Cleaning-up after a flood

If your home or property has been flooded, the water could have contained sewage, bacteria and viruses which can cause illness. This could be prevented by taking precautions when cleaning-up.

When cleaning up after a flood, you are advised to:

• contact your insurance company for advice and document all damaged goods to be claimed for
• discard soft furnishings such as carpets, sofas and curtains
• wear rubber gloves when clearing up floodwater damage and watch for broken glass and nails
• cover any cuts or wounds with a waterproof dressing before starting to clean
• wash away surface debris, silt and mud with hot water and detergent
• wipe over surfaces with a weak solution of bleach (5ml to 1 litre of water) or use an anti-bacterial disinfectant and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
• remember to wash your hands before eating or smoking
• contact your supplier or an NICEIC approved electrician if you have any doubts about electrical safety
• clean any taps that might have been contaminated and run them for 5 to 10 minutes to flush water through the system.
• clean and disinfect all food preparation surfaces, equipment, crockery, cutlery and glassware by removing all visible dirt, then wash, using hot water and detergent and finally disinfect with a solution of bleach (5ml of bleach to 1 litre of water) or anti-bacterial disinfectant
• clean and disinfect food equipment such as vending machines, ice-making machines and slicers
• dispose of any food and associated packaging contaminated with floodwater
  

If you feel unwell in the days following a flood in your home, especially with a stomach upset, consult your doctor and tell them that you have been cleaning up floodwater.