Totes Float and Flip Over- Protecting Your Content in a Flood

3/14/2022 (Permalink)

Don't just buy any old tote for your valuables!

I’ll never forget the factual words Valerie spoke when she described her basement contents. The small town in northeast Iowa had recently experienced flooding and SERVPRO of Black Hawk County was there to rescue their homes and possessions. Valerie believed her precious items and packed away seasonal things were protected in totes as they floated in her water-filled basement. Her despair was evident as she shared the truth with me, “These storage totes weren’t made for this!” She had purchased plastic storage containers that are commonly found in almost any store. Her belief in the product is a shared thought by us all. Not only do we purchase the convenience of the storing and stacking capabilities of these, but we have a sense of protection for the items in them. She knew now that was false.

NOT ALL TOTES ARE MADE THE SAME

If you can lift up the sides of a storage tote lid when the end handles are clasped down in a closed fashion, then it is not completely airtight. In this case, small amounts of moisture can get in and with the right (or actually wrong) environment, it will lead to dampness and possible mildew. These conditions will damage the contents of the tote. Some of her totes had baby clothing in them. A fine layer of fuzzy growth and earthy smell had covered the clothing in less than 5 days while sitting in the wet basement. She had been addressing other issues like carpet and furniture, trusting the totes were fine. A few of the totes were floating in the deeper end and one had completely flipped over as friends helped remove the items. Water had flowed in around the lid edges and once turned to the proper position, the water seeped in, drenching the papers and books inside.

THERE’S HOPE IF YOU GET TO IT FAST

Some soaked items can be air-dried and then “ozoned” to remove the smell, while paper products and pictures can be salvaged after being frozen. SERVPRO knows the key is quickness-getting to the materials soon after discovering water damage. Using appropriate storage containers for the items put away along with proper placement is the first step in ‘keeping’ items protected in your home.

RESEARCH AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

We suggest reading up on various brands and reviews of specialized storage containers on the internet. After you purchase, do your own research before packing it up and away. I bought a Remington storage container for my kid’s keepsakes, as I was passing them down to them. I choose Remington after making a list of the qualities I wanted: water and airtight, durable & stackable design with no tipping. This container is made for indoor/outdoor use and can be used in the back of an exposed truck bed, for outdoor gear. I sprayed a great deal of water from a hose on it, attempted to left the sides of the lid and tipped it up and around many times. I stacked two of them and attempted to rock and wiggle to see if they toppled over.

KEEP YOUR RECEIPT

If you discover the tote won’t pass your quality test, take it back and keep on searching! You only get one chance to store and save your memories. Take TIME to be sure they will STAND THE TEST OF TIME in the tote you choose. Call SERVPRO to help you dry out, clean up, and restore.

(recommendation of Remington products is not an endorsement by SERVPRO)