Tips to Clean Up After a Flood
After a flood, it’s important to clean up your home quickly. You’ll want to remove debris and get rid of the smell of mold. But before you start drying out your house or removing damaged walls and floors, be sure that all electrical systems are safe. Here are some tips for removing sludge from exposed surfaces.
After a flood comes hard work
The clean-up process after a flood is a lot of hard work. It is important to dispose of your flood-damaged items properly because they could be contaminated with mold and mildew.
- If you are able, hire a professional for this part of the process. Flood cleanup can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing, so it’s best to leave this job up to someone who does!
- Be aware that mold spores may have been released into the air when your home was flooded and these can remain airborne for months after the water has receded. This means that even after cleaning up everything, there may still be some lingering damage done to your property in terms of health risks like asthma or allergies – consult your doctor if necessary!
Household items and personal effects damaged by a flood are often contaminated with sewage and hazardous chemicals from burst pipes, fire extinguishers, and furnaces.
When items are contaminated with sewage and hazardous chemicals, they should be removed from your home. Do not use them until they have been decontaminated.
Do not use contaminated food or drink items at any time.
Do not use contaminated water to wash anything or brush your teeth, even if the utility provider has declared your drinking water safe after a flood. If possible, boil water for three minutes before using it for drinking, cooking, or bathing (or disinfecting surfaces).
If you do not have access to a reliable water supply, bring in bottled drinking water while repairs are made to the system in your home or the building’s plumbing system. If this is not possible either because of a lack of transportation options or because bottled drinking water is no longer available at stores near you, contact FEMA for assistance with obtaining potable tap water through its disaster relief program (1-800-621-3362).
If they can’t be scrubbed or laundered, it’s best to discard them, along with any spoiled food or any food that was in direct contact with floodwaters.
If they can’t be scrubbed or laundered, it’s best to discard them, along with any spoiled food or any food that was in direct contact with floodwaters. Dispose of items contaminated by sewage and hazardous chemicals in a sealed container.
After the flood, the structures of your home, including the walls and ceilings, will likely be covered in a thin layer of mud and water-soaked debris.
After the flood, the structures of your home, including the walls and ceilings, will likely be covered in a thin layer of mud and water-soaked debris. These surfaces must be cleaned thoroughly before repair work can begin.
Before you start cleaning up your home after a flood, remove the sludge from your walls and floors with shovels and buckets.
Before you start cleaning up your home after a flood, remove the sludge from your walls and floors with shovels and buckets.
While this step may not be as glamorous as restoring your photos or cleaning up wet carpets, it’s an important part of any post-flood clean-up procedure. If left on the walls and floors, toxic mold spores can grow in the dampness and cause further damage to your home; removing them before they have time to become established will help prevent them from becoming an issue later.
Wash down all exposed surfaces before you start drying out the building structure.
- Wash down all exposed surfaces before you start drying out the building structure.
- Rinse with clean water, if necessary.
- Dry with a towel or cloth, using a fan to speed up the drying process.
Use a strong vacuum on all surfaces throughout the basement. Be sure to use an extension cord that’s long enough to reach outside the damaged area to prevent electrical shock hazards.
The first step in flood damage clean-up is to use a strong vacuum on all surfaces throughout the basement. Be sure to use an extension cord that’s long enough to reach outside the damaged area to prevent electrical shock hazards. Use an electric or wet/dry vacuum, depending on what has been submerged and how much mud is present in your home. A wet/dry vacuum can be used for smaller amounts of water-soaked debris and slurry; however, if there has been extensive flooding and cleanup will take more than one day, it may be more practical for your needs to rent or purchase a larger machine from a rental company.
Conclusion
The best way to clean up after a flood is with professional help. A professional cleaning company can safely remove all the mud, dirt, and other materials from your home’s surfaces. They will also have access to the proper equipment needed for drywall restoration and carpet cleaning services that will improve the appearance of your property.
