Sewage Damage Cleanup – Getting Down and Dirty: Tips for Sewage Damage Cleanup
If you want to rob the fun out of what could have been a great day, all you have to do is mention three magic words: sewage damage cleanup. Nothing can be a more vomit-inducing and appetite-losing prospect than the thought of spending the day sifting through what you flush down the drain. But hey, it may be a tough job, but someone’s got to do it!
We all need to learn a few basics on sewage damage cleanup. Sewage damage seems to be more common these days, particularly if your house is old or your community sewage lines are not that well-maintained.
It’s great if the damage can be contained into a few feet of easy-to-scrub floors, but we’re usually not that blessed. Often, the sewage damage is intensive and affects many of our treasured furniture and stuff. The whole house can be flooded, making sewage damage cleanup cumbersome and complicated.
Unlike clean-up of flooding that resulted from a clean water line, sewage damage cleanup is like diving into a toxic dump. You have to assume that all the surfaces that the water touched needs to be disinfected, even if the water appear to be clear and without odor. Sewage water, after all, is the collection of our used washing water, laundry water and even excrement. And depending on what kind of sewage damage occurred, the disinfectant may need to be particularly strong.
Most things would be unsalvageable; as a rule if you can’t wash or boil it, throw it away. This is especially true of upholstery, stuffed toys, carpets and materials made of foam. And yes, of food, medicine, soap, cosmetics and anything you ingest or put in your body! Don’t get cheap and sentimental during sewage damage cleanup; you may be able to save some stuff today but think of the long-term costs of doing so.
Start sewage damage cleanup by protecting yourself. Wear rubber boots, rubber gloves, and goggles as you sift through the mess. Clear the area of all the flooding, you may use a mop or bucket for this that you must both throw away after use. Once the place has been dried, use a strong disinfectant and later maybe a deodorizer to clean the areas affected.
Sewage damage cleanup does not end after disinfection. Upon cleaning up the damage, you must conduct a thorough survey of your home to prevent complications. Air out damp areas and as much as you can, make sure they are dry and the house is well ventilated. Bacteria and molds can fester in damp and dirty areas and while you may have cleaned out the solid surfaces, the air can still be a cesspool of moisture and toxins. See what air disinfectants are available.
A word of caution: be extra careful of where you dispose the materials you wish to throw after a sewage damage cleanup. You may need to disinfect those too. If the sewage system has not yet been repaired, liquid waste may need to be treated. To be certain, call your local public health office. They would have some advice for you how and where to throw stuff collected after a sewage damage cleanup.
