Flood Clean Up Tips

Removal of Items

• When the water has subsided and you enter your home after a flood, take action by discarding things that can’t be salvaged or disinfected. Many floods contain sewage that can contain contaminants such as fecal matter or chemicals. Some things that usually can’t be cleaned are carpets, carpet padding, mattresses, stuffed animals and all things made of paper, including books. Before removing them, though, be sure to wear protective clothing. This includes rubber gloves, goggles and heavy-duty boots to prevent any sewage from getting on you.

  After removing those initial items, you have to start removing any drywall or insulation you have in the walls of your home. These could be highly contaminated with sewage, and it’s a good idea to have a flood cleanup professional help you remove them. If possible, don’t wait any more than 24 hours to remove all these items.

Preventing Mold

• Outside of sewage problems, the other concern after a flood is the potential for condensation and mold to develop on other items around your home. It’s important to immediately set up dehumidifiers and oscillating fans around affected rooms to help dry the area. Let these items run for at least 24 hours. Use heavy-duty power cords on these items since they’ll have to run extra long.

Cleaning Surfaces

• Once items are removed and you’re drying the area, it’s time to start cleaning items that are permanent parts of your home. This includes all hard surfaces of your home, including countertops, sinks, appliances and all floors. It doesn’t matter what material they’re made of, they have to be cleaned to remove any dangerous contamination from the sewage. Cleaning these may be a big job, but they can be cleaned successfully scrubbing them with just hot water and a laundry detergent.

Washing Your Hands and Clothes

• A cleanup of this magnitude is going to leave behind a lot of possible contaminants on you, so it’s important to wash your hands thoroughly. Wash your hands with warm water and soap even after wearing gloves. The Centers for Disease Control recommends you boil the water for one minute first if washing your hands in your home. Your home’s wastewater system could be contaminated, creating a dangerous situation if the water is used.

  As soon as your hands are washed, wash all the clothes you wore during the cleanup in hot water and usual washing detergent. However, the CDC also recommends you wash these particular clothes alone and not mixed with uncontaminated clothes in your home. Overall, it’s best to wash all possible contaminated clothes in a different location until the wastewater system inside your home can be inspected by a professional.