How to Clean up Your Property After a Flood

Highlights:

• Floodwater can contain contaminants, toxic and non-toxic, so protective clothing is required before dealing with the water.
• Make sure you take photos of how floodwater damaged the property (interior and exterior) so it can be relayed to the insurance company.
• Hiring a skip can be beneficial as it’s a great way to dispose of items in bulk. If you are in Peterborough, Huntingdon, and Cambridge, Woodford Recycling’s skip hire service is here to help!

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Over recent years, the UK has been experiencing some pretty extreme weather; in fact, 2023 was one of the country’s wettest years on record, with an average of 1,290mm of rainfall. These figures show no signs of slowing down in 2024, and back in January, Storm Henk left over 2,000 homes across the country flooded and an estimated 102,000 properties at risk.

If your property has experienced flooding, the task of ensuring it’s habitable again can seem monumental. Fortunately, the team at Woodford Recycling is here to help with this guide on how to clean up your property after a flood

What to do first

When you first arrive back at your property following a flood, it’s important that you’re prepared with all the right gear for the task at hand. Floodwater can contain sewage and other contaminants, so you should always wear protective gloves and clothing. Once inside the property, take photos and videos of the interior and list all of the damage to your property and belongings so that this information can be passed on to your insurance company.

After you’ve documented all of the damage, the mammoth task of cleaning up begins. You’ll first need to remove any residual water or silt from your property, which will involve hiring a water displacement pump. Then, the long process of drying out your home can start. Unfortunately, to ensure your home dries out completely, all carpet and flooring on top of the subfloor must be removed and disposed of. 

How to get rid of flood-damaged items

The process of cleaning up after a flood is lengthy and it can unfortunately take months before your property is back to normal. To reduce unnecessary clutter and ensure the cleaning process goes as smoothly as possible, it’s sensible to dispose of bulky flood-damaged items first.

You’ll need to assess the state of your belongings and furniture to determine whether or not they are worth keeping or if the damage is too severe. 

One way to dispose of flood-damaged items is to hire a skip. Skip hire can save you time, money and hassle during this already stressful period by preventing you from having to make multiple trips to the nearest tip. Cleaning up after a flood will naturally be quite distressing, so hiring a skip allows you to work at your own pace without being tied to a deadline. It’s also better for the environment, as when you choose a reliable company like Woodford Recycling, we’ll ensure all of your waste is disposed of in line with all environmental regulations.

Some flood-damaged items that could be disposed of in a skip include:

• Flooring
• Carpets and rugs
• Soft furnishings
• General flood debris
• Garden waste
• Tiles
• Bulky furniture (desks, chairs, sofas, etc)

However, it’s important to bear in mind that it may not always be possible to dispose of these things in a skip. As floodwater is considered a contaminant, if your items are deemed to have been exposed to this for a prolonged period then they may be classed as hazardous waste. 

In such cases, you’ll need the help of a trusted waste disposal company like Woodford Recycling. Flood-damaged electrical appliances should also not be disposed of in a skip and will need to be collected by a waste management company.

How can Woodford Recycling help?

As we’ve already mentioned, earlier this year, Storm Henk left many properties devastated. Peterborough and Cambridgeshire were some of the worst affected regions, with some villages in Peterborough left completely cut off.

So, how can the team at Woodford Recycling help? We supply skip hire and waste management services to homes across the region, which offer a whole host of benefits:

• Convenient: We’re here to make life as convenient as possible during this stressful period. We can collect your waste at a time that works for you, allowing you to work to your schedule and saving you from multiple trips to the tip.

• Affordable: As an independent, locally-run business, we’re passionate about keeping our services as affordable as possible for local people, saving you money at this difficult and expensive time.

• Proper waste disposal: We’re a fully licensed company, so you’ve got peace of mind that we’ll dispose of all your waste safely and correctly, including any hazardous waste.

If your property in Cambridge, Peterborough, Huntingdon or the surrounding area has been affected by flood damage, the team at Woodford Recycling is here to support you with a range of waste management services. To discuss your needs with one of our friendly experts, get in touch with us today.