Cleanup
Appliance Flood Cleanup: Kitchen And Laundry
Why appliance leaks damage more than they should, and how cabinets and subfloor are saved.
April 14, 2026 · 6 min read
Water goes where you cannot see
An appliance leak spreads under the cabinet run along the toe kick, then wicks into the particleboard base and the subfloor beneath. The visible puddle is usually the smallest part of the loss.
Saving the cabinets
Drilling discreet drying ports through the toe kick and pushing dry air into the cavity often saves an entire cabinet run. Once boxes have swollen and delaminated, replacement is the only option, which is why timing matters so much.
Check the room on the other side
Water travels along the bottom wall plate into adjoining rooms. Any appliance loss should include moisture readings on the far side of shared walls before the job is called complete.