7 Steps in the Sewage Cleanup Process

5/16/2022 (Permalink)

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The Sewage Cleanup Process Has Seven Steps

Discovering an overflowing toilet in your Lafayette, CO, home can be a stressful and disgusting experience, especially if it involves sewer issues. The sewage cleanup process puts you in contact with many contaminants, so it's vital to take several steps to ensure safe and thorough disinfection.

1. Protect Everyone

First, keep everyone safe. Turn off the electricity and restrict children and pets. Everyone working in the area must wear personal protective equipment to shield themselves and prevent cross-contamination into other locations. This PPE includes hair covers, protective goggles, respirators, rubber gloves, coveralls and rubber boots.

2. Extract Standing Water

You must eliminate all of the standing water as soon as possible. The best way to do this is with a wet/dry vacuum.

3. Remove Debris

After removing all of the water, you must clear the remaining debris. The wet/dry vacuum is ideal for removing smaller wet debris that can come from a flooded toilet.

4. Remove Contaminated Materials

All contaminated items must be removed so that you can properly clean the affected area. While removing them, you can determine what is salvageable and unsalvageable.

5. Discard Unsalvageable Items During Sewage Cleanup

Discard the unsalvageable materials by placing them in thick plastic trash bags or securely wrapping them in plastic sheeting. This method will help protect against spreading the contaminants to other areas.

6. Wash and Sanitize All Surfaces

After a sewer backup, it's essential to thoroughly clean and sanitize all surfaces that have come in contact with the contaminated water. Be sure to clean tiny crevices and any surface on which the water could've splashed.

7. Dry Everything Completely

Dry everything totally, including the structural materials and contents. Mold can start forming as quickly as 24 hours of moisture exposure. You can dry everything with fresh air, heaters, fans and dehumidifiers. Flood damage restoration experts have the experience and industrial equipment to do this quickly and thoroughly.

A flood can be disastrous, but the severity is taken to a new level when sewage cleanup is involved. Utilize these tips to perform this job safely and effectively.