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Cleaning Up After a Home Flooding Disaster

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You know that old saying, “Into everyone’s life, a little rain must fall?” Well, sometimes it’s more than a little rain that comes pouring into your life…and sometimes, maybe the “rain” is actually toilet water. The point we’re making is that flooding, while awful and damaging, is a problem that numerous homeowners will unfortunately have to face at some point in their lives. Whether it’s a plumbing disaster or an act of God, floods happen all the time, for a number of reasons. Here’s how to cope if you find yourself faced with a flooding disaster.

First Steps

If your house, or at least a portion of it, was underwater for a while, and you’re now trying to figure out what to do next, here are the first things you need to do to begin your cleanup process.

Throw Away Unsalvageable Items

One of the more difficult aspects of the process for homeowners who are dealing with the fallout from a flood is having to throw away anything that has gotten wet and cannot be cleaned, dried out, or otherwise saved. This can apply to electronics such as TVs and smart home devices, as well as items of sentimental value, like photographs. For insurance purposes, it’s necessary to take photos of any damaged property before throwing it away. While this can be an emotionally taxing process, it is important to do this first before moving on to the next steps in your cleaning process.

Clean Responsibly

In the case of a plumbing-related flood, Flatirons Plumbing, an Arvada Plumber recommends that any wet but salvageable items must be thoroughly cleaned to kill any viruses or bacteria that may be present. Wash curtains, bedding, and clothing in hot, soapy water and bleach whenever possible. Rinse rugs and carpets with clean water before shampooing them and allowing them to air-dry. Also, it may feel like overkill, but it really is important to cover your body and wear goggles and an N-95 face mask while cleaning, as mold may be present.

Get Help

If a large amount of flood damage is present, it may be best to contact a professional restoration service to help you clean up. For example, flooding from excessive rain or clogged sewers could require a heavy-duty pumper truck, the kind used for raw sewage. Your homeowners’ insurance agent can offer recommendations based on the type of damage you’ve sustained. Read more.

Flooding can quickly escalate to a devastating experience for any homeowner, but acting fast and taking care of the cleanup process quickly can help ensure that you will be able to put it behind you and get on with your life in no time!

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