The Best Cleaning Methods for Flood-Damaged Contents

1/13/2021 (Permalink)

Flood-damaged contents in Trenton, OH

The Best Cleaning Methods for Flood-Damaged Contents

Any contents of a home that are exposed to flood water should be disinfected, cleaned, and deodorized. While homeowners may be able to clean up some limited flooding damage, the risk of mold can be greatly reduced by having content cleaning professionals remove items for off-site treatment and determine whether porous items can be restored to a residence in Trenton, OH.

Disinfection
A wide range of cleaning products are used to clean contents that have been exposed to flooding. Depending on whether items are porous or non-porous and the level of durability, any of the following solutions or systems may be used:

• Foam cleaner
• Liquid disinfectant
• Wet-wash machines

Content cleaning experts may recommend dry cleaning some delicate materials. While standard dry cleaning does not disinfect items, the application of heat during ironing, steaming or pressing processes eliminates some contaminants.

Stain Removal
Beyond disinfection, items may require cleaning to remove stains. Abrasion, immersion, spot, wet or dry cleaning may be effective methods for restoring the appearance of items that have become stained during or after flooding. Items that are severely stained by black water may be replaced prior to cleaning if doing so is more cost-effective than attempting cleaning.

Deodorization
Flood odor may linger in a location even after cleanup of the area and contents is complete. A deodorization treatment such as hydroxyl, ozone, or thermal fogging may be helpful for banishing residual odors in a location that was previously flooded. Pay close attention to musty odors, as these may originate in microbial volatile organic compounds or mVOCs released during the growth cycle of mold.
Some porous items cannot be fully disinfected or are not cost-effective to clean. These contents should be disposed of, reported as losses, and replaced. Expensive or rare objects may be restored through specialized content cleaning methods. Consult with storm damage restoration experts near Hamilton, OH.