A Rental Dumpster Makes Cleaning Up After A Flood Easier

When your home is flooded, you'll have a lot of sorting and cleaning to do afterwards. You might call in a damage restoration company to help you get the structure of your house back in order, but you probably want to control what happens to your personal belongings and furniture. You may have to throw many things out, especially if the water was contaminated or muddy. Whether you're tackling the entire cleanup or just sorting through your belongings, a dumpster rental is a big help. Here are some suggestions for how to handle your water damaged possessions.

Move Things Outdoors As Soon As Possible

Your home dries out quicker if all the wet furniture and carpet are out of it. Plus, by taking your things outside so they can get sun and ventilation, you might prevent mold from growing all over your belongings. If you have a private place in your backyard to use as a holding area, you may want to keep your furniture there temporarily while you work on drying out the inside of your house. With all the furniture out of the way, you'll be able to see wet drywall and other soaked building materials you need to pull out and throw away.

Decide If Your Furniture Is Worth Saving

Drying out furniture could take a lot of work, so decide if it's worth trying to save things like a sofa or upholstered easy chair. If the padding and fabric don't dry out fast enough, the furniture could mold and then it will have a bad odor. If your furniture is new and expensive, then saving it is the best option even if you need professional help to do so. If your furniture is old and in need of being replaced anyway, then tossing it in the dumpster could be the best decision. The biggest concern is with upholstered furniture that soaks up water. Wood furniture like dining room tables and chairs can usually be saved much easier.

Dispose Of Wet Building Materials

Wet drywall should probably be thrown out because it takes a long time to dry and when it does, it may be warped or show stains. Carpet could be another problem. It might be possible to dry it out, but if you're not thorough, then the padding under it will mold and give you problems later. If the carpet is old and it is sopping wet, you may want to pull it up and throw it in the dumpster to get it out of the way. Having a dumpster parked near your home makes it convenient to get rid of building materials, furniture, and anything else that is ruined because of the flood. The back gate of a dumpster opens so you can roll items inside in a wheelbarrow or hand truck to make the job easier.

Once you've sorted the furniture, carpet, and other big items you want to throw out, that leaves your personal belongings like clothing and documents. You'll probably want to save what you can, but you may need professional help with paper items or clothing that has damage. Anything you want to dispose of can go into the dumpster with the furniture and carpet since you can usually mix trash in a dumpster, but you'll want to ask the dumpster rental company just to be sure.