A flood can leave you feeling overwhelmed and helpless, especially if it’s the first time you’ve ever dealt with one. How do you clear out all of that water and muck from your home and basement? Where do you even begin to start?
The following guide will give you step-by-step instructions for flood cleanup, helping to ensure that your home will be safe and clean after a disaster.
Wear protective gear
Before you start the cleanup process, it’s important to protect yourself from the contaminants that may be present in the water. Wear gloves, boots, and old clothes that can be thrown away after you’re done. It’s also a good idea to wear a face mask to avoid breathing in mold spores.
Remove water-damaged items
You should remove all furniture, appliances, and other items that were exposed to flood water immediately after the flood has subsided. All of these items have been exposed to moisture for some time, which could cause mold growth.
If possible, move them to an area that has dry heat. If there is no other room available, you should move everything into a garage or shed. The key is to remove as much moisture as possible so mold growth will be prevented and dry out more quickly.
Get rid of all the water
The most important thing to do during a flood cleanup begins is to get rid of all the water in your house as quickly as possible.
This may mean moving some furniture or other items so they’re above ground level or using buckets, sandbags, and pumps to remove the water from lower levels of your home. Make sure that no electrical appliances such as televisions or computers are left plugged in. If there’s standing water in an electrical socket, turn off the power first.
Clean and disinfect surfaces
Clean all surfaces that have come into contact with flood water. Using bleach is one of the best ways to kill germs and get rid of mold. It’s also a good way to remove stains and odors from an area.
You should clean all the surfaces including floors, walls, ceilings, and cabinets. Leave it to dry completely before moving anything back into the area. This can take hours or even days depending on the size of your home and how long it took for the water to get into each area.
Use fans to dry out affected areas
A good way to get rid of water is to use fans, which will circulate air throughout the house and help remove excess water from your walls, floors, and furniture. You must also open windows and doors to allow as much fresh air into your home as possible. This will also ventilate it, which is important for removing moisture from all surfaces inside.
Conclusion
Aside from these steps, you should contact a water damage restoration company as soon as possible. The sooner you get started on emergency water cleanup, the better your chances are of preventing further damage and mold growth.
If you’ve been affected by flooding, call 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT for immediate assistance. We offer free consultations to assess the damage and establish a plan to remove the water from your property as quickly as possible.
