CHENNAI 2015
AFTER THE FLOOD A GUIDE TO CLEANING HOUSES
Issued in the public interest after the Chennai floods 2015. Credits Translations: GK Manickavel Graphics: Gnaneshwar Concept & Content
R I S E and RESEARCH | INNOVATION | SYSTEMS | EXPERIENCES
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BEFORE YOU START Check for structural damage. DO NOT enter the building yourself if you suspect damage. Call in trained construction professionals.
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Avoid standing water. It may be electrically charged from underground power lines. Water + electricity = bad news
Safety TIP Photograph damage to your property for insurance purposes before you carry out any repairs
Turn off the electricity at the breaker if you are unsure of the wiring. Electric shocks can kill. Roof leak? Any other leak? Secure the building exterior temporarily with plastic or tarpaulin to prevent further moisture intrusion. Safety Safety
Safety Don’t eat food that has come into contact with the flood water.
Check if your drinking water source is contaminated with flood or sewage water. If so, DO NOT use! Did any part of the AC system come in contact with flood water? Can you see or smell mold? If yes, do not use until a professional has checked the system. Mold can spread via the AC system Flooded air-conditioning ducts may have mud in them. Safety
Do the toilets and sewer pipes drain well? If not, do not use until a plumber has repaired the damage Dettol Cleaning tools Cleaning tools
Cleaning tools
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HEALTH & SAFETY
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Broken glass, exposed nails and other sharp objects may be in the water/ mud
Safety After cleaning, always wash your hands and face with hot water, soap and disinfectant (like Dettol) before eating or drinking to reduce the chance of disease.
It takes at least 15 seconds to wash properly, so count to 15!
Floodwaters contain disease causing germs and Safety can also leave a layer of sediment: a mix of soil, sewage, and toxic chemicals. Avoid contact with skin/ mouth/ eyes. Wear protective equipment to prevent serious injuries, especial hands and feet. Step carefully. Water and mud make a floor very slippery. Check for cupboards and other tall pieces of furniture that might be ready to fall over. Cleaning tools Watch for snakes and other animals Cleaning tools
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Wet hands with water; apply enough soap to cover all hand surfaces. Dettol
Rub hands palm to palm and also interlace your tools Cleaning fingers to get soap in between. Dettol
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SAFETY GEAR
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Open chappals are not enough to prevent punctures, bites or crush injuries. Wear hard industrial boots. Or at the very least, wear kneehigh gumboots.
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GEAR CHECKLIST
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Allergens and toxins from mold, toxic fumes from Safety equipment- boots, and other construction dust can cause breathing problems. Wear a pollution mask (preferable) or at gloves, face masks, Cleaning toolstetanus jabs, eye wash, least tie a cloth around your nose and mouth disinfectant/ hand Wear rubber gloves if available sanitiser Always keep a bottle of eyewash solution or clean water on the job in case you get something in your eye. Cleaning tools
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Keep Dettol/ antiseptic and bandages available. Wash any cut with clean water and Dettol immediately!!
Waterproof boots or waders
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First aid kit
Rubber gloves Dust mask or a cloth to tie around the nose Clean and safe drinking water. Hydrate properly
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PREPARING TO CLEAN Cleaning tools tools Cleaning
Please dispose rubbish responsibly. Speak to your local Corporation official or sanitation worker. Do not just throw the rubbish on the streets- you will only encourage spread of disease
TOOLS You will need: Cleaning tools Crowbar,
hammer, saws, pliers, screwdrivers, etc.
Brooms, buckets, bleach, shovels, dustpans, mops etc
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A wooden stick for scaring away snakes and small animals Trash bags, dustbins and proper means to dispose of waste
STARTING THE CLEANING If building has not been open, open most windows and doors and leave for at least half an hour before beginning work. Remove the curtains to allow maximum air and light to get into the house Open inside doors, cupboard doors and drawers to allow air flow through the building Do not run air-conditioning systems DO NOT switch on the fans if the house is contaminated with sewage because the air movement may spread germs into other parts of the house.
WHAT TO KEEP, WHAT TO THROW When soft items such as fabric, or electronic items with fans, come into contact with water, they may develop mold. Mold can cause serious respiratory problems. In general, do not try to save moldy, porous items The following items need to be thrown away when you can see or smell mold and/or the materials have been under water:
Curtains and carpets, bedsheets, bedspreads, pillows etc.
Upholstered furniture
Computers, microwaves, window A/C units and other electronics/appliances that had fans and were housed in moldy rooms.
