Do you want to clean up after water damage after a storm? For tips, continue reading.
One of the worst outcomes of a storm is flooding which leads to water damage. Water damage, if left untreated, can wreak havoc in multiple ways. It damages your furniture, appliances and is potentially dangerous with the electrical works. Furthermore, water damage can also result in mold growth, which is harmful to human health and also challenges the structural integrity of your home.
Here are some post-storm water damage cleanup tips every homeowner must know.
Remove Furniture, Appliances and Valuable Belongings
The quicker you remove valuable items like furniture and appliances away from the water, the higher is your likelihood of you saving them. Disconnect all the electrical connections, especially if the water level has exceeded the height at which electrical connections are placed. Whether it’s an area rug or wall-to-wall carpet, remove all forms of carpeting. If you can manage to remove the carpet and have it cleaned and disinfected, you can save the carpet from damage. However, the chances of you saving the rug pads are scarce, for it is what absorbs all the water.
Remove the Water
If you don’t have any water suction equipment, the conventional methods of water removal will do. Just soak towels and sponges in water, and squeeze them into buckets, before taking the water out. If there isn’t a backup in your neighborhood sewer, feel free to pour the water down the drain. You can also use a wet vacuum to get rid of the water. However, makes sure to plug them away from the water, to avoid electrocution. Water and electricity don’t get along too well. If you are cleaning up a basement, you might as well rent a sump pump.
Dry Out
Now that you have removed all the water, start drying the place out. If the raining has stopped, open the windows to allow air circulation. If you have a wet drywall, remove the wet pieces for they would start to crumble, thus resulting in mold growth. Also, make sure to dry out the wooden items. Wooden items such as furniture are expensive, and they also absorb a lot of water. Therefore, drying them is crucial to protecting your investment.
Disinfect
After the place has been dried up, move towards disinfecting the area. Because of flooding, the bacteria from toilets and sewers might have ended up in your living space. Disinfect everything including the walls, the wooden object, and the upholstered furniture. A previously wet area, if left disinfected can be the perfect breeding ground for mold.
Dispose of Damaged Items
After a storm, your first impulse would be to dispose of everything into the dumpster. This is not the time to active impulsively. What you should do is sort everything and make a list of the damaged items. Try taking your damaged items to recycling centers. It will give you a better idea of what can be recycled, and what needs to be thrown away. To locate these recycling centers, visit your town’s waste management site.
The aforementioned tips will help you clean water damage after a storm, and mitigate the chances of mold and mildew growth.
