Saving Flood Damaged Items

Saving Flood Damaged Items[1]

Appliances:

£ Many flood-damaged appliances can be salvaged, but they must be thoroughly dried out first and should be checked out by an authorised service technician before being plugged into an electrical outlet

£ The hard exterior can be hand cleaned using disinfectant

£ All appliances that have been flooded should be properly grounded to prevent electrocution. Mud or dirt in a grounded outlet or adapter may prevent the grounding system from working and could cause electrocution

£ Do not hose large appliances as this may increase damage if water gets into places that the flood did not reach. Instead, wash the appliance with a wet cloth and common household cleaner. Rinse with a disinfectant solution to clean and discourage mildew. Towel dry

Barbecues:

£ If BBQs have been in contact with floodwater, they can be hosed, scrubbed and disinfected. Coals and sand will have to be replaced and the gas regulator should be checked. Turn on the BBQ to full heat and allow to burn for an hour or two to kill any remaining bacteria

Books and Papers:

£ Glossy pages have a glaze that acts like glue when wet, and expensive illustrated books will soon turn to a solid block. You will need to establish a priority for treatment and abandon those that you will not be able to save in time.

£ Paperback books may be stood on their backs, with pages fanned open, in the sun to dry.

£ Papers may be dried slowly by interleaving uncoloured blotting paper or uncoloured kitchen paper towelling. Replace every 6 hours or so. When partially dry, pile and press books to keep pages from crumpling. Alternate drying and pressing and use a fan where possible. Cornstarch or talcum powder can be sprinkled between the leaves to absorb moisture, and then brushed off. When books are nearly dry, they may be ironed on a low heat

£ A common problem is residual moisture. The paper may have appeared to have dried, but if closed and left for some time, the pages stick and you may find a growth of mould. Don’t put a ‘dry’ book away too early

£ Some important documents may be replaced by the Government Department e.g. Queensland Transport for Driver’s Licence

Cupboards and Shelving:

£ Cupboard and bookshelves made of particleboard will swell with water and be totally irrecoverable. Solid timber items are non-the-worse for wear after a good wash

Ceilings and Walls:

£ Plasterboard acts like a sponge when soaked. Also, if affected by contaminated floodwater, it will be a permanent health hazard and should be removed

£ Remove plasterboard to at least the flood level, if most of the wall was soaked by clean rain-water, consider cutting a 5x15cm section from the bottom and top of walls to create a chimney effect of air movement for faster drying. Avoid ductwork and wiring

£ Plaster and panelling can often be saved if the floodwaters have receded quickly enough, but air must be circulated in the wall cavities to dry the studs and sills

£ Unaffected ceilings can be cleaned of mould and wiped with a mixture of a ¼ teaspoon  of Clove Oil to 1 litre of water

Clothes:

£ Be aware that clothes soaked with floodwater may have been contaminated. Simply drying the clothes is not sufficient. Wash all clothes thoroughly

Contaminated Mud:

£ Shovel out as much mud as possible and wash away mud from hard surfaces

£ Domestic gardens need not have their topsoil removed unless severely contaminated. Exposure to sun is very beneficial as is the turning over of soil. Gypsum sprinkled onto mud will enable it to break down quicker. Rain or watering will also allow nature to take its course. Consider mulching and allowing weeds to grow as root growth will nourish the soil and allow worms to do the rest

Electrical System:

£ The system must be shut off, and repaired and inspected by an electrician before it can be turned back on

Floors:

£ Carpet – Clean and dry carpets and rugs as quickly as possible. Seek assistance from a professional carpet cleaner. If sewage-contaminated floodwater covered your carpet or it was under water for 24 hours or more, discard it for health and safety reasons. To clean, hang mats and rugs outdoors and hose them down. Work a disinfecting carpet cleaner into soiled spots with a broom. Dry thoroughly before replacing your carpet. If the carpet cannot be removed, dry it as quickly as possible using a wet/dry vacuum and dehumidifier. Use a fan to circulate air above the carpet and if possible, underneath

£ Vinyl or tiles – These may need to be removed to allow drying of the subfloor

£ Timber floors – These should be dried gradually. Some restoration companies can accelerate drying time by forcing air through the underside of hardwood floorboards. Clean and dry wood before attempting repairs

Furniture and Household Items:

£ Take furniture, rugs, bedding and clothing outside to dry as soon as possible

£ Use an air-conditioner or dehumidifier to remove moisture or open windows. Use fans to circulate air in the house

£ If mould and mildew have already developed, brush off items outdoors to prevent scattering spores in the house. Vacuum floors, ceilings and walls to prevent breathing in mould spores

£ Mattresses that have come into contact with floodwater should be thrown away

£ Upholstered furniture soaks up contaminants from floodwaters and should be cleaned by a professional

£ Toys and stuffed animals should be thrown away if they have been contaminated by floodwaters

£ Solid timber is non-the-worse for wear after a good wash

Heating and Cooling Systems:

£ These systems will need inspection and cleaning, and possibly the motors will have to be replaced

£ Flood-soaked insulation will need to be replaced

Kitchen:

£ Disinfect glass, porcelain and china dinnerware. Air-dry dishes to ensure they are perfectly dry. If possible put all kitchen paraphernalia through the hottest setting on the dishwasher. Plastic and wooden utensils should be thrown out

£ Disinfect silverware, metal utensils and pots and pans by boiling in water for 10 minutes. Bleach may react with metals and should not be used

£ Disinfect canned goods prior to using

£ Cupboards and counters need to be cleaned and rinsed before storing dishes. Particleboard cupboards will be swollen and need to be replaced

£ Scrub surfaces with hot water and a heavy duty cleaner. Then use disinfectant

Photos:

£ Photos may be rinsed in clear clean water but take care to never touch the surfaces. Framed photos will need to be handled when still soaking wet or the photo surfaces will stick to the glass. Place the photo and glass under clear flowing water until they separate. Photos will need to be placed face up on uncoloured paper towelling for slow drying. They should not be placed in sun or wind

Private Wastewater Treatment Systems:

£ Flooding of a private wastewater treatment system can be hazardous. It may lead to a back up of sewage in the home, contaminate your drinking water and cause unsanitary conditions until the system is fixed. Contact your plumber immediately

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[1] Adapted in part from Brisbane City Council, “Be FloodWise” guide