Okay, so you have moved and you fear that your furniture may be affected by mildew and water damage. No problem, if you take an early action, you will be able to minimize this. As soon as you realize that your furniture is prone to damage, here is what you should do.
Inspect your furniture
Examine your furniture thoroughly and note down the extent to which it has been affected by water damage. If you have insurance, you can make a claim, but you will have to take photos of the damaged furniture so that you can provide evidence to your insurance company.
While inspecting your furniture, try to examine every piece. Even if there is excessive moisture in the air, your furniture will be susceptible to damage.
Separate furniture into two groups
Once you have evaluated your furniture thoroughly, separate them into two groups: one that can be recovered and another which will have to be deposited. You can figure this out by comparing the restoration rates with the price of a new piece. If there is not much difference, you should just get new furniture. Instances in which furniture cannot be restored is when it has been kept in water for too long. This paves way for the growth of mold and bacteria, and so the furniture cannot be used again. If wooden furniture becomes warped, then also it is difficult to save.
Set aside irreparable furniture, but do not discard it as yet. Your insurance company will want to examine it themselves.
Let restorable furniture
Move restorable future into an extremely dry place so that it gets rid of moisture quickly. If you have the budget, you may want to seek water restoration services, which will lift all responsibility from your shoulders.
Take steps to prevent color bleeding
Upholstered furniture can be damaged more extensively and be difficult to restore if it loose it colors. As such, separate colored items so that further color does not bleed. You should dry them well; even if these items contain 20% moisture, they are still susceptible to mold growth. Once again, avail water damage restoration services if you feel you cannot do the task effectively.
Discard totally soaked furniture
If your upholstered furniture is completely soaked, a better idea may be to just discard it. Upholstered furniture can easily absorb contaminants and water; if these remain in it for prolonged periods, it can easily get damaged.
Dry mattresses in the sun
If your mattresses become damped during the move, leave them out in the sun to dry. While doing so, try to keep the mattress above the ground by hoisting it up on blocks. This will dry them up faster. Keeping them near a fan will also accelerate the drying process.
There are times when even completely dried mattresses emit an odor. If this is the case, you will have to take help from the pros and get your mattress sanitized.