How to Safely Clean Home After Typhoon

4 January 2022

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On average, roughly 20 storms, some of which are quite destructive, strike the Philippines each year since the country is in a typhoon belt. Some of the strongest typhoons that devastated the country are the typhoons Ondoy in 2009 and the super typhoon Yolanda in 2013, in which more than 6,500 people were killed or missing. In fact, a destructive typhoon named Odette recently ravaged the Visayan region and shattered the area.

In this light, aside from being prepared and ready, it is also vital for us to know how to safely clean our home after severe weather or a severe storm. Here, we collected some tips on what are the things that you need to do to safely clean your home, especially if you are eyeing to have a real estate investing or an apartment for rent.

Tips on cleaning your home

It's up to you whether you want to tackle the biggest concerns in your whole house or concentrate on just a few key areas where you can make significant improvements.

1. Have protective gear to wear

A vast serious health risk may be encountered during storm cleanup, from standing water to animals and insects to splintered timber and drooping ceilings. This is the reason why you and everyone who helps you clean up and mend should at the very least be wearing some of these protective gears while cleaning your home:

Long pants
Long-sleeved shirt
Sturdy shoes or boots (no tennis shoes or flip flops)
Work gloves

You may also want to invest in:

Eye protection
Disposable masks
Hard hats

2. Always have a tub of hot water with laundry or dish detergent.

When you already wear some protective gear, it is now the time to go to work. Flood is imminent, especially during typhoons, so disinfect any moist items and surfaces by running hot water and a mild dish or laundry detergent through them thoroughly. When cleaning your flooring, concrete, molding, wood and metal furnishings, counters, appliances, sinks, and other plumbing fixtures, you can use this mixture. Also, when cleaning up mold with a mix of bleach and water, don't forget to observe these safety precautions:

Bleach should never be used in a room that is completely sealed off or in a closed space. Make sure that you open the doors and windows first of your house before cleaning.
Put on personal protective equipment (PPE) for your eyes, nose, and mouth before you start cleaning. An N-95 respirator, goggles, and gloves are all necessary safety precautions.
Use household bleach and 1 gallon of water to produce a cleanser.
Everything that has mold on it should be cleaned off.

3. Dispose of flooded stuffed animals.

Keep in mind that anything that has come into touch with floodwater may be contaminated and considered hazardous materials, especially to your kids. Stuffed animals and baby toys may be resistant to germ-killing chemicals. Don't keep toys that you can't wash. If you want to keep your children safe, make sure their toys are well cleaned. You can do so by mixing 1 cup of bleach with 5 gallons of water to make a cleaning solution. Use this to clean your kids' toys, then make sure to air dry the toys afterward.

Know more: NDRRMC Alert: A Text Message You Shouldn't Ignore

4. Prevent mold from forming.

Mold is a severe concern in the aftermath of flooding and typhoons. It usually grows on drywall, carpet, upholstered furniture, ceiling tiles, cardboard, paper, and other surfaces in wet and humid environments. It turns out that the spores may begin to develop within 24 to 48 hours of contact with water and offer a significant hazardous waste.

To prevent mold growth in your home, here are some of the things that you should do during a disaster cleanup:

Clean up and dry your house as soon as the storm or flood is over, ideally within 24 to 48 hours after the typhoon or flood ends.
Open the doors and windows to let fresh air into your home. Fans may be used to dry damp areas. Position fans such that they blow air out of doors or windows.
Do not use or recycle any drywall or insulation that has been polluted by sewage or flood water.
The sooner you fix any leaks in the roof, wall, or plumbing, the better.

5. Remove toppled trees and tree limbs.

Storms like hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods are ideal for bringing down trees because of the circumstances they create. To be safe, avoid touching any power lines that may be lying on the ground or hanging from a tree when assessing the damage caused by a fallen tree, as these power lines could still be on.

Here are other safety precautions that you must observe when removing fallen trees or branches:

Check to discover whether trees that have been damaged are still a threat to the property or people who live there. It's always best to get in touch with an experienced tree service or arborist in the event of an uprooted tree, broken trunk, or the likes.
Trees and branches that have fallen on electrical wires should never be removed. This is a safety hazard, so it's better if you contact your electric provider right away instead.
Only remove broken tree branches that you can reach from the ground level in order to reduce the danger of harm. You must never chop branches on a ladder with a chainsaw or by climbing a tree.
Additional safety gear, such as a hard helmet, hearing protection, long trousers, and cut-resistant gloves, is highly recommended while operating a chainsaw.
There's a good chance that twigs, leaves, and other yard waste have found their way into your yard. Leaf blowers may be used to get rid of them.

The aftermath of typhoons and flooding usually leave a lot of damages. It's okay to take a break if you're feeling overwhelmed by your workload. Let yourself breathe in some fresh air and appreciate the progress you've achieved thus far. Also, don't hesitate to seek assistance if you need it.

Also Read: Be Practical: Get Tips on How to Save Fuel

Meanwhile, if you're looking to buy a property or a house for sale, Lumina Homes is one of the most trusted house and lot providers these days. Essentially, if you're looking for a place to live that's both economical and high-quality, Lumina Homes is your best option.

With its reinforced concrete type of construction and made through cast in place as well as Industrialized Building System, the houses for sale from Lumina Homes can last the test of time and any natural disaster.

So start your real estate investing now with a trusted community provider like Lumina Homes!