Floodwater in Wausau may carry
silt, raw sewage, oil or chemical wastes that can cause a range of bacterial,
viral and/or parasitic diseases. Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces in your
home after a flood is a major undertaking to prevent further damage to the
property and help prevent illness. You want to make sure that your time is well
spent and that the chemicals used don’t cause more water
damage to your items (or your health.) The American Cleaning Institute
offers tips to help with clean-up efforts:
Wear protective clothing
including long-sleeved shirts, long pants, rubber or plastic gloves, and
waterproof boots or shoes.
Take anything that was wet for
two days or more outside to control the spread of mold.
Bleach should be used to clean
floors, stoves, sinks, certain dishes, countertops. Dilute to no more than one
cup of bleach per gallon of water; never mix bleach with ammonia or other
cleaners.
Laundry
Wet textiles are the perfect
breeding ground for mold and mildew. As soon as the floodwaters recede, the
next priority is to clean your clothes and other water-soaked fabrics. Verify 1) that the city water system is clean
and 2) that your washer wasn’t contaminated with flood water.
Although your first instinct may
be to wash these items in very hot water, high temperatures may set any stains.
Prewash first, using cool water and powdered laundry detergent. Then, wash the
items using powdered laundry detergent and the hottest water that’s safe for
the fabric.
If clothes came in contact with
sewage, add a disinfectant to the wash. Use liquid household bleach when
fabrics allow. If chlorine bleach is not suitable, use color-safe oxygen
bleach, PineSol or Lysol. Utilize sunshine;
kill bacteria while drying clothes in bright sunlight. Or dry in the dryer at
the hotspot setting the fabrics can endure to kill the bacteria.
Kitchen Surfaces
Kitchen counters, pantry shelves,
refrigerators, stoves, dishes and glassware that have been in contact with
water should be thoroughly washed with warm water and soap, rinsed and then
disinfected. To disinfect, use a solution of a ¾ cup of liquid chlorine bleach
per gallon of water. Keep the surfaces wet for two minutes, then rinse with
clean water.
Glass and metal can be
sterilized. Contaminated wood and plastic items, including cutting boards,
utensils, and food storage containers should be discarded because they may
harbor bacteria.
Food Stuff
Throw away any foods that have
come in direct contact with the water, including unopened foods in glass
containers and canned foods. Food in glass containers may look safe, but the
lids could be compromised. Also, dispose of staples stored in canisters or
containers with cork-lined or waxed cardboard tops.
Bedding
Bedding should be hung up in
fresh air and sunshine as soon as possible; then brush off excess soil and
dirt. Pillows, while washable, should be discarded if soaked with contaminated
floodwater. Put sheets through two complete washing cycles. Use diluted liquid
chlorine bleach to help kill germs; slightly faded colors are better than a
germy bed. Wash or dry clean comforters depending on the fiber content of the
bedding. Usually, it is best to wash cotton quilts.
Mattresses
As a general rule, inexpensive
mattresses are not worth the expense of professional sanitizing and should be
discarded. (In some cases, a good mattress may be worth the cost of
reconditioning. Get an estimate from commercial facilities.) If the outside of
the mattress is only slightly damp, brush off surface soil and wipe with a
solution of one cup denatured alcohol and one cup water.
Ask For Professional Help
After any water damage in your
home, K-tech Kleening can help. The team of highly trained and certified
technicians can handle any job, big or small. Whether you are in need of a
bio-wash antimicrobial cleaning in one room or entire remediation of your home
or business, K-tech has the equipment and the staff to put your worries at
ease.
At K-tech Kleening, we understand
how important it is to extract the water as quickly as possible to prevent
further damage to your property and your belongings. We will remove it using
specialized, high-powered drying equipment. We know that it is important for
you to return to normal as soon as possible, so we will provide all the
resources necessary.
When water
damage in Wausau occurs in your home or business, contact K-tech Kleening
at 715-496-2955! We use specialized, high-powered drying equipment to
effectively dry your property.