Papers and books
Items that can normally be saved include:
Nonporous items like glass, porcelain and metal
Wooden furniture with mold growth but otherwise in good condition
Photographs, books and valuable or important legal documents with minor levels of mold
Cleaning the House
STEP-BY-STEP CLEANING
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DRAINING THE BASEMENT
Floodwaters outside the house will create water pressure against the outside basement walls. Pressure outside the walls will be greater than the pressure inside the walls if the basement is drained too quickly, leading to development of cracks You might have to wait to pump out water, or do it in stages. To drain the basement carefully, follow these steps: Do not go into a basement with standing water unless you are sure the electricity is off. After floodwaters have drained around the building, basement water can be pumped out. Pump the water level down 2 to 3 feet. Mark the level and wait overnight. Check the level the next day. If the water went back up, it is too early to drain the basement completely. Pump the water down 2 to 3 feet again and mark the level. Check the level the next day. Repeat these steps until the level stops rising and all the water is pumped out.
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REMOVE MUD AND WATER
How much standing water is there in the house? Can it be pushed out or do you need to hire a pump? If there is mud inside the house, it must be washed out. If there is a large amount of mud, it may have to be shoveled into buckets and carried out Once the mud and standing water have been removed clean all the surfaces- walls, floors, ceiling- the mud and water were in contact with. Wash them out with clean water mixed with disinfectant solution. Use 1 cup disinfectant to 1 bucket water. Use bleach if possible. Wear gloves!
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DRY THE HOUSE
Once you have removed all traces of mud and flood water and washed out the house, open all the windows and doors to allow the house to thoroughly dry out. Switch on fans to help the process, DO NOT switch on air-conditioning systems.
Cleaning the House
Use desiccants such as silica gel sachets. Desiccants (materials that absorb moisture) are useful in drying cupboards and other enclosed areas. Alternatively, use an electric dehumidifier.
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VACUUM ALL SURFACES After the house is dry, you can clean all surfaces with a vacuum cleaner. Wait at least one hour to let dust and spores previously in the air to settle, and then repeat to get rid of any traces of dust and spores.
Cleaning the House
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WET CLEAN SURFACES After the vacuum cleaning, you can damp wipe all surfaces such as ceiling, walls, windows, doors etc with a mix of water and detergent. Starting at the ceiling, wipe until all visible dirt and stains are removed. Use the least amount of water possible to allow surfaces to dry quickly.
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DISINFECT CONTAMINATED AREAS Use a disinfectant to on all hard surfaces
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Mop floors with a mix of water and disinfectant. Use 1 cup disinfectant to 1 bucket water.
Never mix bleach and ammonia.
Clean all surfaces, including tiles, kitchen counters, taps etc with bleach +water + detergent. Use one cup of bleach to one bucket of water. After disinfection, wipe all the disinfected surfaces down with a clean dry cloth. Open doors and windows to allow faster drying.
Moist surfaces attract bacterial growth and mould, so minimize this possibility.
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PAINTING If possible, try to paint the house with mold resistant paint or whitewash the house. with lime (chunam)
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PROTECTING WOOD Treat wooden surfaces including cupboards, door and window frames etc. with borate solution to protect the house from mold, termites and wood rot. Wait until the wood is completely dry before carrying out this step Follow manufacturer’s instructions to apply the product Apply fungicidal protective coating as a final treatment to prevent mold growth.
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MOLD
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Mold is going to be a big problem in a humid climate like Chennai after a flood. The key to mold control is moisture control.
CAN YOU CLEAN IT YOURSELF?
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Molds can have a big impact on indoor air Off quality and present serious long-term health risks (respiratory illnesses) as well as continue to damage materials long after the flood. Safety
CLEANING MOLD Fix leaks. Dry all items completely. Scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent, water and scrubber. Dry completely. toolssuch as fabric and Absorbent or porous Cleaning materials, ceiling tiles may have to be thrown away. Dettol
Do not paint moldy surfaces. Clean up the mold and dry the surfaces before painting. Paint applied over moldy surfaces is likely to peel.
If you have a small, visible patch of mold (less than 10 sft or so), you can clean it yourself. If the damage is more widespread, call in an expert.
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system if you know or suspect that it is contaminated with mold - it could spread mold throughout the building Consult a specialist
You may suspect hidden mold if a building smells moldy, but you cannot see the source. If you believe that you may have a hidden mold PRECAUTIONS problem, consider hiring Cleaning tools Avoid breathing in mold or mold spores. Wear a a professional as it may pollution mask or otherwise cover your nose and be difficult to identify mouth. and clean the problem at source. Wear gloves Dettol