* After the flood waters have receded, remove broken tree branches and all other potentially dangerous objects from the ground. Get help to remove heavier branches and objects. * The next step in the water damage restoration process is to prune broken shrub and tree branches. Tree branches should be pruned at the point of connection with the trunk. * Use your garden hose to wash your plants and to remove all traces of possibly contaminated floodwaters. * Before starting water damage restoration of your garden, purchase a supply of compost-enriched soil as well as a supply of mulch. Spread as much as you can of both over all exposed plant roots. * Avoid walking in still-soggy flowerbeds. This could damage exposed and fragile roots. * An important part of the water damage restoration of your garden is to add soil nutrients to replace the nutrients that were washed away by heavy floods. * Once the garden soil is relatively dry, add the compost. * Wait until your lawn area is dry before applying a thin layer of organic fertilizer, about 1/4-inch thick. * As you go through this water damage restoration process, remember to empty all containers in your garden where water may have collected (empty plant pots, buckets etc). The standing water will soon be a breeding ground for mosquitoes if you don't get rid of it. * Hunt for snails in dark places such as underneath bricks and boards. Wear gloves and remove the snails by hand. Do not use snail poisons, especially if you have pets. Water damage restoration is not meant to harm them! * Look out for fire ants too. They often invade a flooded yard or garden. You can buy earth friendly fire ant bait to add to any infested spots you may find. Make sure to follow instructions on the label. * A major part of garden water damage restoration is to get rid of the rot and fungal diseases that will certainly have affected your garden after a prolonged wet period. Replace all infected flowers, shrubs and plants. * Draining and cleaning water-damaged gardens is the major component of water damage restoration. If you have a pond, you should pump out the contaminated water. If you have to, rent a shop vac to remove all debris from your yard. * Finally, fill up your pond with clean water and replace infected and damaged plants and shrubs. The water damage restoration of your garden is now complete. * Never eat fruits or vegetables picked from a garden that has been flooded. In particular, avoid leafy vegetables (such as spinach for example), squash, tomatoes, peppers and strawberries. These fruits and vegetables are easily contaminated by the bacteria present in floodwaters.
Drat! The water pipes in the bathroom have burst and now you are faced with mountains of soaked and sopping clothing. Although you received a check from the insurance company for replacement costs, you have been contemplating that pile for the last hour or so and are pretty well convinced that with some careful laundering you can salvage at least that gorgeous little sweater you have only worn a time or two. While there may be less health risks involved with water from burst indoor pipes than from flood water, you still have to take care that you get to the items before dangerous mold gets a strangle hold on your cherished item.
Water damage can cause more problems than what is initially noticeable so take care and understand a few key facts before you even dream of starting a water damage restoration project. A little preparation now can keep the amount of work that you do to a minimum. It is bad enough that you have this water damage to deal with, you do not want to make things harder or more complicated than they really need to be.
First: do not just pile your water soaked items into the washing machine and run it. The huge amount of water that is in your items may cause your machine to become unbalanced and cause damage to it- (this would more than likely not be covered by your insurance). Wring out as much of the water as you possibly can, or lay it flat in the sunlight to dry. Once it is dry, you can more closely inspect your water damaged item- is it stained beyond hope? Is there any hint of mold started on it? Will you be able to get that funky odor out of it ? If we are talking your one of a kind vintage concert tee, it might be worth the effort, if it is simply a tee that you already have four of in the hamper, then let it go.
Second: Realize that just regular washing may not be enough for this job. Use a extra strength laundry detergent for this project and consider adding some baking soda to boost the cleaning power. Terribly stained items might actually need to be washed more than once, but you should consider something permanently damaged after a second wash cycle has not improved either scent or appearance. Further washing of these items is a waste of your time and will probably lead to further damage to the material.
Third, if the items that need washed are white, you can toss in a cut lemon to boost the whitening and freshening power of bleach. Take care that your item is rinsed thoroughly or the residual bleach may eat through the material.
Finally, remember that your water damage has only potentially cost you a few articles of clothing. Many families lose their homes and all of their possessions every year, so losing a sweater or that killer pair of jeans should pale in comparison.
Both Charmaine Pierce & Isolde Werry are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Charmaine Pierce has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home, Sewage and Home Management. Charmaine Pierce is a house issue disaster writer for and. Charmaine Pierce's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.
Isolde Werry has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home, Carpet Cleaning and Upholstery and Pets. Isolde Werry shares info on flooding and fire for and. Isolde Werry's top article generates over 22200 views. to your Favourites.