What Can Be Saved After Your Home Floods?

8/3/2020 (Permalink)

Floodwaters in Oxford, OH

If your home in Oxford, OH, ever fills with floodwater, conduct a thorough content cleaning before your return. While some items may be salvageable, other items will not.

Levels of Contamination

Floodwaters have three danger levels:

1. Clean Water
Clean water comes from a clean source, such as a broken supply line. While not harmful, this water might become dirty over time.

2. Gray Water
This second level contains some contamination. Washing machine and toilet overflow fall into this category.

3. Black Water
The most contaminated grade, black water may include chemicals, microbes or even sewage and must be removed.
Even if you believe your house has only suffered clean water damage, there is a chance gray or black water has intruded without your knowledge. This means comprehensive content cleaning is always required.

What Must Be Thrown Away
Except for canned goods and food inside intact, airtight plastic containers, discard all consumables, including pet food. Your medicine should also be disposed of, so acquire refills for prescriptions. Anything porous that has come in contact with polluted water must be trashed.

What Can Be Recovered
Hardwood and composite cabinets, upholstered furniture and drywall may be reparable. If these areas have sustained damage, hire a flood restoration professional for a comprehensive rebuild. Appliances and electronics may be reused once inspected by a technician, provided they have not been submerged. Non-porous toys can be cleaned with detergent and disinfectant. Damp mattresses may be dried using towels, but bedding that has come in contact with corrupted water needs to be abandoned. To determine if your carpet can be kept, pull on a corner. If you find yourself holding a fistful of fibers, it must be replaced.
After a flood, executing an intensive content cleaning is imperative before moving back into your home. Careful determination of what can and cannot be saved will keep both you and your family safe.