7 Helpful Tips For Cleaning After A Flood
Cleaning after a flood can be challenging, especially if you haven’t implemented protective measures like trusscore panels to prevent damage and don’t know how to proceed. It’s therefore important to equip yourself with the knowledge of what to do in such a situation. If your area has experienced a flood, follow these tips to make your home a healthy and clean space again.
1. Record The Damage
First and foremost, you should document the damage before commencing the cleanup procedure. Take pictures of destroyed possessions and affected areas. Documenting the damage will come in handy when filing a water damage claim.
2. Assess The Damage
After documenting the damage, the next step should be assessing the situation to identify valuables that can be salvaged and those that can’t. This step is challenging since it means parting with some of your belongings. Nevertheless, regardless of how challenging it can be, it’s essential to discard possessions that can’t be disinfected since they can pose a health risk.
The possessions that can’t be disinfected or salvaged include mattresses, pillows, books, and cosmetics. While contaminated carpets and rugs can also be challenging to salvage, you can clean and restore them to their good state. If you’re wondering how, this linked article has your key questions answered.
3. Get The Right Tools And Attire
Your well-being is paramount and shouldn’t be compromised at all. Therefore, before beginning the cleanup, you should get the right protective gear, disinfectant, and cleaning tools.
Flooding is likely to be contaminated with disease-causing germs, and cleaning supplies might also affect your skin. With that in mind, it’s vital to wear rubber gloves, a face mask, a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a helmet, and goggles.
As far as cleaning supplies are concerned, they should be able to kill germs effectively. Always avoid mixing bleach with the rest of the cleaning supplies for safety.
As for the tools, floor squeegees are ideal for removing a large amount of water and debris. Squeegees are also ideal for different flooring types. These tools are mainly used for residential and commercial purposes when dealing with lots of water.
It’s vital to mention that there are different types of squeegees, and each type is perfect for particular flooring. For example, a foam squeegee is ideal for uneven floors like asphalt and tile since the foam can adjust to unevenness. On the other hand, a squeegee with a rubber blade is perfect when cleaning smooth flooring like asphalt and concrete.
4. Remove The Standing Water
Now that you’re in the proper protective attire and have the necessary tools, remove the standing water. When using a squeegee for this task, pull instead of pushing it for excellent results. Start from the edge, and direct the water and debris towards the drain. However, if you don’t have a drain, consider collecting the water into a pool and then use a bucket to dispose of it.
5. Wash The Surfaces
Once you’ve removed all the water, wash the contaminated surfaces with household cleaners and clean water. Then, sanitize them with household bleach. You can mix a cup of household bleach with five gallons of water and spread it on the surfaces. Once applied, allow it to dry, and don’t rinse it.
When cleaning the house, keep all the windows open and use fans to dry the surfaces fast. If your drywall and insulation are contaminated, have them removed and replaced.
6. Take Care Of The Mold
Suppose mold has begun growing, or you’ve discovered its early signs. In that case, you should use a stronger bleach mixture by adding a cup of household bleach to one gallon of water. Scrub the areas with signs of mold using a strong brush to ensure you get rid of all mold before rinsing the surface with clean water.
7. Clean And Disinfect Salvageable Items
Depending on the severity of floods and how fast you act, you can save some items. Items that can be salvaged include metal and wood furniture, kitchen items, and electronics. At this point, you need to research cleaning products ideal for every item.
For example, when cleaning wood furniture, you should use cleaning products suitable for wood. Once the items are clean, use sanitizing products to eliminate germs. You should also wash your clothes immediately before mold invasion and discard items that can’t be saved.
Conclusion
Cleaning after a flood isn’t a walk in the park. The water can be contaminated, posing a health risk. For this reason, it makes more sense to hire a professional cleaning company or a water damage restoration company to handle the situation. If you think you can manage the process yourself, consider following the above-discussed tips for an organized and effective cleaning procedure.
