Flood Cleanup: Preparation And Procedure

Every year floods can destroy thousands of houses, causing havoc not just on the building but also on personal possessions. Mold and bacteria can cause much more harm if adequate flood cleanup is not performed. Take a breath and put on some rubber gloves; there’s still much you can do to recover your home from the damage.

If your home has been recently affected by a flood or other significant water damage, take the following flood cleanup actions to minimize the damage and return to your normal routine.

Preparing for Flood Cleanup

• Take Pictures Of The Damage

Before you begin flood cleanup, contact your insurance provider. Take photos of the damaged locations, including furniture, clothing, and appliances. This will aid in the verification of your insurance claim.

• Remove The Water

After documenting the initial damage, use a pump to remove any leftover standing water. If there isn’t much left, you may use a dehumidifier, fans, and your heating system to dry up the residual puddles. Attempt to remove floodwaters within 48 hours. According to experts, this will assist to minimize significant flood cleanup damage and deadly mold development.

• Collect Your Materials

The next item on your to-do list is to acquire all of your required materials at once in order to prevent having to make further visits to the store throughout your flood cleanup. Here are some of the materials you will need for your flood cleanup.

• Rubber Gloves
• Protective Eyewear
• Face Mask
• Knee Pads
• Long Sleeved Clothing
• Boots
• Shovel
• Large Bucket
• Chlorinate Bleach
• Towels
• Stiff Bristled Brush
• Dehumidifier
• Fans
• Renovation Dumpster
• Trash Bags
• Trash Can
• Utility Knife
• Wet Shop Vac
• Pliers
• Broom

Throughout the flood cleanup process, take photographs to document how much you had to throw away and what might be preserved. Keep these pictures for your records as they will be needed for future flood cleanup insurance claims.

Flood Cleanup Procedure

Step 1: Clean Up Any Remaining Mud And Dirt

Grab your boots, gloves, shovel, and garbage bin after the standing water has been drained away. Toss any soil left behind by the flood into the garbage bin to be carried out of your home with the shovel. You may either dispose of it in your yard or in a dirt dumpster.

Keep in mind that wet dirt and mud may be very heavy. Fill your garbage bin halfway so that you can move the dirt outdoors without straining your back.

Step 2: Dispose Of Any Items That Cannot Be Repaired

Unfortunately, not everything can be salvaged if your house is flooded. Most upholstered furniture, as well as mattresses, box springs, and cushions, must be thrown away due to the possibility of mold or mildew.

Depending on the depth of the water and how long it remained inside your home, wood furniture could be salvaged. Examine your wood furniture to determine whether it has been structurally weakened by water. If this is the case, it must be discarded as well.

Step 3: Create A Flood Cleanup Drying Zone For Salvageable Items

Set up a space in an unaffected section of your home where anything in good enough condition to maintain can fully dry, you can also designate a place for these items outside your home. Wipe down each piece thoroughly with an appropriate furniture cleaner and a clean towel. Once they’ve been cleaned, place them in your designated drying zone and wait until the rest of your flood cleanup steps are finished.

To cleanse them from filthy flood water, all curtains should be removed and cleaned. Rugs and other objects may need to be cleaned by a specialist. Rugs and carpets can be thrown in the trash if they have been ripped or if you want to save the trouble of locating a reliable cleaning service.

Step 4: Remove Any Damaged Flooring

After a flood, carpeted flooring is frequently not able to be effectively clean and back to its original state. Water quickly soaks down to the carpet pad and might harm your flooring if not cleaned promptly. Warped wood or laminate floors should also be ripped up and discarded in the flood cleanup process.

Step 5: Disinfect And Clean All Surfaces

Disinfecting and washing out everything in the damaged room is one of the most critical procedures in flood cleanup. To clean walls and prevent mold development, mix two teaspoons of bleach with one to two gallons of water in a bucket. Use a stiff bristled brush or wring out your towel before each use to avoid oversaturating the surface.

If the walls are covered with mud or dirt, don’t sweep it up dry. Infected bacteria can be found in the dust left behind after a flood. Rather, spray the area and suck up the debris using a wet/dry shop vacuum.

Step 6: Make Sure The Area Is Well Ventilated

Ventilate the clean room before bringing anything back into the home. If possible, open windows and doors and use fans to ensure that everything dries completely.

Continue With The Flood Cleanup Process and Repairs

After your home has been thoroughly cleaned following a flood or water damage, it is time to call in a professional to aid with the repairs. The general contractor should be in charge of installing new flooring and walls, as well as assessing for structural problems. You’ve done the hard work of flood cleanup, so let the professionals handle the rest.

A Water Damage Restoration Company Serving St. Louis, MO

Call Pride Cleaning And Restoration, Inc. at (314) 668-1223 today for 24 hour water damage restoration, flood cleanup, fire damage restoration, or mold remediation along with any of our other services or get an instant quote from our website. Our Water Damage Restoration Company will get to your Missouri home and help you with your flood cleanup in 30 to 60 minutes.

Want to learn about the difference between water extraction and water mitigation? Click here!