Checklist for Cleaning Belongings After Water Damage

6/29/2021 (Permalink)

The cleanup process after water damage in Ceres, OK.

Content Cleaning

When your commercial building in Ceres, OK gets filled with water during a bad storm, you have to take on a lot of projects. Not only will you have to fix the structural damage done to your property, but you will also have to undergo some content cleaning. Working alongside a commercial restoration professional can make this cleanup process easier. Keep this checklist in mind as you and your crew start cleaning up after standing water.

1. Remove items from the building. While you may want to save some of your furnishings, everything needs to be taken out after a flood. You can clean and dry your belongings outside of the building to make the structural repairs easier to do. Take everything out of the building, including flooring, furniture and electronics.

2. Sort your belongings. The cleanup process is not going to be the same for every piece of furniture you own. Porous materials, such as furniture, carpets and upholstered items, may need more attention than non-porous items, such as stainless steel, tile and desks. You should also create a separate pile for electronic items.

3. Start cleaning. Once your items have been properly sorted, you can start the content cleaning process. This may mean using a washing machine, a strong cleansing solution or dry cleaning. Your goal should be to remove all dirt and debris from a material.

4. Consider throwing belongings away. If you cannot thoroughly clean a waterlogged item, you may have to throw it away rather than save it. Anything that has been sitting in floodwaters for more than 48 hours may be too far gone to salvage.

5. Dry out materials. Once your items are completely disinfected after sitting in black water, you can start to dry them out. Everything should be dry before you put it back inside your building.

There are a lot of steps you have to take when content cleaning. Remember, some items may be too damaged for you or your professionals to save.