Floods can damage drywall, carpet, flooring, furniture — here are some tips for what to do until a professional arrives.

We often find themselves as homeowners wading through water, tearing out drywall and cutting up carpet after a flood hits.

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Floodwaters destroy property, leaving you with a mess you have to clean up before they can repair or rebuild.

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If a natural disaster hits your area, help may not be available for days before a remediation company can respond due to high demand. While you wait for a professional, here’s what you can do to deal with water damage until company arrives.

                                             

Whether you choose to hire a water damage remediation company or take care of the work yourself, follow these tips for cleaning up after a flood.

 

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How to Prevent Mold from Infesting Your Home

 

It's never good news when anyone discovers mold as a homeowner, especially dangerous molds, somewhere in the home.

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What to do while waiting for help                                            

Focus on drying your home to prevent mold growth, says most experts in the remediation industry.

They recommend opening windows and doors, then setting up fans to blow air outside. You don’t have all the fancy equipment like the professionals. Box fans, or any fans are most effective. Just get the air flow going.

Secondly, professionals recommends tearing up and throwing away flooded carpet and padding. The carpet and pad are never salvageable.

Mold is the perfect environment to grow in wet and dark areas with no air flow, always blow air against perimeter walls to keep it from growing.

These are the things professionals tell everyone. These are the best things you can do until people can come and help you.

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Flooded Flooring: What to Know, When to Replace

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If you've had a flood or water leak, you’re probably worried about your floors. Here’s what you need to know and look for, plus when to consider a new floor.

 

How to clean up by yourself

Follow these tips for cleaning up flood damage if you choose to DIY.

 

Dry out your home

• Try and use wet-dry shop vacuum, or a sump pump to remove deep standing water. Always wear rubber boots if you have to stand in a wet area.

• Open all doors and windows. Set up any type fans to blow air outside the home.

• If your heat vents were exposed to floodwater, do not turn on your HVAC unit back on until you have the heat ducts inspected and cleaned by a professional.

 

Toss the things you can’t save

• Tear out and throw away flood-damaged carpet and padding — floods always make them unsalvageable after floods.

• Throw away flood damaged items that can’t be repaired or disinfected. These include: furniture, cosmetics, mattresses, rugs, baby toys, pillows, books, and most paper products.

• Tear out and throw away flood damaged drywall and insulation..

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How to Safely Clean a Flooded Basement

A plumber will explain how to avoid electric shock when dealing with excessive water in your home.

 

Remove mold and sanitize the area

• Always hire a mold remediation company if there is an area of mold greater than 10 square feet. If the mold is contained within 10 square feet, you might try cleaning it up on your own.

• To prevent or remove mold, always clean hard surfaces with hot water and a small amount of laundry detergent. You can then, disinfect the area with a 10 percent bleach solution (one cup of bleach with one gallon of water). Apply a thin coat of the bleach to the entire affected area. Use a sprayer and a sponge, but avoid too much runoff.

• Never mix bleach and ammonia. The mixture will create a deadly, toxic gas.

• Always wear rubber boots, rubber gloves, goggles and an N95 respiratory mask while cleaning mold.

• Dry the area thoroughly after you are completed.

• Wash all clothes that have been contaminated with floodwater in hot water and detergent.