Cleaning Your Home After a Flood

Every year, homeowners deal with some type of flooding in the home. In some cases, the flooding is due to faulty water pipes. At other times, the origins of the damage have to do with a flash flood after heavy rains or the collapse of a nearby dam. Assuming the home is still structurally sound, it may be possible to clean the rooms and make the house fit for habitation once more. Here are some tips on how to get started.

Your first step is to inspect the home thoroughly. Make note of any sags in the ceilings around the house. There is a good chance that water is weighing down the ceiling. Imbed a nail into the end of a long piece of wood. Beginning at one end of the room puncture the ceiling with a small hole. Make your way toward the middle of the room, taking care to wait couple of moments to see if any liquid emerges from the holes. Never begin in the middle of the sagged area, as the collected water will begin to drain and put additional pressure on the sag, possibly causing the entire ceiling to collapse. Starting at one side and incrementally draining the water prevents this type of rush and will make it easier to repair the damaged ceiling.

When it comes to flooring, it is important to remove every type of floor covering. Trying to save carpeting after a flood is essentially a useless endeavor. In like manner, linoleum, vinyl tiles and any other coverings should also be removed, even if they appear to be undamaged. The idea is to expose the bare floor to the open air, preventing the growth of mold and mildew between the flooring and any decorative covering.

Open all doors and windows. This includes interior doors to closets and cabinets. Fresh air into the space will help dry out the home and thus minimize the growth of mold and mildew.

Once you are sure the power supply to the home has been cut, disconnect all electrical appliances such as refrigerators, lamps and televisions. Each appliance should be inspected to determine if it is salvageable. Once the appliances are unplugged and out of the way, remove all plates covering switches and sockets. This will make it easier for fresh air to get into the walls and speed up the process of drying out the space.

Remember to remove all baseboards and punch in small holes roughly two inches above the floor line. The holes can be made using a screwdriver and a hammer. This will allow water that has settled in between the walls to drain out where it can be mopped up.

For homes with central heating and cooling systems, have the ductwork cleaned and disinfected. This will prevent the growth of mold and mildew that could put your family's health at risk.

Make sure to use strong cleaners in every nook and cranny of the home. Do not overlook even the smallest of spaces, as it could become a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. Just before you clean any area of the house, make sure to take plenty of pictures of the damage. These will come in later when you file a claim for the damage.

Always have the home professionally inspected before attempting to have utility services restored to the house. There can be damage to wiring and plumbing that is hard for the untrained eye to spot. Utility companies have inspection equipment that can identify potential problems and allow you to address them before attempting to live in the house again.