How Do You Clean up Water Damage?

Water damage can be a very serious and daunting experience if not handled properly. It requires your immediate action and should top your priority list. If you are looking for ways to clean up the water damage, continue reading the blog and you would find some great tips and tricks to clean the water damage.

Turn Off Electrical Systems

The very important and vital step is to ensure that all electric and gas services are turned off before entering the premises for the first time. You can even have an electrician check for grounds and other unsafe conditions before reconnecting the system.

Alert!

1. Examine the electrical and structural damage from outside to determine if it is safe to enter.
2. Never try mixing chlorine bleach with ammonia or vinegar.
3. Electrical safety is extremely important while looking for water damage. Check for fire hazards and gas leaks. Always use battery-powered light sources.
4. Be careful for fire ants, snakes, or other animals.
5. Wear sturdy shoes, rubber gloves, and eye protection.
6. If mold is present, wear a respirator that can filter spores.

Flood Insurance Claims

If you have flood insurance, contact your insurance adjuster immediately.

1. Begin cleanup, salvage, and drying as soon as possible. Do not wait for adjuster. Take photos for use as an inventory. All steps suggested on this page can be taken before an adjuster arrives.
2. Keep damaged materials for proof of loss.
3. Leave a phone number where you can be reached when the adjuster arrives.

Furnishings and Carpets

Remove all the furniture, bedding, and carpeting to outdoors to be cleaned, dried, or discarded.

1. Flooded carpets and rugs are best replaced since water may contain contaminants. The carpet pads should always be discarded and replaced.
2. If salvage is attempted, spread out rugs and carpets outdoors.
3. Remove water-logged rugs, carpets, and pads within 48 hours after flooding subsides.
4. Dry the carpet and subfloor thoroughly as quickly as possible.
5. The carpet might shrink, but a professional may be able to stretch it.
6. All upholstered furniture and mattresses contaminated by water should be discarded. Solid wood, metal, and plastic furniture may be cleaned and restored. Hose off any mud, clean, sanitize and let dry completely out of direct sunlight.

Affected Walls

Open the affected walls, even if they appear safe, to prevent mold, odor, and structural decay later.

1. Eliminate baseboards, and cut holes in wallboard to reduce uninsulated walls.
2. Remove water from the home as rapidly as possible.
3. Ventilate them
4. Remove any kind of decor items and hangings.
5. Remove and discard all wet fibrous insulation.
6. Clean out the mud.
7. Speed dry with dehumidifiers and fans.
8. Leave walls open until they have thoroughly dried, which may take up to a month.

 Dehumidify

If you have a portable dehumidifier, it can help you in removing the water vapor from the air in a contained area, like a bedroom or basement. Shut the room’s windows and doors to prevent more humidity from seeping in.

Absorb Moisture

Desiccants (silica gel, clay, calcium oxide) absorb moisture like a sponge. Place water-permeable packages of desiccants and wet items in airtight containers or in sealed areas, like closets. Some desiccants change color to indicate they are saturated, which can take days or weeks, depending on how much moisture items contain.

Cleaning Wall Finishes, Woodwork, & Floors

To reduce mold and damage, clean and dry as soon as water recede. Do not sand or scrape lead-based paint. Get more information before disturbing old paint. If materials are already moldy before you can begin cleanup, get more information on avoiding mold hazards or you can take professional help. If you are following the clean up process, make sure to follow these points:

1. Use a phosphate-free, all-purpose, or disinfecting cleaner. Wash from top to bottom. Rinse with clean water.
2. One-half cup of household chlorine bleach to a gallon of water can be used on nonmetallic, colorfast surfaces as a disinfectant (to kill surface mold and bacteria) after cleaning, but it will not prevent new mold growth on materials that stay damp.
3. Dry thoroughly and quickly. If the utilities are on, use the air conditioning or heater, fans, and a dehumidifier or desiccants to speed drying.

Preventing Mold

It is important to control the mold at that time only in order to avoid spreading it.

1. Open windows and use fans to circulate air.
2. Leave doors open to facilitate drying.
3. Try to reduce activities that add moisture to the indoor air, and use exhaust fans when cooking and bathing.

If you need help with the mold removal or remediation, try contacting the experts.

Conclusion:

Water Damage is a serious issue and requires utmost attention. While clean up process can be done at home, but it is always recommended to call for professional help.

In case you need any help with water removal or mold removal, reach us out at Dry Effect and our experts will assist you with the best possible help.