When you own a home, you take steps to protect it. However, even minor flooding can result in fairly substantial water damage. The best thing to do in these situations is to contact a cleaning and restoring company; professional treatment is key to getting the best results.

However, there are things you can do on your own to limit the damage. If your home has been struck by flooding, keep these tips in mind:

3 Steps To Take To Remedy Water Damage

1. Dispose of the Water

Before doing anything, make sure it’s safe to approach the flooded area. If there is still a lot of water and there are electrical appliances nearby, wait until the professionals arrive. You also want to stay away if the water came from a potentially unsanitary source, like a flooded toilet. If you can clean up the water safely, use whatever tools you can, even if mops and towels are all you have. A wet vacuum works, too, as long as you keep the plug far away from any water. To deal with substantial basement plumbing, it’s smart to have a sump pump.

2. Dry the Area

Drying an area affected by water damage isn’t as simple as throwing a few towels down. You’ll want to use any tools you have on hand, like hair dryers and fans, to dry it out more rapidly.

3. Disinfect

Tasks like carpet cleaning aren’t only necessary to keep your home comfortable, but they also play a key role in keeping you healthy. It’s the same with cleaning up water damage. That’s why you want to make sure you’ve thoroughly disinfected the area once it’s dry.

Again, these are steps you can take on your own, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t hire professionals to handle the water damage and mold. They could save you a lot of money on repairs in the future.

Handling everything from carpet cleaning to pet odor removal, the experts at America’s Best Cleaning & Restoration Services, with locations in Minnesota and Wisconsin, are the ones to turn to when you have water damage. To learn more about their services, call (507) 280-8171, or visit them online.