Who’d believe that water can cause so much harm to your home? A flood can cause a minimal quantity of damage or cause you to have to restore a lot of that you feel as though you’re gutting your property completely… as if you’re starting over on the construction of your home. Alas, the job needs to be done but the outcome will be worth it after you and your loved ones can move back home. You can also save at the process and in the end – reward yourself for your hard work.
The very first step which should be taken would be to safeguard repairable and undamaged items. There is a possibility that these items might become broken after the floodwaters have subsided. If mold and mildew have begun growing in your house they’ll continue to grow until the house dries completely and the proper steps are taken to rid of these organisms. Mildew is going to be the first to look in the house; however, mildew is mold in the early phase. It only takes 24 to 48 hours for mold growths (or cubes ) to start growing in a moist location. Once it’s begun to grow you shouldn’t use fans to dry a space. This is only going to make the mold spread. Discard all wet things in your house including carpeting whenever possible.
You can eliminate mold from clothes, bedding, and toys by cleaning and disinfecting the items. Continue to wash in this manner until all traces of mold are gone and garments do not have a moldy smell anymore. Complete this process by washing your clothes one more time using regular laundry detergent. If all of the molds are not removed after this step then place toys back in the skillet and then include two foaming denture cleansing pills and warm water. Again, let toys soak immediately and scrub with a brush.
Any foods that had even a remote chance of getting moist should be lost immediately. The only foods which need to be saved are sealed packed foods and canned goods that have not been dented or damaged. Remove labels on all. Wash sealed packages with a warm water/dishwashing liquid mix. Scrub using a bristle brush. For canned products – wash using a bristle brush in a strong detergent solution – then put them in a mixture of 1 quart of warm water and two tsp of bleach for 15 minutes. Another solution is to boil for 10 minutes. It’s very important to eliminate the labels since the paper can hold dangerous bacteria.
The sooner you can start cleaning the inside of your home the easier it’ll be to rid of this mold and mildew growing in your walls, appliances, flooring, and ceilings. Be sure to wear gloves, a mask, and an eye protectant. You should have the area you are working in at the time well ventilated. Disinfect all surfaces with a 10% bleach solution allowing the solution to sit for a minimum of 10 minutes. Then rinse with fresh water. The very best way to handle this situation is to remove all that’s been soaked by floodwaters at least on the flood level. If your home gets the blown-in cellulose type of insulating material it’s best to rid of them because it holds water for such a long time. Styrofoam and fiberglass batts can be reused if hosed away and dried completely.
For insurance purposes, it’s best to take plenty of before and after photos. Keep a daily activity log containing all calls made to your insurance provider and conversations that happened. Make certain that you keep each of the receipts used to buy everything – down to the cleaning supplies. And do not throw any damaged stuff away before your insurance company gives you the go-ahead.
Before you start buying any cleaning equipment or replacement construction supplies you may want to look at receiving the best price for your need while rebuilding your home. There’s a way to save on these purchases every day. These savings can add up to an astronomical amount – maybe enough to replace all of the furniture needed to finish making your house a home. The sooner you begin saving – the more income you’ll need to put back in your pocket. Start saving now! Click this link to learn more.
For Water Damage Restoration, Call the PuroClean Disaster Restoration Experts
Stick to the following preventive steps to prevent coping with water damage claims within your house. But if water has still affected any of your belongings, you’ll need expert restoration services. For emergency flood water and repair removal services, contact your regional PuroClean office. Visit them for more information.
