Bringing in
many harmful contaminants, flood water can wreak havoc to the very structure of
your house. In heavy downpours or cruel tidal waves, your house—when stricken with
flood—needs to be cleaned immediately.
So, roll up
your sleeves and get ready for the daunting task ahead. Here’s a guide on how to
clean separate sections of your house after a flood:
Basement
Your
basement will be one of the most severely hit areas of the house. Open up windows
in your basement to allow air in. If your basement does not have windows, a fan
may prove quite helpful in drying.
First off,
use a sump pump to remove standing water. Your next step would be to scoop mud
away. For this, use a high pressure hose.
Everything
must be washed away with clean water. For difficult stains, chlorine bleach can
be used. After you are done drying, repeat the process to get good results.
Carpets
Not only is
a soaked carpet useless, it can also prove to be quite harmful for the health
of residents. To clean carpets and rugs, bring them outdoors in a dry space.
With a carpet cleaning agent, clean soiled spots. A bleach solution can also be
used if the carpet does not belong to wool or nylon fabric category. Using a vacuum
or a dehumidifier, dry the carpet.
Furniture
When water
has seeped inside your house, it is very unlikely that your furniture remains
unharmed.
Wearing gloves,
hold on to your furniture items and place them outside in open air to dry. Make
sure you immediately discard items that cannot be salvaged.
For items
that can be salvaged, clean the mud and debris on the surface. Use a hose to do
that. Using an antibacterial soapy solution with water, make sure you
thoroughly clean your furniture items.
Walls and
Ceilings
A flood
will affect walls and ceilings of your house, and the damage can be greater if
you have paneling and plaster. For parts of your walls and ceilings that are
dry, wipe them with a mixture of bleach and water.
If you
think that the flood water has not been contaminated with rain water, letting
the sills and studs to dry may be a good idea and may save plasters and panels.
Also, your wall’s insulation may need to be replaced or repaired.
Seek
Professional Help
The task, if not performed right, could mean structural damage to your property. This is why you need professional services. Water Damage Orange County is a reliable and efficient water removal service in Orange County CA.
Their emergency water restoration services have helped many commercial and residential property owners in their plights. Their services also include drying equipment for water damage restoration.
