn
money from this . If you could take at least some of
them to one of these , I bet they would appreciate it.
Of course it would be alot of lugging around. Just my
2 cents.
Check with your village. Our village is having a special pick-up this week for storm damaged items.
Put them out in the backyard to dry. It is so sunny and hot today, they will be dry in no time. Then put them in the trash.
I agree - check with the village. The water disaster services merely pull up carpet and put it out for the weekly trash pick up and then disinfect. (they also pull out dry wall if necessary). After my last experience with them, they cost a lot for the service they provide.
