IOWA (KCAU) — After the natural disasters have swept through several Iowa counties, the Red Cross is giving tips for reversing the damages done to your home.

On the Red Cross website, there are tips on how to tackle cleaning and repairs for your home.

Clothing and Gear

After a disaster such as this, it is important to clean up anything that could be hazardous. Anyone cleaning, at minimum, should wear the following

• Long pants
• Long-sleeved shirt
• sturdy shoes or boots (no tennis shoes or flip-flops)
• Work gloves

While cleaning, investing in the following may better aid the cleaning effort:

• Eye Protection
• Disposable mask
• Hard hats

In addition, many disasters have unique hazards that require specific precautions. Please consult the Emergency Resource Library for information on a particular disaster.

Basic Cleaning Supplies

A basic cleaning supply included the following, however, based on damages you may need more.

• Detergent
• Bleach
• TSP (if allowed in your area)
• Shop vac or canister vacuum
• sponges
• Buckets
• Rubber gloves
• Mops and brooms
• shovels and rakes
• Carpet knife
• Heavy-duty trash bags

Cleaning Up

At the start of cleaning, it is important to decide how and what you want to clean. It is also important to not become overwhelmed. Red Cross says “You may have a lot to accomplish, so be sure to take breaks when the task seems overwhelming. “

• If this is your first visit to the home, follow our tips for checking your home’s structural elements, utilities, and systems.
• Open doors and windows. If the house was closed for more than 48 hours, air it out before staying inside for any length of time.
• Remove any remaining water, large amounts of dirt/mud, damaged items and other trash.
• Clean hard surfaces throughout your home (flooring, countertops and appliances) thoroughly with hot water and soap or a detergent. Then disinfect with bleach or a commercial disinfectant (be sure to follow directions on the bottle).
• Dry soft surfaces (upholstered furniture, rugs, bedding, and clothing) in the open air if possible, before cleaning
• Throw out all food, beverages, and medicine exposed to flood waters and mud. This includes canned goods, plastic utensils, baby bottle nipples, and containers with food or liquid that have been sealed shut.
• This includes canned goods, plastic utensils, baby bottle nipples, and containers with food or liquid that have been sealed shut.

Cleaning and sanitizing food contact surfaces:

• Throw away wooden cutting boards, wood or plastic utensils, and baby bottle nipples and pacifiers that have come into contact with floodwater.
• Use hot, soapy water to thoroughly wash metal pans, ceramic dishes, and utensils that have come into contact with floodwater.
• Sanitize dishes by boiling them in clean or properly treated water or by immersing them for 10 to 15 min in a solution of 1 tablespoon of unscented liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water.

Water Damage

Water damage could be dangerous. It can affect wallboards to rugs and items that are not thoroughly dried out can sprout mold and mildew. Your first task in addressing water damage is to remove any water that remains.

• Pump out flooded basements gradually (about one-third of the water per day) to avoid structural damage. If the water is pumped out completely in a short period of time, pressure from water-saturated soil on the outside could cause basement walls to collapse.
• Bring all soft items outside if possible – sunlight and wind will help them dry faster.
• Throw out items that have absorbed water and cannot be cleaned or disinfected. This includes mattresses, carpeting, cosmetics, stuffed animals and baby toys.
• Remove all drywall and insulation that has been in contact with flood water.
• Consider removing vinyl floor coverings and tile to allow the substructure beneath or behind to dry.
• Keep windows open and run fans or keep them shut and run dehumidifiers – to pull moisture out of wood floors and subfloor, beams, doors, etc.

 Depending on the level of water damage incurred, it can take weeks or months for your home’s structural elements to be thoroughly dried.

For more information and tips, click here.