Kitchen Water Damage

Some careful steps to take when cleaning flood damage appliances

by Mary Yearns, Iowa State Extension

It's hard to predict when heavy or excessive rain may cause flooding in your home. If your home sustains flood damage, your electrical system and electrical appliances need to be thoroughly checked by experts, says Mary Yearns, Iowa State University Extension housing specialist. "Don't plug any appliances into outlets until the wiring has been inspected," Yearns says.

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Appliances that have had working parts submerged in water should be serviced. Running equipment before it is properly cleaned could seriously damage it.

Meanwhile, you can clean the hard surfaces of your appliances.

• Use a heavy-duty cleaner and hot water to remove stains and silt deposits. Follow up with a rinse solution of two tablespoons chlorine bleach to each quart of water.
• When removing gritty deposits, rinse your cloth in water frequently to avoid scratching enamel or metal surfaces.
• To remove odors from freezers and refrigerators, wash the inside of the cabinet and the plastic gasket that seals the door with a heavy-duty cleaner and water. Rinse with water and dry. If the odor remains, wash with a solution of one teaspoon baking soda to each quart of warm water.

After they've been serviced, washers and dryers that have been immersed in floodwater will need to be sanitized. To disinfect the washer, pour chlorine bleach into the empty machine and complete a 15-minute cycle at the hot setting. Unplug the dryer and wipe all areas of the drum and dryer door with a cloth dipped in bleach and water solution. Leave the dryer door open until all parts are thoroughly dry. Then plug in and resume normal use.

Yearns recommends wearing rubber gloves for all clean-up work.

Reproduced with Permission

First Published: Early-October, 2004
Updated: February 2007

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