Tips For Cleaning After a Property Flooding Disaster
The floodwater in your house is contaminated so you want to make sure you take all the safety measures before you go in to carry out the cleanup jobs. Following the safety measures can reduce the chances of you getting injured or falling sick. The following are 3 tips for safe clean up after a disaster.
- Wear Protective Clothing
You will need to wear a hard helmet to protect your head in case you slip and fall down. There will be musty smell from mold, rotting wood, chemicals, and etc so be sure to wear a respirator. All the items in the floodwater is likely to be contaminated so you need to wear heavy-duty work gloves. Ideally, you will want to wear waterproof long sleeve shirts and long pants. In addition, you must wear waterproof boots with steel toe and insole to prevent water from coming in contact with your feet.
- Disinfect and Clean Everything
It is important to disinfect everything that comes into contact with floodwater. At least, you should wash the contaminated object with soap and water. For stronger cleaning, you can use household chlorine or bleach. All clothes that are worn during the cleanup should be washed with hot water and detergent.
You can make a bucket of water mixed with all purpose cleaner for mopping the tile and wood flooring. You can also soak a rag cloth with some detergent to wipe the hard surfaces. Mayonnaise and baking soda mixture can be used for removing water spots on the wood. They should be left on the stain for a few hours before wiping it off. Non gel white toothpaste and baking soda mixture also can be used for removing water spots on your furniture.
- Be Careful of Potential Hazards
If the house is too damaged, you should wait for the building inspector to come and inspect it before entering. It is safer to work in the day time just in case the power is out. You should leave the building immediately if you hear some sounds that indicate a structure is about to fall. Children and pets should be kept away until you have finished the cleanup job. You can hire a professional to carry out the clean up job if you are concern about your safety.
While cleaning up, you may come across some packaged food which are already exposed to the flood water. It is recommended that you don’t eat or drink any food that has been exposed to the flood water as it may be contaminated and cause stomachache. If you have an open wound, you must apply antiseptic and plaster to speed up the recovery. If you are doing cleanup job in a cold weather, you can wear insulated clothes and rubber boots.
