Cleaning the house can seem to be a hard task already, what more if your house got hit by a typhoon or any disaster. This cleaning topic may be relevant to current events right now as Los Angeles is currently facing storms, winds, and floods. It might be intimidating to go back to your house after a flash flood to examine the property damage, especially if it hit your home so hard. Power outages, flash flood and wind damage, standing water, mildew, and filth are all potential problems and these are the things you could consider after getting hit by a typhoon and also on how to do water damage restoration.
Moreover, you can still clean up efficiently if you prepare beforehand. Here are some tips from our professional cleaners from house cleaning agencies in Los Angeles on how to keep safe during a storm, prevent more damage to your house, and make sure you’re properly recording property damage
1. Use a Proper Safety Gear
Safety first. We all know how dangerous can flood bring to every house especially post-disaster. Bring battery-operated flashlights or lamps in case your house doesn’t have electricity when you get back, and make sure your phone is charged. Additionally, keep in mind that when hurricane floodwaters reach your home, the water may include an undetermined amount of toxins. Pack plenty of N95 masks and gloves to guard against dangerous germs and mold. We also suggest using latex, nitrile, or even plain dishwashing gloves for home cleaning.
2. Remove the Water
Keep in mind if you don’t remove the dirt and trash while it’s still moist, a crust will form inside your house. It’s crucial to get as much water out of a flooded area as rapidly as you can while keeping safe. To remove the water outside, you may use a container. A wet/dry shop vacuum cleaner comes in handy when there isn’t much left. Remove insulation and wall coverings like paneling that are higher than the highest visible water line. Everything should be removed up to the highest point the water reached.
3. Sanitize Your Things
Anything that was left and touched with flood waters and cannot be cleaned must be disposed of. Flash floods are dangerous, contain bacteria and germs, and may carry sewage water that is tainted. Goods that have been submerged in water for more than 48 hours may develop mold. In most cases, this refers to objects like books or other soft surfaces that cannot be cleaned. If it has been touched by flood waters just for a short time, still sanitize them properly.
Additionally, before removing and throwing away items, For the sake of your own peace of mind, take pictures of items before you toss them away. The main issue here is contamination. Instead of merely throwing it in the garbage or leaving it on the pavement, put those furniture, rugs, carpets, or other items that may have come into touch with sewage water in plastic bags. Apply a substance that eliminates germs to every hard surface to clean, sterilize, and dry it. We can think that a simple home cleaning product will clean surfaces of grime. However, a sanitizing solution will utilize chemicals to destroy microorganisms like mold on surfaces that might form after flooding, such as a cleanser that contains bleach or bleach mixed with water.
4. Water Damage Restoration
If your house is flooded, you may be quite sure that there is some water damage. Double-check your insulation for any signs of water intrusion. Rot and mold are both caused by water. Water damage caused by a flash flood may be dangerous and those Items like rugs that are not completely dried off might develop mold and mildew you also find ways to do water damage restoration on your furnitures and electronics.
5. Check your Appliances
It hurts to think that at some point in our lives, after typhoons, there might be a possibility of having a broken appliance especially when the storm or typhoon is really intense. Resist the desire to check all of your appliances right away if the electricity is on in your area. Observe caution first and this might cause extra damage to your house and to your health. Keep in mind that major appliances should be turned on one at a time to prevent overloading wires.
6. Check for Gas Leaks
Keep in mind not to fire a match, switch on a light, or do anything that may generate a spark if you smell gas or believe there could be a leak. Before utilizing a telephone to contact the energy provider, distance yourself first and observe your house since the phone might create a spark that would ignite the natural gas and result in an explosion which is more hassle and damage to properties. Meanwhile, use your phone outside to make emergency contact.
7. Avoid Using Wet Appliances
Avoid using wet electrical or gas appliances and caution against turning on damaged equipment since there is a danger of electric shock or fire. For instance, the standing water in your laundry room may be electrically charged and fatal if you didn’t unplug your washer and dryer and it flooded to the point that the water covered the electrical outlets and wires. In addition, your appliances’ motors may have been harmed by water even if they aren’t submerged. Floodwater frequently contains dirt, which can cause equipment parts to rust.
8. Use Fans
This is for the purpose of air ventilation. Flooding can taint the air in your home or apartment, bringing bacteria, insects, or other pests inside. Run the fans and ventilators in your kitchen and bathroom while doing a home cleaning to keep the air flowing and prevent the formation of mold. Do not use an air conditioner first. Install exhaust fans and turn them on to blow air out to help clear the air of debris, dust, and mold spores.
Frequently Asked Questions
The first thing you need to do is protect yourself by using protective gear using masks and gloves to guard against dangerous germs and mold.
Don’t open your appliances after a typhoon because it may cause electrical damage or turn on damaged equipment since there is a danger of electric shock or fire so always unplug any equipment from your house and observe first before you use it.
You need to remove the water from the house after the flood. Keep in mind if you don’t remove the dirt and trash while it’s still moist, a crust will form inside your house. It’s crucial to get as much water out of a flooded area as rapidly as you can while keeping safe.
To avoid contamination. Anything that was left and touched with flood waters and cannot be cleaned must be disposed of. Floods are dangerous, contain bacteria and germs, and may carry sewage water that is tainted. We need to observe caution first before cleaning since this might cause extra damage to your house and to your health.
Conclusion
In conclusion, these natural disasters are unavoidable and no one wants to be attacked by hurricanes, typhoons, earthquakes, and more. It is crucial for us to know how to safely clean our home after extreme weather or a violent storm in addition to being ready and prepared and doing water damage restoration. Cleaning your house after a typhoon is more stressful than doing regular cleaning. However, we must keep in mind to do the safety check first making any movement to your house. Nowadays, it’s better to be sure than to experience something worst. Let us protect ourselves more during these hard times.
