Tips for Cleaning the House After a Flood, Can Start with These Activities First

JAKARTA - Recently, heavy rain has hit some areas in Indonesia. High rainfall has caused roads and housing areas to be flooded. Is your house also flooded? If so, make sure your surroundings are safe before returning home, yes. If it is in a state of receding and safe, immediately clean the house with some tips below.

Open all doors and windows of the house when you first enter. This is to keep the air circulation in the house flowing well. After the doors and windows are opened, make sure the electricity is turned off to be safe while cleaning the house.

Floods can cause some items in the house to be submerged and even swept away so that they cannot be saved. Instead of being mourned, it is better to think positively by making this disaster a decluttering moment. If there are furniture that can be repurposed, you should separate them and can be repaired after the renovation is completed.

One of the items that is difficult to clean after being flooded is the carpet. The first aid to clean it is to spread the carpet in a place where the sun shines. Rinse both sides of the carpet with high-pressure water to dissolve the mud. Use a carpet cleaner and rub all parts of the carpet. Finally, dry the carpet until it is completely dry.

If you feel that the carpet still smells apek after washing, you should take it to a carpet washing place so that it can be cleaned by experts. If the condition of the carpet is too severe and has been submerged in mud for more than 24 hours, then throw the carpet so that it does not bring bad air into the house.

After cleaning the furniture from the mud with clean water, the next step is to dry it for 48 hours. You can use the help of a fan to speed up the drying process. Don't forget to remove the furniture parts so that the water is not stored between the items.

If the color of the item begins to fade due to this process, try re-polishing so that the furniture is shiny again.

In addition to furniture, the walls must also be cleaned, especially after being flooded for several hours. However, make sure the walls are completely dry before cleaning. If cleaned in a wet state, the stain will get worse. Use a clean cloth and brush to clean the stain. Add soap water and mix with disinfectant solution for more sterile.

If the kitchen is also submerged to contaminate food and cooking equipment, then immediately clean it, yes. The trick is to pour a disinfectant solution and water into a large container and soak glasses, porcelain items, plastic cutlery, and enamel for 10 minutes. As for milking equipment, pots, and pans, you just boil them in water for 10 minutes.

After kitchen utensils, let's move on to clothes, pillowcases, blankets, to curtains. Wash these items with powder detergent. Powder detergent works well to remove clay and dirt that may be contained in flood water. After this initial washing, wash everything again using hot water. Dry all clothes until you are sure the stains have disappeared.