Cleanup Water Fast to Prevent Mold

The first is to prevent mold. This cannot be stressed enough,because there is a twenty four to forty eight hour window before mold begins to grow, so water damage cleanup needs to be performed within that open window.

Cleanup Water Fast to Prevent Foundation Damage

The second reason is to prevent foundation damage. Standing water over time will break down concrete floors by weakening them in the center, so it must be kept dry.

Cleanup Water Fast to Prevent Bacteria

There is a third reason for quickly removing water, and that is to prevent bacteria and the risk of contamination. I prefer the ease of use with a rented water extractor to cleanup water myself.

Before I begin water damage cleanup, and because I prefer the job of cleanup water myself, here are some tips I would like to share. Starting with paper products including books that may have gotten wet, remember, if they are of no value, toss them into the garbage.It’s also a wise idea to copy important documents and if damage isn’t too severe, freeze dry the originals.

Carpeting usually has a pad on its underside, if the carpet gets soaked, so will the pad. Using the water extractor to suction up as much water as possible, place a dehumidifier and several fans in the area. If it’s a sunny day, open the windows as well. Repeat this process for all fabric covered furniture and concrete floors. Ceiling tiles are not worth saving and are inexpensive, so get rid of them and purchase replaceable ones.

For floors covered with linoleum or ceramics, after removing excess water, scrub the area with a mild detergent or clean with white vinegar, it repels mold.Plastic and metal items are the easiest to clean with just some warm soapy water. Rinse and dry thoroughly. Hopefully, the drywall hasn’t received too much water, if so it needs to be removed and replaced or it will swell.Wood paneling will also swell so pull it out from the wall to get air behind it and clean thoroughly. These tips are for individuals who like me prefer to cleanup water myself, so be sure the damage is from clean water only.For mold buildup, sewer leaks, or other possibly contaminated water problems, a licensed professional should be called immediately.