4 Flood Cleaning Requirements

6/14/2022 (Permalink)

It's important to wear protective gear while cleaning after a flood.

Cleaning Requirements for Flooding

While a small water issue in your Williamstown, NJ, home from a leaky pipe may be easy to clean, cleaning requirements for flooding are much more stringent. This type of water damage involves contaminated water, which means added safety precautions. It also likely involves a greater amount of water, which may lead to additional issues, such as mold growth. Before grabbing towels and the mop, it’s important to know what you are up against.

Cleaning Requirements
To properly flood clean, the following steps and procedures are recommended.

If safe to do so, use fans to enhance airflow and speed up the drying process. If outlets have been submerged, contact an electrician for an inspection.
If the humidity levels are not higher outdoors, open windows and doors for ventilation.
Prior to touching any contaminated items, wear proper safety gear, including gloves, a long-sleeved shirt, waterproof shoes, and long pants.
After your insurance provider gives the go, remove items with visible mold growth or that will not be salvageable, such as carpeting and mattresses.
Floors, countertops, sinks, stoves, and furniture that come in contact with water will need to be cleaned with a flood disinfectant.

Call in the Professionals
If the damage is significant and mold growth has spread, the cleanup process is best left to a certified water and damage restoration company. Along with having all the needed safety gear, including goggles and N-95 masks, they will have the expertise to find any hidden issues and the industrial-grade equipment to get your home dried out faster and on the restoration path. Since these companies use an array of professional cleaning methods, you may also be able to save more time than you previously thought without the worry of lingering issues.
While some water issues are simple and straightforward, flood-related issues have additional cleaning requirements to ensure safety and proper cleanup.