4 Main Requirements for Cleaning After a Flood

5/18/2022 (Permalink)

Water restoration in a home in Stone Oak, TX.

Cleaning Requirements After a Flood

If you have had flooding in your home in Stone Oak, TX, it is important you begin the cleanup process right away. However, if you do not do it correctly, you may have unwanted consequences such as mold growth. The following cleaning requirements are important to prevent further damage.

1. Remove Standing Water
If the flooding resulted in standing water, this needs to be removed right away. Contact a flood restoration company to extract the water, as the professionals use pumps, and they know the correct rate to remove the water to prevent structural damage.

2. Remove Contaminated Materials
Items that were submerged may have been exposed to contaminants and are ruined beyond repair. Assess the damage and ask the professionals if some of the items can be restored with professional cleanings or if they should be thrown out. Some items that should always be removed include mattresses, wood veneered furniture, stuffed animals and toys.

3. Dry the Affected Area
Once the standing water has been removed, one of the next cleaning requirements is to completely dry the area. Absorptive towels may help with initial water removal, and then large fans should be placed in multiple areas until things are dry, which may take a couple of days. A dehumidifier also helps keep the area free of excess moisture.

4. Flood Disinfectant
A major part of flood clean requirements is disinfecting the affected surfaces. It is best to use an EPA disinfectant, as these have antimicrobial properties. Disinfect all surfaces that were affected by floodwater to get rid of fungus spores, chemicals, bacteria, solid waste, heavy metals and other dangerous substances.
A flood can do a lot of short- and long-term damage. Following specific cleaning requirements will remove the water quickly, dry the area and remove contaminants that could potentially cause further damage.