Junk Removal After a Flood – Tips for Safe and Effective Cleanup

Experiencing a flood can be a devastating event. The damage caused by the water, combined with debris and possible contaminants, can be overwhelming. Post-flood cleanup is a formidable task that requires diligence, caution, and the right approach.

Below, we’re sharing essential tips to help you safely and effectively remove junk following a flood, ensuring you can restore your home or property to its original condition as swiftly as possible.

How Do You Clean Up a House After a Flood?

When you’re faced with a flooded house, knowing where to start with cleanup can be a challenge in itself. Use our helpful guide to go from flooded to finished with ease.

Gather the Necessary Equipment

You’ll need access to the right equipment when tackling a flood cleanup. This includes safety gear like gloves and face masks (for protection from contaminants), a mop or shop vac, buckets, a flashlight, cleaning products, and any specialized tools.

Some additional tools and supplies you may want to consider getting for the cleanup process include:

• Protective eyewear
• Long-sleeved clothing
• Closed-toe shoes or boots
• Bucket
• Shovel
• Squeegee
• Towels
• Dehumidifier
• Fans
• Trash bags
• Utility Knife
• Pry Bar
• Saw
• Wet Shop Vac
• Broom
• Dumpster

Remove Standing Water

Removing standing water is the first step in your flood cleanup. Turn to a sump pump (you can rent one) or wet/dry vacuum to evacuate standing water, and work your way through the entire property until all puddles are gone.

When dealing with contaminated water, take special care. Consider any areas where hazardous chemicals may have seeped into the waters, such as oil spills from garages or gas tanks, and alert your local health authority.

Not a lot of standing water remaining? You’re in luck! Instead, use a dehumidifier and fans to dry out any remaining puddles or moisture.

Remove Mud and Dirt

Once standing water is gone, you can move on to the next step of flood cleanup: clearing away mud and dirt. Use shovels or squeegees to remove sludge from floors and walls – start in high-traffic areas first. Ensure you have plenty of trash bags or buckets to haul away debris. Then, take the garbage into the yard or a dumpster for disposal.

Dispose of Severely Damaged Items

You will likely need to dispose of some damaged items, such as carpeting, furniture, mattresses, pillows, box springs, or anything else soaked with contaminated water (such as food supplies). Contact a local hazardous waste disposal company for proper removal if dealing with hazardous materials. And an important note: don’t attempt to remove contaminated items yourself, or you may put your health at risk.

Dry Out Salvageable Items

Any items that can be salvaged should be dried out as soon as possible. Start with small objects, then move on to larger ones like furniture and mattresses. Place them on a dry surface outdoors in direct sunlight, or use dehumidifiers and fans to speed up the process. This will be your “dry out zone” for the project, so you’ll know any items here should not be hauled away but instead left to dry completely. Do not attempt to use an oven or microwave to dry items – this is a severe fire hazard.

If you have curtains or other textiles damaged from polluted flood water, remove them and dry them before washing and bleaching them or sending them to a professional cleaner. If these items are damaged beyond repair, you can dispose of them with other unsalvageable things.

Remove Ruined Flooring

Flooded carpets and rugs must be removed and discarded, as well as any floor tiles, sheetrock, insulation, or other materials that have been damaged beyond repair. You may need the help of a professional for this step, as it could involve heavy lifting and the safe disposal of hazardous materials. Alternatively, you may be able to tear out damaged flooring on your own, using tools such as a utility knife to cut out carpet or laminate and a pry bar to lift the remaining flooring for removal. Remove any staples or nails in the flooring to avoid stepping on them.

Cut Away Damaged Walls

Any walls that have been affected by flooding (still moist or presenting water bubbles) must be cut away and removed. This includes removing any insulation or drywall and cutting out skirting boards or other trim along the wall’s edges. Use a utility knife if needed. Depending on the extent of the damage, you may need professional help for this step.

Clean Yard of Debris

After all visible debris has been cleared away indoors, it’s time to tackle your yard. Remove fallen branches or other debris that could be a safety hazard or encourage pest infestations. If the flood was caused by a storm, you may want to check the roof for any debris that may have fallen. Gather debris into a pile or add it to a dumpster if you rented one.

Hire Junk Removal Experts to Haul It All Away

Once the initial flood cleanup process is complete, it’s time to move on to the final step – hauling away all the debris and junk that can’t be salvaged for reuse. Depending on the size of your cleanup project, this could be a difficult task. Fortunately, you don’t have to do it alone – hire a professional junk removal service like Nixxit Junk Removal to pick up and dispose of all items that can no longer be used or repurposed in your home or property.

Need Junk Removal After a Flood in the Bay Area? We Can Help.

If you’re dealing with the aftermath of a flood in the Bay Area, Nixxit Junk Removal can help. We specialize in removing and disposing of all kinds of junk and debris, from furniture to rubble. Call us today or book online to get your home or property back in shape – fast!