Cleaning Up After a Flood Tips

Cleaning up after a flood sweeps through your home is a massive task. Moreover, how do you even clean up after so much water? For this reason, we have compiled this “Cleaning up after flood tips” list to help you out with the process.

First and most importantly, stay safe when handling your flood damage! Do not return to the area until local authorities say it’s safe to do so. If standing water remains in your home, turn off the electricity and gas before entering the property. In addition, inspect the home’s structure thoroughly and wear protective gear.

It’s daunting to see signs of flooding in your home. For instance, active water on the floor or water stains up the walls. Therefore, the cleanup process begins by accepting your landscape has changed and knowing it can be fixed. Start with these tips to help you clean up following a flood.

Cleaning Up After a Flood Tips: What You Should Do

If there has been flooding in your home or business, it’s best to contact your insurance company immediately. Remember that many people will be filing insurance claims after a natural disaster. For this reason, will leave adjusters and insurers saturated with work. Furthermore, the sooner you file a flood insurance claim, the sooner the restoration process will begin.

Once you file your claim, you’ll need to contact a professional flood cleanup service. They will be in charge of repairing your home or business property. For example, they will take care of tasks like removing carpet padding that may have come in contact with contaminated floodwaters. They could also pump out standing water and take step to mitigate damage.
Furthermore, your restoration company will dry out any flooded areas and disinfect them within 48 hours to avoid mold growth. Your flood damage restoration company will also take care of the following:

Cleaning Up After a Flood Tips #1: Safety first

The water that flooded your property may have contained sewage or other contaminants. Moreover, the force of the floodwater and debris may have weakened the property’s foundation or the general structure. Therefore, your flooding restoration company will first take steps to ensure the repair process goes along safely.

With this in mind, remember that buildings may not be habitable during the cleaning and restoration process.

As we mentioned before, they will shut off gas and electricity, examine the building’s structure, and wear appropriate protective attire. For example, safety attire will include eye protection, hazmat suits, rubber gloves, and rubber boots.

Cleaning Up After a Flood Tips #2: Contact you insurance company to file Insurance claims

• First, take photos and videos as evidence of the damage. Your insurance company will ask you for this type of documentation.
• Second, keep records of all expenses you must incur on. For example, damage mitigation expenses, additional living expenses, or restoration costs.
• Furthermore, check with your insurance company for other requirements necessary to make your claim.
• Moreover, ensure you take steps to mitigate water damage. For instance, you might want to wrap up valuables in plastics bags or board up openings in the property to prevent trespassing.
• Last but not least, don’t throw away any sort of damaged property. At least not until an insurance adjuster visits your property and gives you a damage estimate.

Cleaning Up After a Flood Tips #3: Remove the Water

After the flooding, it’s essential to remove as much water as possible as quickly as possible.

Water restoration professionals usually use containers and wet/dry vacuums to remove small amounts of flood water. Whereas industrial water pumps are necessary to flush out more significant amounts of standing water.

Once the water is removed, they will shovel out any residual mud and debris while it’s wet. If it’s left to dry, it will create a crust in your home.

Cleaning Up After a Flood Tips #4: Clean and dry flooded areas thoroughly.

Because a home needs to dry from the inside out, your restoration company may also need to tear down wet drywall or plaster. Therefore, removing wall coverings like paneling and wallpaper, as well as insulation, might be necessary. All should be removed up to the highest point the water reached.

Areas that stay wet or damp for more than 48 hours can grow mold. So if carpets, upholstered furniture, clothing, paper, and other absorbent materials cannot be completely dried, it is best to throw them out. Your restoration will also likely place industrial fans around the water-damaged area to further dry out the property.

Cleaning Up After a Flood Tips #5:Clean and disinfect

Simply drying your property will likely not be enough. Professional water remediation services will use approved disinfectants to clean and sanitize any leftover materials properly.

Household cleaning products help remove dirt after a flood. Meanwhile, disinfectants help stop the growth of disease-causing microorganisms carried in floodwater.