Cleaning Up Following a Severe Water Leak Or Flood

If you have suffered from a water leak in one of your properties or your own home, it is essential that your ensure that the right steps are taken to prevent any further damage from damp and mould growth. These are now the ideal conditions for mould to grow or already started growing. If this is the case, you will need to ensure that you clean the home thoroughly to eradicate any further problems. Mould is not only unsightly but also can cause health problems. So what do you need to do?

You must ensure that the property is dried out thoroughly after a serious water leak or flood and this will probably mean the use of dehumidifiers to remove the moisture from the air and the fabric of the home such as the walls and floors. As long as you dry out the home and there is no excess moisture then the mould cannot grow (unless it has already started). So the sooner the drying out starts and moisture is removed the better it is to prevent a further problem.

If there are signs of mould already, then these areas will need removing, treating and replacing. This includes any fabric items such as clothes, curtains, carpets and other floor coverings as well as wallpaper, plaster and insulation. If these are not dealt with properly then the mould spores could return once you think you have the place cleaned up. Any non porous surfaces such as tiles do not need to be removed and replaced as long as they are cleaned properly.

After taking the necessary safety precautions for the cleaning up process such as the use of disposable overalls, rubber gloves, goggles and fine dust masks, you can start to clean the area. First you will need to remove all contaminated fabrics etc. When removing these they should be bagged up in plastic bags to prevent any further spread and contamination as well as removing any risk of releasing the molecules into the air.

You will then need to thoroughly scrub all the contaminated surfaces using a stiff brush and preferably a commercial cleaner for this purposes or a non ammonia detergent. After the first clean, you will then want to scrub the surfaces again with some bleach and water and then clean off. After this, once it is dried out and clean, you can then think about the replacement and redecoration. However, it is important that this cleaning is done properly as you do not want it to result in any of the mould spores growing back again which it can do if they are not destroyed properly in the first place and the conditions become right for them again. There are professional cleaning companies who deal with cleaning up in this area, particularly for larger areas of flooding. They will have the specialist materials and knowledge to be able to clean the area thoroughly and may be easier for you and give you peace of mind that it has been done properly. Once completed you disposable overalls and protection must be disposed of and should be bagged up to prevent any spread of the mould spores.

Once your home is redecorated and repaired, you should be fine and have no further occurrences, however it is important to keep an eye out to ensure that no mould growth reappears and that the cleaning was done thoroughly.