Information on How to Clean Up After a Flood

Cleaning a Flooded Home

• 1

  Remove pets, children and elderly individuals from the flood zone and home. Call your insurance agent to set an appointment with an adjuster. Set an appointment with a water inspector to test your waste-water system for contaminants and flood damage. Set an appointment with an electrician to find out the status of your electrical wiring.

• 2

  Put on cleaning gear, including rubber boots, rubber gloves, protective eyewear and a face mask that covers the nose and mouth to protect against flood water contaminants, mold and toxic effects of cleaners.

• 3

  Turn off all circuit breakers and gas and unplug electrical cords and appliances if wiring has been affected by the flood, to prevent injury.

• 4

  Open the windows of your home while working to provide ventilation, which assists in the drying process and helps improve the air quality. Find the areas of your home with the most damage, probablly the basement and first floor of your home, and begin cleaning. Shovel mud to the outside of your home. Hose down hard surfaces to remove mud residue and silt. Pump or mop water to the outside of the house.

• 5

  Discard severely damaged belongings such as mattresses, bedding, warped wood, mildewed rugs, toys and furniture to eliminate mold growth and the spread of contaminabts. Move undamaged personal belongings outside to disinfect and dry. Consider hiring a professional to disinfect and dry wet rugs and upholstery with industrial-strength products.

• 6

  Purchase bottled water to use while disinfecting household items if your water system is contaminated. Bring the water to a boil. Pour 2 tbsp. of bleach per 1 gal. of hot uncontaminated water into a clean bowl to create a disinfectant solution for cleaning belongings and hard surfaces. Scrub belongings with the bleach mixture. Use a clean mop to scrub floors with the bleach mixture. Air-dry the belongings outside or with a fan.

• 7

  Remove and throw out dry wall, carpets, flooring and insulation that is contaminated by flood water. Mop and scrub surfaces such as counter tops, cabinets, appliances and flooring with the bleach mixture. Keep windows open and set up fans or dehumidifiers to speed up the drying process of surfaces.

• 8

  Soak dishes, utensils and cookware in the uncontaminated water and bleach mixture, as performed in Step 6, for 30 minutes. Allow items to air-dry in a non-contaminated area such as outside or in an upstairs room.

• 9

  Place clothing in garbage bags and remove from the home. Wash clothing in hot water and laundry detergent at a laundry facility out of the flood zone if your water has yet to be inspected, as water systems can become infiltrated by sewage water during a flood.