Page 7 - Fall 2011

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Furniture and household items
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Take furniture, rugs, bedding and clothing outside to dry as soon as
possible. Use an air conditioner or dehumidifier to remove moisture
or open at least two windows to ventilate with outdoor air. Use fans
to circulate air in the house. If mold and mildew have already
developed, brush off items outdoors to prevent scattering spores in
the house. Vacuum floors, ceilings and walls to remove mildew,
then wash with disinfectant. Wear a two-strap protective mask to
prevent breathing mold spores.
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Mattresses should be thrown away.
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Upholstered furniture soaks up contaminants from floodwaters and
should be cleaned only by a professional.
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Wood veneered furniture is usually not worth the cost and effort of
repair.
Solid wood furniture can usually be restored, unless damage is
severe.
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Toys and stuffed animals may have to be thrown away if they've
been contaminated by floodwaters.
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Photographs, books and important papers can be frozen and
cleaned later. They should be dried carefully and slowly. Wash the
mud off and store the articles in plastic bags and put them in a
frost-free freezer to protect from mildew and further damage until
you have time to thaw and clean them or take them to a
professional.
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Ceilings and walls
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Wallboard acts like a sponge when wet.
Remove wallboard, plaster and paneling to
at least the flood level. If soaked by
contaminated floodwater, it can be a
permanent health hazard and should be
removed. If most of the wallboard was
soaked by clean rainwater, consider cutting
a 4- to 12-inch-high section from the bottom
and top of walls. This creates a "chimney
effect" of air movement for faster drying. A reciprocating saw with a
metal cutting blade works well, but use only the tip of the blade and
watch out for pipes, ductwork and wiring.