Assessing and Dealing with Specific Damage

How do you disinfect wood after a flood?

Water damage can be devastating to your home, but it’s important to act quickly to minimize the damage. One of the most important things you can do is to disinfect any wood that has been affected by water.

Here are the steps you need to take to disinfect wood after a flood:

• Remove all standing water. Use a wet/dry vacuum to remove as much water as possible from the wood.
• Ventilate the area. Open windows and doors to allow the area to dry out.
• Clean the wood with a bleach solution. Mix one part bleach to ten parts water. Apply the solution to the wood using a sponge or cloth. Allow the solution to sit for 10 minutes, then rinse it off with clean water.
• Dry the wood completely. Use a fan or dehumidifier to dry the wood completely. This may take several days or even weeks.

Once the wood is dry, you can repair any damage that has been caused by the water. If the damage is extensive, you may need to replace the wood.