How Can All New Yorkers Prevent Harmful Mold After Flooding?

You have found yourself in a situation where the basement or the downstairs, or somewhere in your home has flooded or taken in a great deal of water, what do you do next? The cleanup process and what you do next is very important, so you are not left with one of the top 'silent killers' known to mankind.

That silent killer that happens most after water damage to your home is mold. Mold can be found anywhere that there is moisture, wet clothes, furniture, walls, anywhere. Sometimes you will not only be able to see it, but you can also smell it.

What to do when you find mold in your home?

If you see mold in your home know that it could be affecting your health and you will want to get rid of it immediately and in the safest way possible. Do yourself a favor and take a few pictures for the insurance agency, then call them. Depending on the mold and where it is located you might need to find another place to stay. Mold is serious business and by being around it and breathing those mold spores in, you are susceptible to asthma attacks, skin conditions and other "not pleasant" reactions. 

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What is the next step in the process of dealing with dangerous mold?

From the time something floods until the time you need to worry about things not drying out quick enough because of the water/flooding, is about 48-hours. If it cannot be dried or cleaned within that 48-hours, including dry wall, furniture and clothing, it is best to throw it out.

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To protect yourself when either tossing those items, or cleaning up the mess that you are left with, make sure to use PPE, personal protective equipment, such as gloves, mask or even a respirator and cleaning products. It is also important to make sure that you have as much fresh air getting into the space as possible. It could also be helpful to have fans and a dehumidifier running as well to dry the space out. If you are not sure, call your insurance company as they will have recommendations on professional places that can help you clean it up, as well as test your homes air quality, post clean up.