How To Prevent Mold Growth After a Flood

6/3/2022 (Permalink)

Hire professionals to perform a flood cut to prevent mold from growing inside the walls.

How to Stop Mold From Growing After a Flood

Water damage is not the only thing you have to worry about if your Roselle, IL, home experiences flooding. Mold growth can begin within 24 hours in a wet home. Fortunately, quick remediation prevents this problem.

1. Document the Damage
The first step of any cleanup job, whether DIY or by a professional restoration service, is to take stock of the damage. Have an electrician or the power company take the electrical meter out of its socket. If your home uses natural gas, this should also be shut off. Turning off the power to the area ensures your safety. Take detailed pictures of the damage or do a video walkthrough for the insurance company before you begin cleaning up.

2. Extract Standing Water
To prevent mold growth, dry out the area as quickly as possible. Use pumps, buckets, or specialized vacuums to extract standing water. Hire professionals to perform a flood cut to prevent mold from growing inside the walls. Insulation and paneling will likely need to be replaced.
Run fans and dehumidifiers to dry out the remaining moisture. If the humidity outside is low, open windows and doors to increase airflow. If possible, move porous items that have absorbed a lot of water outdoors to dry in the sunshine. Understand that larger items, such as mattresses and sofas, may not be salvageable.

3. Clean and Sanitize
When everything is dry, it is time to clean up any mold growth that has occurred. Even surfaces that look clean should be sanitized because there will likely be bacteria present due to contact with flood water. Make sure to choose cleaning products that are specifically labeled to disinfect. Scrub hard surfaces. Put fabrics and other soft items in the washing machine with either bleach or another laundry sanitizing product.
Cleaning up after a flood can feel overwhelming. However, it is best not to delay because quick action minimizes the likelihood of a mold infestation.