With the rainy season approaching and heavy downpours becoming more frequent, many communities in the Philippines often face flooding. Knowing how to clean the house properly after the floodwaters recede is essential—not only to restore household furniture and the home’s structure but also to ensure the living environment stays safe and healthy.
Cleaning after a flood is also important to prevent the spread of germs and diseases that thrive in wet and unsanitary conditions during the rainy days.
10 Tips and How to Clean Your House After a Flood
Cleaning a house after it has been flooded is no easy task. It requires patience and a lot of help. To make things easier for you, theAsianparent has compiled ways to clean your house post-flood, as reported by Flood Safety:
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1. Contact Your Insurance Provider
There’s no denying that cleaning up after a flood can be costly. Many items may be damaged or lost due to the force of the water.
Therefore, if your home is covered by insurance, don’t hesitate to contact your provider and ask what types of damages are covered.
Usually, the insurance company will require complete documentation and proof in the form of photos or videos of the damage for you to make a claim.
2. Prioritize Safety
Sebelum membersihkan rumah, Parents tentunya perlu memerhatikan keselamatan. Pastikan gas dan listrik dalam keadaan mati. Gunakan alat pelindung seperti sapu tangan, masker, sepatu boots, dan pakaian yang nyaman.
3. Clean Up the Mud
Shovel out as much mud as possible that has stuck to every part of the house due to the flood. You can use a hose or a garden sprinkler to thoroughly wash away the mud.
4. Clean Every Surface and Sort Usable Furniture
Once the mud has been cleared, the next step is to clean every surface of the house and the furniture. Sort out which pieces are still functional and can be salvaged.
Wipe down every corner of the house using hot water and a cleaning agent. If necessary, disinfect the surfaces with products labeled as disinfectants to kill germs.
5. Cleaning Kitchen Utensils
Soak glasses, plates, and other eating utensils in a large container filled with germ-killing cleaning solution. Let them soak in warm water for ten minutes. After that, rinse thoroughly with running water and dry with a clean cloth.
Other cooking utensils should be soaked in boiling water for 10 minutes. Clean all storage cabinets with a germ-killing cleaning solution. Only after that should they be used again to store utensils.
Also check the condition of cabinets and other furniture. If they are no longer suitable for use, it’s best to replace them with new ones.
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6. Dry Flooded Items Immediately
Furniture that was soaked in floodwater should be immediately dried outside the house. Mattresses that have absorbed floodwater are also recommended to be replaced, as they pose a risk of harboring germs and bacteria.
Similarly with mattresses, carpets should be discarded if they’ve been submerged for more than 24 hours, as they may contain harmful bacteria and germs.
Toys like stuffed animals should be thrown away if they were completely submerged in floodwater. However, hard toys like action figures may still be sanitized using a germ-killing cleaner if they are still salvageable.
Photos, books, and important documents should be air-dried and left to dry completely before cleaning.
7. Electronic Devices
Avoid using any electrical appliances before they have been cleaned. It’s advised to seek professional help to clean or repair items such as televisions, washing machines, vacuum cleaners, etc.
Cables must be completely dried, and the electrical system should be repaired and inspected by an electrician before turning it back on.
8. Cleaning Walls
If your walls are covered with wallpaper, remove it up to the height reached by the floodwater. Wallpaper, especially paper-based, absorbs water and can make walls difficult to dry and prone to mold, which can pose health risks.
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9. Cleaning Floors
Clean the floors using a germ-killing solution. If the floor has vinyl, linoleum, or wallpaper coverings, remove them first.
If your home has wooden floors, dry them gradually. You can also call professional cleaning services, as wood often requires special care or restoration to prevent damage.
10. Roof Damage
Check for any roof damage to prevent leaks during future heavy rains. Also inspect for any holes in the roof area that could allow water to enter. While cleaning, wear an N-95 mask to avoid inhaling dust.
These are some tips for cleaning your house after a flood. Always prioritize safety during the cleaning process, and don’t hesitate to ask for help. Hopefully, the flood won’t happen again and everything lost in the disaster will soon be replaced with something better by the Almighty.
Originally published on theAsianparent Indonesia
