Shutting Down Mold After a Home Flood

11/14/2019 (Permalink)

Air mover drying out affected area in house after storm damage

Dealing With Mold After a Flood In Your Home

Mold growth is a pesky side effect of flooding. Even an inch of standing water in your home can trigger a chain reaction that leads to smelly, unsightly fungus. What can be done to minimize the formation of mold, or clean it up if it’s already there? Here are a few easy tips for dealing with mold after a flood in your Burton, OH, home.

Get Rid of the Water

Get started by removing as much water as you can. Good tools include:

• mops
  
• buckets
  
• gloves
  
  

Use mops and buckets to remove or absorb as much water as possible. This method is best if you’re dealing with water that hasn’t been contaminated with human or animal waste. Such water is best removed by professionals.

Dry Everything Out

Mold spores thrive in warm, wet locales. This makes thoroughly drying your home very important. Open windows and use large fans to dry the area out quickly and thoroughly. For an extra punch, rent a dehumidifier and leave it on overnight.

Disinfect Everything

One of the biggest threats posed by standing water from a flood is bacteria. It’s a must that you disinfect everything it touched. Use a disinfectant to wipe down surfaces and kill any germs the flood water may have deposited. As an added benefit, wiping things down can help remove mold spores and discourage mold growth.

Dispose of Damaged Items

Unfortunately, flood damage can be devastating to porous materials like fabric. Evaluate the contents of your home and throw away anything that can’t be completely disinfected. This includes electronics, papers and other absorbent items.
Flood damage can be extensive to a home, but mold growth can make things even worse. For minor damage, use the above tips. And for major flood damage, find a water remediation company to get the type of water removal, drying and disinfecting you need to get your household back on its feet.