Understanding the Importance of Prompt Action
Even if you have home insurance, you still need to act promptly when faced with a flooded bathroom. This is the only way you can minimise the damage done to the bathroom and the rest of your home. These are just some of the most common reasons why you need to act as fast as possible:
Standing water and wet floors and walls is a breeding ground for all kinds of bacteria. And we all know that water on walls and floors causes mould, which can have some serious health consequences for your family.
A drain overflow or a toilet flood might contain some sewage in the water, which not only makes it unbearable to breathe but can cause all sorts of illnesses.
The longer the water is lying on the floor and walls, the more damage you will have at the end of the day.
A flooded bathroom upstairs can result in a ceiling collapse if you don’t react fast enough.
Preparing for the Cleanup
The first thing you need to gather is all the equipment and tools you will need to get started with the cleanup. It is also a great idea to store these items somewhere convenient where it is ready to use when needed. You will need:
Rubber water boots – to prevent you from stepping directly into the water
Rubber gloves
Buckets, mops and floor squeegees
A plunger suitable for shower, sink, and toilet
The number of a plumber that you can call immediately
Step-by-Step Cleanup Process
With everything you need at hand, you need to follow a few steps to make cleaning a flooded bathroom easier. You can’t skip any of these steps if you want to clean up as fast and safely as possible.
Step 1: Turning off the Water Supply
The first and most important step in knowing how to clean a flooded bathroom is to turn off the main water supply to your home. It is also safer to turn off your electricity in your home at the switchboard, even if you don’t have any electricity in your bathroom. Remember the water can go into the walls and to other parts of your home where there are electrical cables.
Step 2: Removing Standing Water
This might be the longest and hardest part of cleaning a flooded bathroom. To start removing the standing water, you can use buckets, mops, or even floor squeegees that will absorb water faster. If there are other family members in your home, ask for help. This is the most important step that needs to be done as fast as possible to prevent as much damage as possible.
Step 3: Drying Out the Bathroom
When the standing water is removed, this isn’t the end of your problems. You still need to dry out the bathroom the floors, walls and any area that was flooded with water. Open your windows, use fans, and even dehumidifiers. If you can’t properly do this step yourself, now might be the time to call a plumber for assistance. Even if there are just some mild damp spots it can cause mould and bacteria to grow.
Step 4: Cleaning and Disinfecting
To prevent the sewage and water causing bacteria and mould in the bathroom, you might want to wash the area with a disinfectant. The good news is you can use the normal disinfectant and cleaner that you already have in your home. We recommend using Domestos to disinfect your bathroom, as it kills 99.9% of germs.
Step 5: Inspecting for Damage
After everything is cleaned, you can start inspecting for damage in the bathroom. Sometimes the damage can only be seen a couple of days later when everything is dried out. If you don’t know how to inspect for damage, you can also call a plumber to come and inspect your home, and repair any problems caused by the flooded bathroom, or the main cause for the disaster in the first place.
Preventive Measures for Future Floods
With all the hard work done, you might be wondering how you can prevent this from ever happening again. It can be a disaster if a flood happens when no one is at home, or if you don’t know how to clean it correctly. Preventing a bathroom flood is much easier than knowing how to clean up a flooded bathroom.
Don’t put anything other than toilet paper in the toilet
Make sure that you take care of slow sink drainage as fast as possible
The shut-off valves need to be in a good condition
Inspect your water pipes for any leakage and rust on a regular basis
Have an emergency plan in place to minimise damage during unforeseen circumstances
Cleaning up a flooded bathroom may seem overwhelming, but with the right approach and our expert tips, you can restore order to your home quickly. By following the step-by-step guide and implementing preventive measures, you'll be better prepared to handle any future bathroom floods.
Remember, at Cleanipedia, we're dedicated to making cleaning easy and helping you create a comfortable and worry-free home environment for your family. For more tips and tricks, visit Cleanipedia today!