Mold likes food just as much as we do, but we do not usually like to find it sharing the same space as the food that we stock our refrigerators with every week or two. While we all lead busy lives and are usually too occupied to remember to clean out our refrigerator, what we do not realize is that mold is also leading a busy life consuming and contaminating our food. It can contaminate almost anything that you put in your refrigerator and most of the time if it does contaminate something, you just have to throw it away. There are some things that you can do to prevent mold from growing in your refrigerator and there are a few items that you can save even if they do get a little moldy.
Keep track of what you have in your refrigerator and how long you have had that same item in there. Make a note of expiration dates. Things like sour cream, jellies, jams, marmalades, and anything else that has high moisture content can become moldy faster than you think and if they do, unfortunately, there is not much that you can do to save these items. Throwing them away and replacing them is about the only thing that you can do.
Those little plastic bags in the produce section of the grocery store sure can be convenient, but once you get your produce back home, you should remove it from these bags. Condensation gets trapped inside the bags and this will cause your fresh fruit and vegetables to rot faster than they normally would if you just put them in the crisper by themselves.
To clean out your refrigerator as regularly as you can remember to is also some good advice. Keeping bacteria and mold spores from building up in the fridge is one of the best ways to prevent mold from growing there. You can use bleach to kill the mold inside your refrigerator, since there is no surface inside that is porous. Bleach will not kill mold growing on porous surfaces. If you have to use bleach, do not mix it with any other chemicals you might have in your kitchen cabinet, especially ammonia. This is dangerous and can produce hazardous fumes.
If a dense item in your refrigerator develops spots of mold on it, such as hard salami or a block of cheese, take a clean knife and cut both around and underneath the moldy spot one inch. Do not touch the knife to other areas of the product and discard the chunk you cut out.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
water damage restoration companies and
Dallas Residential Water Damage Restoration Contractors.
Friday, September 28, 2007
First Steps To Take If Your Home Is Water Damaged
Having a home that is located close to the ocean or close to a fresh water source can be a nice and aesthetically pleasing experience, but what do you do if it happens to flood? A flood can be a nightmare for any homeowner, whether the home is newly built or 30 years old and a lot of people do not know how to deal with this situation, simply because most have not ever had to.
If your home does become a victim of flooding and water damage either due to rain, a levy breaking, or hurricane, there are a few things that you can do to help minimize the damage once the water has receded. It is best to tend to the home as soon as possible after the waters have receded back away from your home.
When you do finally get the opportunity to re-enter your home, you must be absolutely certain that the electricity to your entire home is cut off. There is a serious risk of electrocution if you step into your home without making sure of this first and foremost. There are also some serious biological risks that you will be taking when you re-enter a home that has been flooded simply because of all the different chemicals, trash, sewage, and even dead bodies that could be floating around in it.
If you can afford to purchase some protective gear before trying to dry out your home, please do so. Wash your hands extremely well before you eat anything to avoid infecting yourself with anything that may be in the water.
Before you do anything at all to try and repair the damage to your home, you need to use a video camera to record the damage. Tape every section of your home that has suffered significant damage and point out everything that you notice that will have to be repaired. This will offer you irreplaceable help when you try to file an insurance claim on the home.
Remove any insulation in the attic that has gotten wet. It is no longer effective and has become very heavy. It will weigh your ceiling down and eventually cause it to collapse in sections.
You should also remove anything else that is wet and set it outside to dry in the sun, although some items should be let to dry in the shade to keep the sun from bleaching them.
Do not use artificial heat sources to dry hardwood floors. This will cause what is called cupping or can cause the floor to buckle. Open the windows and let air circulate through the home.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of
Texas Water Damage Restoration and
Houston Water Damage Restoration Which are Certified IICRC Water damage and mold remediation contractors.
If your home does become a victim of flooding and water damage either due to rain, a levy breaking, or hurricane, there are a few things that you can do to help minimize the damage once the water has receded. It is best to tend to the home as soon as possible after the waters have receded back away from your home.
When you do finally get the opportunity to re-enter your home, you must be absolutely certain that the electricity to your entire home is cut off. There is a serious risk of electrocution if you step into your home without making sure of this first and foremost. There are also some serious biological risks that you will be taking when you re-enter a home that has been flooded simply because of all the different chemicals, trash, sewage, and even dead bodies that could be floating around in it.
If you can afford to purchase some protective gear before trying to dry out your home, please do so. Wash your hands extremely well before you eat anything to avoid infecting yourself with anything that may be in the water.
Before you do anything at all to try and repair the damage to your home, you need to use a video camera to record the damage. Tape every section of your home that has suffered significant damage and point out everything that you notice that will have to be repaired. This will offer you irreplaceable help when you try to file an insurance claim on the home.
Remove any insulation in the attic that has gotten wet. It is no longer effective and has become very heavy. It will weigh your ceiling down and eventually cause it to collapse in sections.
You should also remove anything else that is wet and set it outside to dry in the sun, although some items should be let to dry in the shade to keep the sun from bleaching them.
Do not use artificial heat sources to dry hardwood floors. This will cause what is called cupping or can cause the floor to buckle. Open the windows and let air circulate through the home.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of
Texas Water Damage Restoration and
Houston Water Damage Restoration Which are Certified IICRC Water damage and mold remediation contractors.
