5 Tips for Flood Cleanup
If your neighborhood ever finds itself under threat of flooding water, you’ll find that the aftermath is often far more harrowing than the event that caused it. Homeowners are left wondering what to do. Don’t worry – you’re not alone.
Many people have been in the same situation in the past, are experiencing the same event at present, and many more will experience what you’re undergoing in the future. Flooding is not a unique event, even if it feels like it when it happens to you.
In this article, we’ll give you 5 tips for flood cleanup that will help get your home back to normal as quickly as possible.
But first: Remember To Relax & Calmly Assess The Situation
If you’ve been through a flood, the first thing you should do is take a deep breath and relax. It’s going to be okay. The second thing you should do is assess the damage to your home and belongings. This will help you determine what needs to be repaired, replaced, or thrown out. Once you have a good idea of the extent of the damage, you can begin to work on the actual cleanup.
Here are five tips we’ve come up with to get you started:
Tip One: Clear Debris
Start with the basics – clean up any debris that may have come into your home as a result of the floodwaters. This includes mud, silt, leaves, twigs, and anything else that doesn’t belong inside your home. It’s important to knock this lowest hanging fruit off your to-do list first. Doing so will remove a lot of the mental malaise surrounding such events.
Tip Two: Remove Standing Water
Next, focus on getting rid of any standing water. This can be done with a wet/dry vacuum or by mopping up the area with a mop and bucket. This doesn’t have to be done AFTER clearing extraneous debris. If there are two of you, or if you have enough standing water that you can leave a vacuum on in the corner of the room while you pick up things that aren’t supposed to be there, don’t waste time.
Tip Three: Dry Out the Home
Once the majority of the water has been removed, you can begin to work on drying out your home. This can be done by opening windows and doors, turning on fans, and using a dehumidifier. If you need guidance on what equipment to use, please don’t hesitate to give us a call.
Tip Four: Disinfect Surfaces
After your home is dry, you can start to work on cleaning and disinfecting all surfaces. This includes walls, floors, ceilings, furniture, appliances, etc. The tools used here will vary wildly depending upon the surfaces and materials affected by the flooding. There’s no single solution here.
Tip Five: Repair the Damage
Finally, once everything is clean and dry, you can begin to repair any damage that was done. This may include painting, patching holes in walls, and replacing damaged flooring or furniture. Again, this is what we do. Please feel free to reach out, even if it’s just to brainstorm solutions. We’re here as a resource whenever you need us – especially if the weather has thrown an angry bag of lemons at you.
We're Here to help!
In small amounts, mold can often be harmless however should always be remediated and avoided to prevent further growth and issue. Expert mold remediation techniques deal with the spores created through the removal and disturbance of mold. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to call us at (574) 584-3640. Yoder Home Services is located in Goshen, Indiana and mainly services Elkhart County and the surrounding areas. We offer several different home repair services, such as waterproofing, foundation repair, and mold damage remediation. You can also schedule an appointment where we’d be happy to answer any and all questions.