What To Do If Your House Floods

It can be frustrating and stressful to have your home flooded. But with the right knowledge, you can get rid of the water damage and fix the problem. We explain how to dry out your home after a flood. Flooded house cleanup involves removing any standing water, drying the affected areas, and cleaning up and disinfecting before rebuilding.

How to Clean Up After a Flood?

It is important to be able to save your personal belongings and furniture from flooding. It takes some knowledge and the right equipment to clean up after a flood. These are the steps to follow if your house is flooded.

6 Steps To Clean Up Flooded Houses

1. Moving Furniture To Save Your Personal Items
You can begin cleaning up after a flood by moving furniture and personal belongings. They are more difficult to replace so you will need to save valuable items like antiques, heirlooms, and other priceless items. Next, move the furniture to a different room or place them on tarps. To limit damage, wipe everything down with towels. Then dry them and clean them up later.

2. Remove Standing Water
After clearing the area, it is time to remove the floodwaters. A pump is the best tool to do this job. A wet-dry vacuum, or even a bucket, will also work. You should always drain the water outside of your home. Floodwaters should never be poured down the drain as it could lead to sewage backup.

3. Throw Away Damaged Items
Floodwaters can cause damage to walls and flooring. You should throw away any damaged items before you begin drying out from a flood. You can cut the drywall a few inches higher than the waterline to repair any damaged. You can dry and save carpeting and flooring if the flooding was caused by a burst pipe. It is best to dispose of any water-damaged or sewage-contaminated items, as there are potential health risks.

4. Dry Out Your Home
Next, dry your home with high-volume fans or structural drying dehumidifiers. These are available at most equipment rental businesses. You can also use household fans but they can cause more damage and mold. Distribute the fans throughout the room, pointing them at carpeting or walls that are wet. To remove moisture from the air, place the dehumidifier at the center. When drying carpeting, pull it up first. To speed up drying, prop it up so that the fans blow air above and below to dry it faster.

5. Clean, Disinfect And Deodorize
After drying the flood affected house, clean it with warm water and soap. Use a rag to wipe down the area and then dry it with a towel. After everything has been cleaned, use one cup bleach to 1 gallon of water to disinfect. You can either wipe the surfaces with a rag, or spray the area with bleach. You can prevent bleach stains from fabric and carpeting by disinfecting them with equal parts of rubbing alcohol and open your windows to let fresh air circulate in the room to eliminate odors. Sprinkle baking soda in the room to combat persistent flood smells. After a while, vacuum it up.

6. Rebuild And Restore
You may have to rebuild damaged areas after you clean up a flood-damaged house. This may include dry-walling or flooring, but it could also be painting. The extent of flood damage will affect the amount of reconstruction required.

Flooded Home Clean-up

911 Restoration of Washington DC has the specialists can help you clean up after a flood. Our specialists are trained and certified to remove water quickly and repair damage from floods. For a free estimate on flood cleanup or water restoration services in your area, call 202-350-2244 today for a free visual inspection.