Home & Garden Do It Yourself

Basics Of Flood Cleaning

The occurrence of flooding is unpreventable and when it comes, the havoc it causes is much greater than what you can imagine. Of course the structure of the house, personal belongings and inside health are always tampered with. Basically, most homes get flooded due to cracks in the basement windows, walls and the floor. Flood cleaning is therefore necessary when flood water seeps through these small openings of the basement. Poor drainage system in the home and malfunction of sump pumps are the major causes of flooding. Since floods are terrifying disasters, flood cleaning experts qualify to offer the services rather than doing it individually.

The activities involved in flood cleaning are never easy and they consume much time. Here are flood cleaning methods and techniques for sanitizing and drying flooded items. Obviously the immediate measure you can undertake is informing your insurance agent about the incident. There, you will be required to complete records and applications for insurance claim and disaster aid alongside tax deductions.

i) Kitchen cleaning

Chances of diseases rupturing are very high if quick measures are not taken to check on kitchen items. A lot of disinfection needs to be done on all objects found in the kitchen before usage. Flood cleaning entails disinfecting silverware, metal utensils, pots and pans in boiled water. These items are then left to dry in the open air. Chlorine bleach is used when cleaning glasses, plastic dinnerware and enamelware items.

ii) Floor surface cleaning

During flood cleaning process, ensure that all the surfaces are cleaned and disinfected to prevent the development of molds and mildews. Plywood floors are always clean dried and then coated with paint to seal out all the bacteria. Most floor surfaces have to be scrubbed with hot water using a powerful heavy duty cleaner. Ensure that you vacuum the floors, walls and the ceilings after removing the molds.

iii) Furniture and household items

Flood cleaning also involves drying out all the wetted furniture, rugs, bedding and clothing in the sun. Powerful dehumidifier and air conditioner are applicable in cases where humidity is high to dry the items. It will be a great deal if the house is well ventilated. All items with molds and mildews must be scrubbed thoroughly outdoors using protective masks. If the mold spores are inhaled, a person can develop respiratory problems. Never use wetted mattresses.

IV) Electrical appliances

Flood cleaning of electrical devices must be done by qualified technicians only. This is necessary to prevent electrocution and electric related incidents. All the flooded appliances must be completely checked by the technician who will dry them before doing the repair. Convenience outlets, light outlets, entrance panels and switches among other devices contain mud and should be exhaustively cleaned. Ensure that wiring behind the walls is also dried out.

v) Home sewer system

What most home owners fear is the flooding of the sewer system. Flood cleaning for this problem is hazardous and it needs powerful equipments to restore sanity. Flood cleaning at this stage is essential since the entire environment and the drinking water will be contaminated. For this case, it is advisable to hire reputable flood cleaning company to fix the problem. This must be done as fast as possible to prevent the spread and breeding of bacteria, viruses and protozoa.


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