Flood damage should be addressed immediately to reduce it to the minimum. It is crucial that a quick response is made because it is impossible to determine the source of floodwater right away. Allowing this to sit for just a few minutes is risky as it can expose you to serious health problems because floodwater is not clean.
Making matters worse is when the water gets contaminated with sewage. It is critical that you try to get rid of it as soon as possible, but take the necessary safety precautions when doing so. This is because floodwater can expose you to bacteria and germs, leading to serious diseases.
Flood Cleanup: Things You Need To Do Before You Start Cleaning
The general recommendation is to contact reputable water damage restoration specialists to start the cleanup process. While waiting for them to arrive, however, you can begin a basic cleanup of your own by doing the following:
1. Isolate Vulnerable People
Flood cleanup should only be done by healthy adults. Children, senior citizens, sick people, and even pets should be kept out of the flood areas and in a safe place.
2. Wear Protective Gears
This is particularly true if you’ll work on draining flood waters. Apart from rubber gloves and non-porous boots, you should also wear a protective mask that effectively covers your face, especially the eyes, nose, and mouth.
3. Determine Salvageable Items
If it’s your home that got damaged, take a walk around and examine the flooded areas. A water damage restoration Dallas professional said you need to determine which items you should discard and which ones to save, keeping in mind that not everything will be as good as new even after they have been cleaned and disinfected.
The length of time an item has been soaked in floodwater will determine its salvageability. There’s a better chance of saving your items if you hurry, although some will have to be given up. This can include baby toys, mattresses, pillows, carpets, rugs, books, and upholstered furniture.
Things That Can Be Kept After a Flood
Water damage is a matter of urgency. Here are some of the things that can be saved after a flood.
1. Canned Goods
Clean the cans using bleach after taking off the labels. To identify the contents, use a permanent marker. After cleaning, boil the cans for ten minutes.
2. Cookware and Utensils
To wash these items, use hot soapy water. Afterward, place them on a rack for drying.
3. Polyester Pillows
Use warm water and low-sud detergent to wash these items. Take note though that pillows soaked in floodwater for a prolonged period should ideally be thrown away.
4. Mattresses
Flood-soaked mattresses are best left to the professionals when it comes to cleaning them. Ask for an estimate from a restoration company and determine if it is more practical to purchase a new mattress or not.
The Squeegee as a Floodwater Removal Tool
Flood and sewage water can be removed with a squeegee, which is actually useful even when large areas are involved. The floor surface you have at home will determine the type of squeegee you should use. Foam squeegees are good for asphalt and tile floors, while concrete flooring is best cleaned with a rubber squeegee.
Floodwater Removal Process
Once you have chosen the right squeegee, it is time to remove the water. Using the squeegee, start at the edges, moving the water into a drain or pool.
With the floodwater removed, clean the floor area using warm, soapy water and slowly spread this with the squeegee. Afterward, mix 5 gallons of water and a cup of house bleach, place this in a bucket, and pour it onto the floor. Grab the squeegee and spread the bleach solution across the area, including the corners. Once you’re finished, rinse the floor using warm water and allow it to dry.
For other hard surfaces. use dish soap or laundry detergent as your initial cleaning agent. Afterward, rinse the surface with warm water. For the second round of cleaning, use the bleach mixture you prepared earlier, follow this up with warm water rinsing, and finish the job by letting the surface dry in the open air.
Key Takeaway
Finding yourself in the middle of a flood disaster can be stressful. Still, you can recover faster by quickly starting a basic cleanup process while waiting for a restoration expert to arrive. A good start would be to wear protective gear while walking around the damaged area and searching for items that could still be saved.
While thorough flood cleaning is best left in the hands of skilled professionals, you can remove floodwater using a squeegee, warm water, and a homemade bleach solution. This should partly clean your flood-damaged home and reduce the risks of danger.