A GUIDE TO CLEANING HOUSES

CHENNAI 2015

AFTER THE FLOOD

Issued in the public interest after the Chennai floods 2015.

Credits

Translations: GK Manickavel

Graphics: Gnaneshwar

Concept & Content and RESEARCH | INNOVATION | SYSTEMS | EXPERIENCES

R ISE

BEFORE YOU START

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Check for structural damage. DO NOT enter the building yourself if you suspect damage. Call in trained construction professionals.

Avoid standing water. It may be electrically charged from underground power lines. Water + electricity = bad news

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.

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.

Do the toilets and sewer pipes drain well? If not, do not use until a plumber has repaired the damage

TIP

Photograph damage to your property for insurance purposes before you carry out any repairs

HEALTH & SAFETY

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Broken glass, exposed nails and other sharp objects may be in the water/ mud

Floodwaters contain disease causing germs and 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.

Watch for snakes and other animals

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!

Wet hands with water; apply enough soap to cover all hand surfaces.

Rub hands palm to palm and also interlace your fingers to get soap in between.

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SAFETY GEAR

Open chappals are not enough to prevent punctures, bites or crush injuries. Wear hard industrial boots. Or at the very least, wear knee-high gumboots.

Allergens and toxins from mold, toxic fumes from and other construction dust can cause breathing problems. Wear a pollution mask (preferable) or at least tie a cloth around your nose and mouth

Wear rubber gloves if available

Always keep a bottle of eyewash solution or clean water on the job in case you get something in your eye.

Keep Dettol/ antiseptic and bandages available. Wash any cut with clean water and Dettol immediately!!

Safety equipment- boots, gloves, face masks, tetanus jabs, eye wash, disinfectant/ hand sanitiser

Flashlight

First aid kit

Waterproof boots or waders

Rubber gloves

Dust mask or a cloth to tie around the nose

Clean and safe drinking water. Hydrate properly

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GEAR CHECKLIST

PREPARING TO CLEANTOOLS

STARTING THE CLEANING

You will need:

Crowbar, hammer, saws, pliers, screwdrivers, etc.

Brooms, buckets, bleach, shovels, dustpans, mops etc

A wooden stick for scaring away snakes and small animals

Trash bags, dustbins and proper means to dispose of waste

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.

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Cleaning toolsPlease 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

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

STEP-BY-STEP CLEANINGDRAINING THE BASEMENT1

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.

Cleaning the House

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REMOVE MUD AND WATER2How 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!

DRY THE HOUSE

VACUUM ALL SURFACES

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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.

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.

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

DISINFECT CONTAMINATED AREAS

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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.

Use a disinfectant to on all hard surfaces

Mop floors with a mix of water and disinfectant. Use 1 cup disinfectant to 1 bucket water.

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.

WARNING

Never mix bleach and ammonia.

Cleaning the House

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Cleaning the House

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PAINTING

PROTECTING WOOD

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If possible, try to paint the house with mold resistant paint or whitewash the house. with lime (chunam)

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.

Cleaning the House

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CLEANING MOLD

PRECAUTIONS

Cleaning the House

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MOLDMold is going to be a big problem in a humid climate like Chennai after a flood. The key to mold control is moisture control.

Molds can have a big impact on indoor air quality and present serious long-term health risks (respiratory illnesses) as well as continue to damage materials long after the flood.

Fix leaks. Dry all items completely.

Scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent, water and scrubber. Dry completely.

Absorbent or porous materials, such as fabric and ceiling tiles may have to be thrown away.

Do not paint moldy surfaces. Clean up the mold and dry the surfaces before painting. Paint applied over moldy surfaces is likely to peel.

Avoid breathing in mold or mold spores. Wear a pollution mask or otherwise cover your nose and mouth.

Wear gloves

CAN YOU CLEAN IT YOURSELF?

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.

Do not run the AC 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 problem, consider hiring a professional as it may be difficult to identify and clean the problem at source.

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A GUIDE TO CLEANING HOUSES

CHENNAI 2015

AFTER THE FLOOD