What To Do After A Flood
Floods can cause severe water damage. Floods can cause significant water damage to your home and personal property. Some items can be cleaned and disinfected, but others must be thrown out and replaced. Floodwaters can cause bacteria and mold growth, so it is important to get rid of all traces immediately. You have a better chance of salvaging items in your home. Find out what you can do to clean up after a flood, and what you should throw away.
What To Do After A Flood:
- Drain the water. This can be done by you, but a professional restoration company like 911 Restoration of Las Vegas will have the skills and equipment to quickly clean up after a flood.
- Get rid of items that were contaminated by sewage or floodwaters.
- Dry your house with high-velocity fans and structural drying dehumidifiers
- Use soap to clean any items that have become slightly damp. Then disinfect them with bleach or rubbing alcohol.
- Qualified repair technicians should inspect your electronics and appliances.
- Repairs can be made to your home including replacing carpeting, hanging new drywall or installing new cabinets.
Who To Call In A Flood Emergency
In case of a flood emergency, you should immediately call a water damage restoration firm. You can save time and get the water out as soon as possible. They can send a local flood recovery team to you home even if there is still water in your home. This will help to limit the damage and save money over time. Do the restoration yourself and clean up immediately. To remove the water, use a submersible pump. To repair flooding, use high-velocity fans or drying dehumidifiers.
What Can You Do After A Flood?
Most household items can be cleaned after a flood. You will have to dispose of items that are submerged in floodwaters, or contaminated with sewage. You should also throw out anything that is moldy or damaged.
Walls
After a flood, you can dry and clean wet walls. Water will quickly cause drywall to crumble. If the wall is crumbling, bubbling or warping, you will need to replace it. You should cut damaged drywall to 6 inches above the water line , and then dispose of it in heavy-duty bags. Dry the wall studs using fans or dehumidifiers. Use mild detergent to clean the walls. Then spray them with bleach to disinfect. Let dry completely before hanging new drywall.
Hardwood Cabinets
First, empty your cabinets and then throw away any damaged items. Dry hardwood cabinets using fans or dehumidifiers. You may have to sand or refinish cabinets depending on the extent of flood damage and water staining.
Laminate Or Composite Cabinets
Like hardwood cabinets, empty the cabinets first. Water can cause composite and laminate materials to swell or crack due to their natural nature. Dry them well if they are damp. Then inspect for any damage. Replace cabinets that have been flooded. To kill bacteria and mold, wash your cabinets with warm water and soap.
Upholstered Furniture
To dry furniture completely, use fans or dehumidifiers. Use an upholstery cleaner, or a carpet cleaner that has an upholstery setting. Use an upholstery cleaner or carpet cleaner according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Use a mild detergent to clean any metal or wood parts. Next, spray the cleaner with a non-bleach disinfectant and let dry. Sprinkle baking soda on the surface to deodorize. Let it sit for several hours before vacuuming. You can repeat the process as many times as you need.
Hardwood Furniture
If you don’t have mold, dry hardwood furniture using fans or dehumidifiers. Use mild detergent to clean the items. Spray with a non-bleach disinfectant, and let dry.
Furniture Made Of Laminate Or Composite Materials
When they are submerged in floodwaters, furniture made of laminate or composite materials can swell, warp or crack. Get rid of any damaged or weak items. If they are damp, you can dry them using air movers or dehumidifiers. Next, clean them and disinfect them like other furniture.
Carpeting
After drying the carpet, use fans or dehumidifiers to dry it. Then shampoo them or steam clean them. To prevent mold and bacterial growth, spray a non-bleach disinfectant. Baking soda can be used to eliminate odors. Carpet padding should be removed and replaced. You can dry carpeting.
Hardwood Flooring
After drying hardwood floors, use fans or dehumidifiers to dry them. Then clean them with oil soap. Next, disinfect the floor with water and bleach. You may have to sand the wood or refinish it depending on how severe the damage is. It may be necessary to replace bent or warped boards.
Vinyl Or Laminate Flooring
After a flood, you can clean and dry laminate flooring. To kill bacteria and mold, wash the floor with soapy water and then mop it up with bleach. You may have to replace certain boards depending on the extent of damage.
Mattresses
If your mattress is submerged or saturated by floodwaters, sewage or other liquids, you should throw it away. If the flood water comes from a source, however, you can dry your bed. To absorb water from a mattress that is slightly wet, use towels. Use a vacuum cleaner to extract any remaining water. Finally, dry the mattress thoroughly with fans or dehumidifiers. To disinfect, spray the area with equal amounts of 70% sterile alcohol and water.
Electronics
Before you use wet electronics, make sure they are checked by a certified technician. Also, throw away any items that have been soaked in water after a flood. Most electronics can be cleaned with a damp cloth and then disinfected with bleach. For flat-screen TVs, read the manufacturer’s instructions on cleaning the screen surface. It can be difficult to disinfect and clean remote controls and game controllers.
Toys
Most toys can be cleaned with warm water and dish soap. You can also disinfect them with rubbing alcohol. You can wash plush toys as long as there isn’t sewage.
Curtains And Drapes
You may be able wash the items depending on what material they are. You may also need items professionally dried cleaned. It is best to get rid of curtains that are contaminated with sewage or mold.
Books, Documents, Photos
Books, documents, and photographs can be dried if they are not covered with mold. Books can be damaged by water, so dry them well. A hair dryer may work, but the best way to dry papers is in the freezer. It is easy to use and reduces the chance of drying damage.
Heirlooms And Artwork
Artwork and heirlooms may be restored depending on the extent of damage. It is best to not clean or disinfect them yourself. For assistance, always call a restoration expert or an art preservation company.
What Appliances Can Be Saved After A Flood?
Most appliances can be saved after a flood. You should have an appliance technician inspect them before you use them. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to clean your appliances. Then, disinfect them with bleach. Discard any appliances used in cooking or food preparation which have come into contact with sewage.
These appliances can be saved after a flood by having them serviced by a technician.
- Dishwasher
- Dryer
- Microwave
- Mixer
- Oven
- Refrigerator
- Washing Machine
It is best to dispose of small appliances such as blenders and toasters after a flood. These appliances are often too expensive to repair and difficult to clean.
What To Throw Out After A Flood
After a flood, you should throw away any food or medicine that has been wet. Even in a flood of clean water, medicines will not dissolve and food can spoil.
Food
After a flood, you should always throw away any wet food. Pet food is also a subject of caution. There are two exceptions to the rule. Cans of canned goods and other food items can be eaten as long as they are still in their original plastic containers. Before using the container, clean and disinfect it. You should dispose of any meat, poultry or dairy products that were inside the fridge for more than 4 hours. You should throw out all items within eight hours.
Medicine
Flooded medicine can cause serious damage to prescription and over-the-counter medicines, as well as cough drops and lozenges. To get prescriptions replaced, please contact your doctor immediately.
How To Wash Clothes After A Flood
You should wash all wet clothing after a flood. You can wash clothes that have been contaminated by sewage but you must throw out anything that has become moldy.
- To get rid of odors, soak clothes in baking soda and water. Let the clothes soak in half a cup baking soda for every gallon of water.
- Next, wash your clothes with regular laundry detergent. To remove stains or odors, you may have to wash the clothes several times.
- Dry your clothes only after the smells and stains have gone. Hang items outdoors in the sun for best results.
Flood Cleanup Near You Is Fast And Reliable
Are you experiencing flooding or water damage in your home? Our certified water damage restoration professionals will quickly clean up any water damage. Call us at 702-623-0019 to get a free visual inspection and 24-hour emergency water cleanup.
