Following Auckland’s wettest day on record, having received 3 months’ worth of rain in a day, Auckland residents found themselves devastated by flash flooding and landslides. As this weather event has been put down to global climate change, it’s likely we can expect to see more of these weather events.

It’s heartbreaking to see the signs of flood in your home, whether it’s water on the floor or water stains up the walls, on your furniture. It’s difficult to know where and how to start the daunting task that is the clean-up, but know that it can be fixed.

The clean-up after flood waters sweep through your home is a massive task. Keep your family safer by remembering these tips if you find yourself facing a mess.

Turn off the power before dealing with the water

If you’re dealing with standing water in your home following a flood, turn off your electricity and gas before doing anything else, if it is safe to do so. If you’re unable to access your power board or gas supply without stepping in water, call an electrician or gas plumber to disable these utilities for you. In the case that you smell gas, leave your home immediately and let your gas company know.

Wear personal protective gear

Always wear personal protective gear for flood clean-up. This typically would be a well-ventilated mask and eye protection without holes. Long pants, sleeves and gloves are also recommended to avoid directly touching mould and potentially contaminated flood waters. Wearing rubber gumboots will help to avoid any shocks and keep your feet dry.

Avoid touching your face. Using 4KLEEN Hand scrub and SteriGEL hand sanitiser during and following your clean-up process will help ensure you won’t become unwell from handling any potentially contaminated water or property.

Remove the water

It’s important to remove as much remaining flood water as possible, as quickly as possible, while remaining safe. Use a container or bucket to carry the water out. Once most of the water has been removed from your home, you could use a mop, old towels or rags to mop and ring the last of the water out. Removing as much mud and debris from your home while it’s still wet is easiest, so it doesn’t dry and crust in your home.

Some of your gib board and insulation may also need to be removed. This is to allow your walls to completely dry out and avoid any future issues with dampness or mould in your home. Wall coverings such as panelling and wallpaper should also be removed, in order to properly assess any damage beyond them. This should all be removed to the highest point of flooding waters, be sure to check for any signs of further damage beyond this point too.

Toss and disinfect

If you had something sitting in flood waters that cannot be cleaned, it should be removed from your home. Flood waters are often contaminated with various viruses and bacteria, including faecal bacteria from sewer lines, which should be removed from your home.

Items that sat in water for longer than 48 hours can produce mould. This could be items such as books or soft surfaces and furnishings that are difficult to disinfect.

Contamination is another worry. Anything that possibly came in contact with flood waters should be discarded appropriately to stop the further spread of any bacteria, viruses or spores. This could include carpet, soft furniture or rugs.

  • If you have insurance, contact your insurance company in the first instance to confirm the process for disposing of flood-damaged property. Remember to take photos and videos for your insurer, before throwing them away.
  • If you do not have insurance, get in touch with your local council for options for disposing of flood-damaged property.

Clean and disinfect every hard surface remaining in your home. A cleaning product will simply remove dirt from surfaces. A quality disinfectant, such as SteriGENE, will kill any lurking viruses, bacteria (including faecal bacteria) and spores, including mould, on surfaces that can develop after flooding. You can buy SteriGENE in bulk to avoid slowing your cleanup process.

Clean the air

Flooding can also contaminate the air in your home, bringing germs, bacteria and other nasties in. While you’re cleaning, make sure you have your bathroom and kitchen extractor fans going, as well as any other ventilators and dehumidifiers to keep the air moving, extract contaminated moister and discourage mould growth.

Once the dirt has been removed from your home, you might like to let off an AirSTEL aerosol disinfectant to disinfect the air in your home, as well as any other nooks and crannies you haven’t been able to reach.

Keep your receipts and take photos

If you are enlisting the help of a professional cleaner or handyperson to help you with your cleanup and fix some flood damage, make sure you keep your receipts and take photos for your insurance company. If you’re renting, you can also submit these to your property manager or landlord for reimbursement for any expenses you have accrued in property cleanup.

Further information for getting ready to prepare before, during and after flooding is found on the Civil Defence National Emergency Management Agency website.