The Whole Business Of Flood Damage Cleanup

As if having a flood-damaged home is not enough, here comes the most grueling task of all - Flood Damage Cleanup. In my first three years of living in my home here in Houston, Texas, I had to deal with flood damage for several times, sometimes even more than once in a year. Hence, when I was able to gather enough money for renovation, I had my house elevated to avoid further flood damage. Since then, I have never been plagued by flood damage ever again.

But for those of you who are still find yourselves having to deal with flood damage year in and year out, here are a few guidelines that you need to remember when doing flood damage cleanup.

As always, safety comes first in every restoration procedure that you undertake. Before even attempting to start flood damage cleanup, make sure that your house is safe enough to enter. Wear protective gear, like boots, masks and gloves, to avoid having direct contact with possibly contaminated items. Assess your house's structure, paying special attention to the walls and the ceilings. Turn off all electricity and gas sources to avoid fire and electricity hazards. If you have a flood damage insurance, then you should take photos and videos of all your properties for insurance claims. And of course, wash your hands and other exposed areas before and after flood damage cleanup to prevent the spread of infection from microorganisms.

Now that you have made sure that the house is safe for flood damage cleanup, you need to start the cleaning process. The first step that you should do is to remove standing water, for this is a perfect breeding ground for molds. Pay special attention to this especially if your house was damaged by dirty and contaminated floodwater. Aside from health hazards, standing water can cause structural damage to your house. The longer the standing water makes contact to your house, the softer your walls and floorboards may become, hence contributing to more structural damage. Not only is this dangerous; you also have to shell out more money to restore your home.

This involves making use of cleaners and disinfectants. The basic difference between the two is that cleaners simply remove the dirt, while disinfectants remove and prevent the growth of microorganisms that can cause disease. Read the label first to make sure that you are using the right product. Chlorine bleach is best mixed with water to disinfect rugs and furniture. For hard surfaces, use trisodium phosphate. You can also make use of liquid detergents.

Remember though that some household cleaning products can be harmful if used improperly. For example, chlorine bleach and ammonia, when mixed together, can create toxic fumes. Aside from reading the label, read the instructions on using these cleaners and disinfectants very carefully. To avoid any untoward reactions, it is advisable to work with your doors and windows open to the outside air.

By thoroughly doing flood damage cleanup, you also lessen the risk of mold growth. Pay special attention to dark niches and crevices, for these are the spots that are frequently overlooked when doing flood damage cleanup. After cleaning, make sure that you use proper drying techniques so as to prevent moisture from accumulating and causing damage.

As the famous adage goes, prevention is always better than cure. Therefore, I suggest that while the rainy season is still ages away, better equip your house with flood barriers, or opt to elevate it. That way, you don't have to worry about flood damage at all.

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