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June
14, 2005
NDSU Extension
Service Offers Water Damage Cleanup Advice
Many North Dakotans
are faced with major cleanup efforts after recent rain flooded basements
and caused sewers to back up in homes.
Ken Hellevang, a North
Dakota State University Extension Service agricultural engineer, has these
tips to help the cleanup go more smoothly and safely:
- Wear boots, gloves
and other protective gear when cleaning up sewer backup because it contains
extensive biological contamination. Wearing protective clothing also
is important when cleaning up after overland flooding because it may
contain some biological contamination.
- Be safe when using
cleanup equipment. When operating wet/dry vacuums, vacuum cleaners and
other cleaning equipment, use an extension cord with a ground fault
circuit interrupter or install a ground fault circuit interrupter in
electrical outlets. Do not stand in water when using electrical equipment.
- Remove contaminated
mud first. Shovel out as much as possible, then use a garden sprayer
or hose to wash mud away from hard surfaces. Start cleaning walls at
the bottom or where the damage is worst. Disconnect the furnace and
hose out heating ducts.
- Clean. Scrub surfaces
with hot water and a heavy-duty cleaner. Do not use laundry bleaches
on material that will be damaged. Don’t mix cleaning products
because a combination of chemicals can give off toxic fumes. Scrub off
contaminants with a brush. Rinse off soap.
- Disinfect. Wipe
or spray surfaces with a solution of one-quarter cup of chlorine bleach
per gallon of water or a product labeled as a disinfectant. This will
disinfect biological contamination associated with flooding.
- Wash mud off valuable
items before it dries. Then store articles such as photographs, books
and important papers in plastic bags and put them in a frost-free freezer
to protect them from mold and further damage until they can be cleaned.
- Dry ceilings and
walls. Remove and throw away water-soaked wallboard. Plaster and paneling
may be saved, but air must circulate in the wall cavities to dry the
studs and sills. Styrofoam insulation may just need to be hosed off.
Throw out fiberglass batt insulation if it is muddy. If it’s wet
but not muddy, it may be reused if it’s dried thoroughly. Replace
loose or blown-in cellulose insulation.
- Clean and dry
carpets and rugs quickly. Discard carpet if it’s exposed to sewage
or if mold growth occurred. To clean, drape carpets and rugs outside
and hose them down. Use a broom to work a disinfecting carpet cleaner
into soiled spots. Dry the carpet and floor before relaying the carpet.
Replace padding. Use a wet/dry vacuum and dehumidifier to quickly dry
carpet that can’t be removed. To help dry thin carpet, use a fan
to circulate dry air above the carpet. However, lifting the carpet and
ventilating with fans underneath is best.
- Remove hardwood
floor boards every few feet to reduce buckling. Clean and dry the wood
before making repairs. Remove vinyl, linoleum and carpet so wood subflooring
can dry. Open windows and doors to expose the flooring to dry air.
- Prevent mold growth.
Take furniture, rugs, bedding and clothing outside to dry as soon as
possible. Mold will grow on damp materials within a few days. Use an
air conditioner or dehumidifier or open at least two windows for cross-ventilation
to remove moisture in the house. Use fans to circulate air in the house.
Mold must be removed because it may affect people, even if it has been
killed with a biocide.
- Clean appliances.
Use a heavy-duty cleaner and hot water, then a bleach solution, to clean
surfaces. Recondition or replace electric motors that were submerged
in water.
- Hire a professional
to replace or recondition electrical wiring and equipment. Breaker panel
boards, breakers, fuses, receptacles, switches, light fixtures and electric
heaters that were submerged must be replaced. Electrical wiring also
may need to be replaced.
For more information,
visit the NDSU Extension Service Web site on coping with floods at www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/flood/afterpkt.htm
or contact your local NDSU Extension Service office.
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Source:
Ken Hellevang, (701) 231-7243, kjh-eng@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Ellen Crawford, (701) 231-5391, ecrawfor@ndsuext.nodak.edu
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