Steps To Take If Your House Floods

Flooding your home can be stressful and frustrating. With the right knowledge, it is possible to get rid of the flood damage. This article will show you how to dry your home after a flood that causes water damage. Flooded home cleanup includes removing standing water, drying affected areas, and cleaning up before you rebuild.

How Do You Clean Up After A Flood?

It is crucial to know how to save personal items and furniture from flooding. Cleaning up after a flood requires knowledge and the right equipment. These are the steps you should take if your home is damaged by flooding.

Six Steps To Clean Up Flooded Homes

1. Move Furniture To Save Your Personal Items

Moving furniture and personal items can help you begin to clean up after a flood. These items are more expensive to replace, so it is important to save valuable items such as antiques and heirlooms. Move the furniture to another room or place it on tarps. Wipe everything with towels to limit damage. Dry them, then clean them later.

2. Get Rid Of Standing Water


Once you have cleared the area, it’s time to drain the floodwaters. This job is best done with a pump. You can also use a wet-dry vacuum or a bucket. Water should never be drained inside your home. Floodwaters shouldn’t be poured down the sink as it can cause sewage backup.

3. Toss Damaged Items


Floodwaters can cause flooding damage to floors and walls. Before you start drying out after a flood, it is important to throw away all damaged items. To repair damage, you can trim the drywall to a few inches above the waterline. If the flooding was due to a burst pipe, you can dry and save flooring and carpeting. You should dispose of any sewage-contaminated or water-damaged items as they could pose health risks.

4. Dry Your Home


The next step is to dry your home using high-volume fans and structural drying dehumidifiers. These can be rented at most equipment rental companies. Although household fans can be used, they can also cause mold and more damage. Distribute fans around the room, pointing them at wet walls or carpeting. Place the dehumidifier in the middle of the room to remove moisture. Pull the carpet up before drying. To speed up drying, lift the carpet up so that fans blow air above and beneath it.

5. Clean, Deodorize And Disinfect


After drying the flood-affected house, wash it with warm water. You can wipe the affected area with a damp cloth and dry it with a towel. To disinfect, mix one cup bleach with 1 gallon water. You have two options: wipe the surface with a rag or spray it with bleach. To prevent staining fabric or carpeting with bleach, disinfect them with equal amounts of rubbing alcohol. Open your windows to allow fresh air to circulate through the room. To combat persistent flood smells, sprinkle baking soda into the room. After a while, vacuum the room.

6. Rebuild And Restore


After a flood damages your house, you may need to rebuild the damaged areas. It could be dry-walling, flooring, or painting. The amount of reconstruction needed will depend on the extent of flooding.

Flooded House Clean-Up

911 Restoration of Central Arkansas has the experts to help you clean up after flooding. Our experts are certified and trained to quickly remove flood water and repair the damage. Call 501-200-1600 to get a free estimate for flood cleanup and water restoration services in your local area.