What To Do After Your Kitchen Floods

CONTENTS

• Identify the cause of the flood
• Determine how severe the flooding is
• How to clean up after a flood
• Prevent mould outbreaks
• Get in touch

When any part of your property is flooded, you are looking at costly repairs, water damage, and perhaps even a mould outbreak. But if your kitchen is under a few feet of water, the situation is much more serious.

Damaged kitchen appliances and waterlogged cabinets are not just more expensive to sort out, they make the drying and restoration process more difficult, too.

Here at ICE Cleaning, our technicians can remove all the water, decontaminate the affected surfaces, and make your home safe and clean, again. Our specialist water damage cleaners can be on site in an hour in an emergency.

In this blog, we will go through what you need to do when your kitchen is flooded.

Identify the cause of the flood

The first thing you must do is stop the flooding. Shut off the water and turn off the electricity going to the kitchen, or call a plumber immediately to do it for you.

Then, you must determine what has caused the flood. The most likely causes are a clogged or cracked pipe connection under the kitchen sink, or a faulty dishwasher.

If the cause was local flooding, call in professional cleaners to remove the water and dry out your property. Flood water is full of bacteria and contaminants which can make people exposed to or in contact with it ill.

Make sure you also notify your insurer of the flooding and take pictures of the damage to make an effective claim. Removing the water, drying out the kitchen, and replacing items might be expensive so the payout should help cover costs.

Determine how severe the flooding is

How you deal with a flood depends on the volume and type of standing water in your kitchen:

• If the water came from a supply pipe or kitchen tap, it will probably be safe to handle.
• Greywater that comes from dishwashers or washing machines contains harmful bacteria and chemicals. Don’t touch this water or try and clear it up yourself.
• Black water, or sewage, is extremely dangerous to be exposed to and touch as it contains harmful microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, and parasites. You must call in professional cleaners and plumbers immediately should any be in your kitchen.

If there is a small amount of clean water flooding your kitchen, it may be possible for you to clean it up. But a high water level will require professional equipment. Bring in specialist cleaners to take care of it.

How to clean up after a flood

You need to first remove all the excess water in the kitchen. Depending on how much there is, a mop and bucket should do the trick.

Next, improve air flow to help dry out the surfaces, building materials, and furnishings, and get rid of excess humidity. Open all the windows and use a fan or dehumidifier. Make sure cabinet doors and drawers are open so all the damp is aired out.

Then, dry off any wet furniture. Wipe down upholstery thoroughly, and be careful with wooden furniture because it can be weakened after contact with water.

Don’t lay down newspaper on the kitchen floor or surfaces to soak up water as the ink might bleed . Avoid using electrical items damaged by the water, as well. They need to be inspected by a professional to verify if they are safe to use.

Finally, ensure all affected surfaces are thoroughly disinfected to make your kitchen safe to cook, eat, and store food in again.

Prevent mould outbreaks

Flooded homes are the perfect environment for mould. The fungi grows in damp or humid conditions, so flood damaged properties are magnets for it. Mould can cause allergic reactions, trigger asthma attacks, and prompt a number of health problems.  

To protect your home against mould , you need to make sure the kitchen is thoroughly dried and disinfected. Start cleaning within 48 hours of the flooding, if safe to do so. It is also recommended that you throw out things that can’t be cleaned, like water damaged wood or furniture.  

Should you spot mould growth in your property, hire professional cleaners. Attempt to clean it yourself and you might release spores into the air that will spread around your property. Our technicians are Dewpoint accredited mould remediation experts that can remove mould.

To ensure your flooded kitchen is thoroughly dried and cleaned, you must hire professional cleaners. Here at ICE Cleaning, we use state-of-the-art equipment to restore kitchens and properties. Our technicians are available nationwide, 365 days a year, 24/7.

Get in touch

Contact us today on 0208 066 0360 or at enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk to find out more about our flooded kitchen cleaning service.