Floods and water damage are two of the most catastrophic events that can happen to any home or building. Despite the destruction brought by such disasters being unimaginable, there are steps you can do to get prepared for it.
Here are 5 top things to take care of at home after a flood or water damage in your property:
How damaging can it be?
Water damage can cause serious health issues, structural damage, and mold growth. In addition to these problems, there is also the possibility of losing the valuable property if it needs to be correctly handled.
Remove Water from Your Floors
The first thing you should do is remove water from your floors. This can be done with a wet/dry vacuum or using a mop and bucket of water if your home has hardwood floors or tiles.
Remember: don't use towels or rags to clean up! Using cotton fibers on wood might cause more damage than simply cleaning it with a regular rag.
Take Care of Your Appliances
Before you head to the store to buy new appliances, take a moment to assess the damage. If your refrigerator, freezer or Kitchen Faucets is damaged by flood water, you mustn't open it until there is no immediate risk of electrocution. You can use a towel or rag as a barrier between yourself and any exposed wiring to prevent further damage.
Turn off the electricity at the breaker box.
Unplug all appliances (except for essential ones such as those that run on gas)
Open doors and windows to let fresh air into the home.
Organize Electronics for Drying
1. Use a dishwasher.
Dryers use a lot of electricity, so keeping your electronics away from heat as much as possible is essential. Do this using the dishwasher or washing machine since you can't run it with all the dishes. You can also put some towels in there to absorb any excess moisture that the drying process might leave behind.
2. Clean up spills immediately.
If any spills on your floor could get into the carpeting or padding, clean them up immediately so they do not soak through and cause damage to your home's flooring.
3. Don't place wet items in front of heat sources.
Wet items should never be placed near a heat source like an oven or stovetop because they can catch fire if exposed to open flames for too long. If you use a microwave or other appliance that uses electricity, make sure to unplug it before placing anything wet inside it so that it doesn't overheat and start burning things up again.
Clean, Disinfect, and Air Out Your Home
In cleaning and disinfecting, follow these steps:
Use a sponge or cloth to clean the area.
If you can't remove the smell, use a disinfectant spray or solution. Do not use bleach or ammonia to clean up water damage.
Airing out your home will help dry out the moisture, which can be damaging to your health or even cause mold or mildew growth.
Use absorbent towels with a porous material like paper or cardboard to soak up excess moisture in the air so they can dry out completely without leaving any dampness behind them.
Install fans in rooms with a large amount of moisture, like bathrooms or kitchens, which help circulate fresh air into the room while removing all traces of water droplets on walls, etc.
If you don't have fans, try using dehumidifiers to remove moisture from the air circulation. You can also use wet/dry vacuums if it is practical in your situation (like with carpets).
Check for Mold and Mildew Damage
Mold can cause health problems, but it makes your home smell like a wet sponge. If you find mold on the walls, in the bathtub area, or in other places where water was pooling up when you got flooded, take care of that problem before moving on to more serious concerns—including checking for mildew damage.
Treat with bleach if necessary. Bleach is an effective way to treat both types of stains caused by water damage because it kills bacteria that cause them. To use bleach effectively after cleaning up from water damage:
Mix one cup of household bleach with two gallons of cold water.
Apply this mixture evenly over all surfaces affected by flood or high humidity conditions and other areas where standing water might have been present during cleanup procedures, such as mopping floors/walls/ceilings, etc.
Leave this undisturbed mixture overnight before rinsing off any leftover residue using warm, running tap water.
Time for professional cleanup!
After you have cleaned up the water damage, it is time to call a professionalwater damage company in Lawrence, KS.
Before they start working on your house or office, they will assist you in estimating the damage's scope and cost. They will also be able to recommend which items are worth keeping and which ones to discard so that nothing becomes contaminated by mold or mildew spores. This can save you time and money in the long run!
Act quickly.
More and more people in the U.S. suffer from water damage to their homes regularly. It is estimated that almost 90% of structural damage caused by natural disasters is water damage.
There is no way to prevent extensive water damage, but there are certain things you can do to manage the repair and restoration of your home in instances where extensive water damage does occur.