Step 4. Just because you don’t really know what kind of water got on your floor it is a good idea to disinfect it. (If you had a sink overflow, disinfecting is not necessary.) Use a PH neutral cleaner to disinfect your wood floors.
Step 5. Use a dehumidifier and fans throughout the room. Put them inn the highest setting so they are the effective. If their is a crawlspace underneath the floor, place the fans in it facing up towards the wet wood floor. If the air is at all dry outside, you can open a window. If their is rain or humidity, it is recommended not to open a window.
Step 6. Check for mold. Read our article “Mold On Hardwood Floors: Safety and Preparing The Removal” to learn more.
Step 7. Spread white rice over your floor. White rice is very absorbent. This is why it is commonly in salt shakers to prevent the salt from clumping. Instant rice is more absorbent than long grain rice. You will require a lot of rice. It should be thick. You should apply a quarter inch of instant rice spread evenly over the floor with a big plastic sheet to create a moisture barrier. The water in the floors will be drawn out and absorbed in the white rice. Keep it there for 2 days and sweep it up and discard it.
Step 8. Do a moisture test. You can get a moisture meter from your local building supply store. You may want to to test over a few days to make sure that the moisture is being eliminated. You will probably have some moisture in your wood floors for a little so don’t be shocked.