Cincinnati Emergency Cleaning Service

Your house has been devastated by a flood. This is a heart breaking experience to suffer. Once the disbelief has passed, it is time to take action. If this has not happened before it is conceivable that you are at a loss as to where to start. Don't try to reenter the home until the flood danger has passed and the water has receded significantly. In the intervening time you should contact your homeowner's insurance agent to inform them of the flood and begin an insurance claim. How you go about handling the restoration of your house will depend on whether you have flood insurance coverage or not. If you do have insurance you should hire competent professionals to deal with most aspects of the cleanup and restoration of your residence. If you don't have flood insurance or the protection you do have won't guarantee all of the restoration, then read on.

There are several things to do before you even walk in to your place. Be sure Be certain that the house is structurally fit before anyone goes into it. You may need to look for professional advice to be sure the house is steady. Be sure that the energy to the house is shut off and cannot be turned back on before you start and do the same with the gas lines leading to the home. If gas and energy are not handled right the product could be injurious or even fatal.

When you enter the house wear protective coveralls, gloves, boots, and a heap mask because there could be mold and there will most probably be waste and other dangerous waste deposited with the flood water. Before you begin any cleanup be sure to take pictures of all the damage and then maintain careful records of all the things you clean or restored and the costs involved. Remember to hold on to all your receipts. Start by checking all over for bugs, snakes, and different creatures who may have ended up in your home after being displaced by the flood.

The next thing that has to be finished is to open all the doors and windows to let air move around. Take all the household belongings and determine what to try to restore and what to dispose of. Be sure to throw out any of the mattresses that have gotten wet as these will not be salvageable. Later, remove all the carpeting and padding. Throw out the cushioning and the carpet too if at all achievable.

Remove the water damaged section of the walls. The drywall should be taken out at least one twelve inches above the flood water line. Remove any wet insulation from the walls, clean the studs and joists with bleach and let everything dry out completely. This could take weeks. Take away any damaged flooring and cleanse and disinfect what can be saved and again let everything dry thoroughly.

Clean and disinfect all the porcelain and fixtures in the abode. Disinfect the countertops and cabinets and drawers. Hire someone to wash, inspect, and do any repairs to the appliances before using them. Go outdoors and disinfect and wash any furnishings that you need to keep. Most of all just be aware that it will take an extended time to restore the residence back to a fully livable state.