Who would think that water could cause so much damage to a home? A flood can cause a minimal amount of damage or cause you to have to restore so much you feel as if you're gutting your house completely...as if you're starting over on the building of your home. Unfortunately the work has to be done but the outcome will be well worth it once you and your family are able to move back home. You can also save in the process and - in the end - reward yourself for your hard work.
The first step that should be taken is to protect repairable and undamaged items. There's a chance that these items may become damaged after the flood waters have subsided. If mold and mildew have started growing in your home they will continue to grow until the home dries completely and the proper steps are taken to rid of these organisms. Mildew will be the first to appear in the home; however, mildew is mold in the early stage. It only takes 24 to 48 hours for mold growths (or colonies) to start growing in a damp area. Once it has started to grow you shouldn't use fans in order to dry a room. This will only cause the mold to spread. Discard of all wet items in your home including carpeting as soon as possible.
You can eliminate mold from clothing, bedding, and toys by cleaning and disinfecting the items. With clothes and bedding - add 1/4 cup of white vinegar to a load of laundry. Continue to wash in this manner until all traces of mold are gone and clothes don't have a moldy smell anymore. Complete this process by washing your clothes one more time with regular laundry detergent. Toys should be set in a bucket with a mixture of 2 cups of white vinegar and 1/2 liter of warm water. Let toys soak overnight, then scrub with an old toothbrush or a bristle brush. If all the mold isn't removed after this step then put toys back in the bucket and add 2 foaming denture cleansing tablets and warm water. Again, let toys soak overnight and scrub with a brush again.
Any foods that had even a remote chance of getting damp should be discarded immediately. The only foods that should be saved are sealed packaged foods and canned goods that haven't been dented or damaged. Remove labels on all. Wash sealed packages with a warm water/dish washing liquid mix. Scrub with a bristle brush. For canned goods - scrub with bristle brush in a strong detergent solution - then put them in a mix of 1 quart of warm water and 2 teaspoons of bleach for 15 minutes. Another solution is to boil for 10 minutes. It's very important to remove the labels since the paper can hold dangerous bacteria.
The sooner you can start cleaning the inside of your home the easier it will be to rid of the mold and mildew growing in your walls, flooring, appliances, and ceilings. Make sure to wear gloves, a mask, and eye protectant. You should have the area you're working in at the time well ventilated. Disinfect all surfaces with a 10% bleach solution allowing the solution to sit for at least 10 minutes. Then rinse with clean water. Unfortunately, there's no easy way to rid of mold or mildew on wallboards, plaster, or paneling. The best way to handle this situation is to remove all that has been soaked by flood waters at least to the flood level. If your home has the blown-in cellulose type of insulation it's best to rid of this since it holds water for such a long time. Styrofoam and fiberglass batts can be reused if hosed off and dried completely.
For insurance purposes it's best to take plenty of before and after pictures. Keep a daily activity log including any and all calls made to your insurance company and conversations that took place. Make sure to keep all of the receipts used to purchase everything - right on down to the cleaning supplies. And don't throw any damaged materials away until your insurance company gives you the go-ahead.
Before you start purchasing any cleaning supplies or replacement building supplies you may want to consider getting the best price for your every need while rebuilding your home. There is a way to save on these purchases daily. These savings can add up to an astronomical amount - possibly enough to replace all the furniture needed to finish making your house a home again. The earlier you start saving - the more money you'll have to put back in your pocket. Start saving today!
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