How Long Does It Take to Extract Water After Flooding?

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We live in Texas, where flooding is unfortunately an all-too-common natural disaster. When your home experiences flood damage, you lose more than just your belongings. The structure of your home might be compromised, depending on the extent of the damage, and you’ll have to clean and sanitize everything once the dirty flood waters subside. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you begin the process of cleaning up after flood damage.

Water extraction takes time...

If your home or basement is flooded, the water cannot be extracted quickly. Only two to three feet of water can be pumped out a day, or else the sudden change in pressure might cause the walls to collapse. Wood floors will need to be dried gradually to avoid warping or buckling, and other types of flooring, such as carpet or vinyl, will need to be removed so the subflooring can dry out.  

Expect the mess...

The water will have left behind a sizeable amount of mud, as well as other contaminants. You’ll need to tackle the mud first, shoveling out as much as possible, and then proceed by hosing down the remains. Next, sanitize everything: glass and ceramic dishes and countertops can be cleaned in a water/bleach mixture, while metal silverware and pots and pans can be sanitized in boiling water.    

Watch out for mold...

Wear a protective mask to avoid breathing in mold spores. If mold and mildew have already developed on some items, clean them outside to prevent the spores from spreading inside. Walls, if soaked by contaminated flood water, will likely need to be removed to avoid health hazards and to ventilate the studs.

Contact your insurance company immediately to find out what they cover. You may want to hire a professional cleaning and restoration company to help with the process. The Steam Team is made up of experts who specialize in cleaning up after water damage, so don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re on call 24/7! Also for quick carpet

Caring for Floors in Your New Home

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Alas- after much anticipation, preparation, and hard work, you’re all moved into your brand new home. And you stand in the entryway, marveling at its immaculate state, you wonder… How am I supposed to keep my house this clean?

While we can assure you that this task is totally doable without the acquisition of superhero strength, there are still a few tools of the trade that we think you should know!

Hardwood

Well Friends, there’s no easy way around it: you’re going to be doing a ton of vacuuming. On the bright side, this is more efficient than sweeping, and isn’t as demanding on the body. You can use an attachment to reach dusty corners, or those creepy dark spaces beneath appliances. After the dust and dirt has been removed, use a spray mop to finish it off! Spray mops are typically lightweight and very simple to use.

Carpet

In addition to frequent vacuuming and spot treating, we recommend hiring a professional steam cleaning company. Occasionally, carpet collects enough dust, dirt, and general wear that it needs a professional’s touch: this includes expert technique, and professional-grade equipment!

Tile

Tile flooring should be periodically mopped with warm water and a cleansing solution, but in the interim, a dry dusting mop will be your secret weapon.

Marble

To maintain that new, spotless look in your marble flooring, you’ll need only two things: a soft sponge, and a cleanser that is specially formulated for marble/stone. With warm water, sponge away spills immediately after you discover them. With this habit in place, and frequent dust mopping, your floors should sparkle!

Don’t dwell on all of the accidents, spills, scrapes, chips, and scrubs that will inevitably take place all over the flooring in your new home. Instead, gear up to establish a thorough, effective cleaning routine to keep your home looking like the day you moved in. And of course, for a professional’s advice and expertise, contact The Steam Team today!

Indoor vs Outdoor Air: Which is More Polluted?

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It may be difficult to believe that the air you breathe indoors may be more polluted than the air you’d encounter outdoors. This fact is absurd, and only grows more unsettling as we consider that the amount of time we spend indoors versus outdoors is only increasing. All of this may leave us wondering where we can escape to, or at least what can be done to increase air quality. But first, let’s take a glance at a handful of causes to these indoor air pollutants!

What’s Polluting Indoor Air?

1. Tobacco Smoke

Tobacco smoke is a major pollutant, and its second hand smoke lingers in the air far longer, only to settle onto every surface present.  

2. Mold

Mold grows in lickity split and spreads even more rapidly. If you notice a mold issue in your home you’ll need to act quickly! It’s a good idea to call in a professional cleaning and restoration service to ensure that your home is thoroughly treated.

3. Poor Ventilation

Inadequate ventilation is one of the most common causes of indoor pollution. This also explains why you may feel worse in humid climates, or in the winter when the air conditioning isn’t running as frequently. Be sure to properly ventilate your home by utilizing kitchen fans or other exhaust fans, air conditioning units, ceiling fans, etc.

What Can Be Done?

Indoor pollutants can put our health at risk by causing irritated mucous membranes in our eyes, nose, or throat, and an array of other medical conditions. Symptoms are often masked by colds, flus, and other illnesses.  The best thing you can do for indoor pollutants is to eliminate the source(s), and thoroughly ventilate your home.

For a professional touch, consider hiring The Steam Team to thoroughly clean your home and reduce indoor air pollutants!. In no time at all, we’ll have your home looking and feeling pristine and, most importantly, healthy.