Dry Water-soaked Building Materials Quickly

Provided by NDSU Extension Service

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.