Over the past weekend, the Klang Valley experienced heavy and continuous downpour causing huge floods that left many stranded on the roofs of their homes.  

While many affected by the flood long to return to their homes, they will be greeted with their beloved homes covered in mud and dirt. That’s not really a calm and stress-free situation, is it?  

Don’t worry. In times like this. It is important to stay calm and come up with an organized cleaning plan. That is exactly what we will be helping you do today.  

When it comes to cleaning a house post-flood, here’s what you should start with: 

1. Start by cleaning your bedroom 

Remember that the cleaning process won’t be done in one day, it could take up to a week to clean. So, you will need a place to rest and sleep after a long day of cleaning. This is why you start by cleaning your bedroom and making sure it is clean and comfortable for you to rest in.  

2. Remove rubbish from drains 

Before you start washing your homes, you will need to make sure there’s no rubbish blocking the water from flowing into your drains.  

So get rid of all the rubbish blocking the drains so that the dirty water can start flowing out of your house when you start cleaning.  

3. Wash fabrics first 

The problem with fabrics is that if you don’t wash off the mud immediately, it could dry up and become hard making it extremely difficult to remove.  

So, skip things like plates and Tupperwares, focus on the fabrics like your bedsheets, curtains and clothes. 

4. Get rid of smelly mattresses 

Mattresses absorb water like a sponge so if your mattress smells really bad, then there’s no point keeping it because it will take forever for all the water to dry out and the smell will most probably never fade away.  

So put it outside your house to be thrown while cleaning the interior. Do not burn it! Smelly black smoke will rise out of the burning mattress and cause pollution.  

5. Wash your home and get rid of the mud

Once you're settled with the fabrics, you can start bring in your pipe and washing your home. Do the floor and walls last. Start with the small non-fabric items then move to the bigger items and finally the walls and floors. 

6. Do not turn on your electronics 

Even if they are dry, don’t turn them on immediately. Refer to this article on how to save your electrical appliances.

7. Clean regularly 

After a flood, regular cleaning is a must because the mud will dry up and start to make your home very dusty and smelly. So, you could wait for the rain to naturally wash away all the mud but for the inside of your home, you need to keep cleaning it.  

8. Repainting 

Most walls will be ruined with watermarks so if you are planning on repainted opt for the oil paint to avoid the watermark just in case of another flood.  

Cleaning your home after a flood can be a slow and tiring job but it will be all worth it when you see your home come back to life after the cleaning is done.  

Make sure you get enough rest and also eat your meals at the right time. You will need enough energy to do the cleaning.