Flood Damage Cleanup: Your Do's And Don'ts Checklist

What could be more disappointing than looking at your house soaked in floodwater, mud and other debris after a major flood? Horrifying isn't it? But it's part of life that we have to overcome. Of course you won't let the fruit of your hard work be destroyed just like that.

Flood damage clean up should be done right away to restore your home, furniture and your appliances. There are a lot of companies now that offer flood damage cleanup. Their rates vary depending on the severity of the damage and the type of service that you may need. You can call them anytime if you feel like you cannot handle the process yourself.

For those who have the time and the determination however, you can do your own flood damage cleanup and save your money for more important things. But first, you need to know that flood damage cleanup is not an easy task. Flood damage cleanup is not just cleaning out excess water and mud. You should be more aware of things that need to be done during flood damage cleanup. Below are the common do's and don'ts when conducting flood damage cleanup.

Things you need to do:

*Check the stability of your house to ensure your safety. Walls can be weakened by flood and ceilings can bulge if soaked with water.

*Wear protective gears such as gloves, rubber boots, splash goggles and face mask before entering your house during flood damage cleanup.

*Make sure that main switch for electricity is turned off. Some electrical outlets may still be wet in an area where there is still standing water.

*If flood occurs during cold season you may keep the heater on. This is to let the heat dissolve the humidity that still in the air. Otherwise, if flood occurred during summer, the use of air conditioner is necessary.

*Move important papers, paintings and photos into safe dry location. If these have already been wet, you should handle them with care and use document drying techniques.

*Remove floor coverings, wash them thoroughly and hang them to dry.

*You may need to open drawers, closets and luggage for quick drying.

*Pieces of furniture should be wiped dry and if possible, applied with chemicals to prevent formation of molds and the like.

*Sanitize kitchen utensils and other appliances that hold food. They maybe contaminated with bacteria and viruses that came from flood.

*As soon as the electrical system is declared safe for use by a licensed electrician, make use of fan to facilitate drying.

Things you should not do:

*Do not go in any part of the house where water is still standing if the main electricity switch is still turned on.

*Do not use electrical appliances while stepping on wet carpet or wet floors to avoid being electrocuted.

*Do not use ordinary vacuum in draining water.

*Do not use appliances right away especially if these have not been checked by a professional.

*Do not hesitate to call for the help of a professional if you are not sure how to restore appliances. You may do more damage if these are mishandled.

These are some basic dos and don'ts in doing flood damage cleanup. You may find some things very delicate to do. If you're not really sure how to restore some of your appliances and furniture during flood damage cleanup, you may always call the professionals. Try to assess if the money you're going to pay them is worth the appliances and furniture you can still revive.

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