How To Know When To Check For Mold In Your Home Or Business
With all the new concern about mold growing in our homes in our businesses, you may be wondering just what you can do to determine whether mold exists on your property or not. There are a few different ways to know if mold exists on your property and one of the best ones is to purchase a mold testing kit that you can perform by yourself, but how do you know if you need to test for it?
Do you throw wet clothing and towels on the floor and leave them there? Or even worse, throw dry clothing on top of them and forget the wet clothes are underneath? If this is a habit for you or the rest of your family, especially if the floor you are putting these on is carpeted, then you are inviting mold to start growing in your house. Wash wet clothing as soon as possible or put them in a sink or other container by themselves and never put dry clothing on top of wet.
Has your home suffered water damage due to floods or heavy rain? Mold likes to grow on items that have been wet and forgotten about or just never repaired. It will grow anywhere that there is moisture or high amounts of humidity. Stachybotrys mold in particular likes to grow where there is standing water, such as in a leaky area of your basement. Try to keep the humidity level in your house down and if you see condensation on your windows or on exposed pipes, you are not succeeding in this. Try a de-humidifier.
Any part of your home that has been water damaged, especially floors and walls, could be hiding a mold infestation. To detect mold that you cannot see or smell, purchase a mold testing kit and follow the directions for it exactly as they appear or the test will be useless.
Mold will also grow in closets that have too many clothes packed in them. Air simply cannot circulate in a closet packed too tight and the clothing provides all the food that the mold needs to survive. A solution to this problem is to just give or throw away clothing that you do not need and if there is not much clothing that you do not use, find another way to store it.
Leaking water pipes or even a waterline for the icemaker on your fridge can be hidden causes for this terrible menace. Check the basics and you can help to eliminate the problem before it starts.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Orlando water damage restoration companies and
Water Damage Restoration companies across the united states.
Do you throw wet clothing and towels on the floor and leave them there? Or even worse, throw dry clothing on top of them and forget the wet clothes are underneath? If this is a habit for you or the rest of your family, especially if the floor you are putting these on is carpeted, then you are inviting mold to start growing in your house. Wash wet clothing as soon as possible or put them in a sink or other container by themselves and never put dry clothing on top of wet.
Has your home suffered water damage due to floods or heavy rain? Mold likes to grow on items that have been wet and forgotten about or just never repaired. It will grow anywhere that there is moisture or high amounts of humidity. Stachybotrys mold in particular likes to grow where there is standing water, such as in a leaky area of your basement. Try to keep the humidity level in your house down and if you see condensation on your windows or on exposed pipes, you are not succeeding in this. Try a de-humidifier.
Any part of your home that has been water damaged, especially floors and walls, could be hiding a mold infestation. To detect mold that you cannot see or smell, purchase a mold testing kit and follow the directions for it exactly as they appear or the test will be useless.
Mold will also grow in closets that have too many clothes packed in them. Air simply cannot circulate in a closet packed too tight and the clothing provides all the food that the mold needs to survive. A solution to this problem is to just give or throw away clothing that you do not need and if there is not much clothing that you do not use, find another way to store it.
Leaking water pipes or even a waterline for the icemaker on your fridge can be hidden causes for this terrible menace. Check the basics and you can help to eliminate the problem before it starts.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Orlando water damage restoration companies and
Water Damage Restoration companies across the united states.
How to Effectively Clean Out Your Fridge
The refrigerator is an important center of the household and as such, you would think that people would remember to keep these food centers cleaned more often than they tend to. Even though it is fairly cool inside, mold can still grow very well in these cool temperatures, as anyone who has opened a jar of spoiled grape jelly can surely tell you. Whether it is a jar of grape jelly or a casserole left in the fridge for a bit too long, mold can grow on anything in your refrigerator that it can get onto. This includes, well… just about everything that is not completely sealed up, such as home-canned goods that have not had their seals broken. Mold spores are everywhere and in the air we breathe, unless the air is purified, such as in a hospital or laboratory clean room, so it is fairly hard to keep mold completely off of something we do not want it on, but it can be done. It just takes a little effort. Cleaning out your refrigerator and knowing what to do with moldy food (some of it can be saved, believe it or not) is essential to keeping a healthy kitchen.
Take everything out of your refrigerator and put it either on your kitchen table or on the counters for you to deal with later. You will go through these items after you are finished cleaning out the inside of your refrigerator.
Remove all drawers, shelves, and racks so that you can wash them in the sink in whatever household chemical you have chosen for this task. Whether it is anti-bacterial soap, bleach, or even better, a chemical made specifically to kill mold, use plenty of it, but do not mix chemicals, especially bleach. If you do use bleach, do your best not to get it on your hands. Wear rubber gloves.
Wash the inside of the refrigerator with a sponge or a rag thoroughly. To get some things that might be stuck to the wall of the fridge or stuck to a shelf off, let some warm water and some of the chemical you have chosen soak on it a few minutes. After you are done with the inside of the refrigerator, wash the parts that you removed, dry them, and replace them.
As for the food you took out, put back everything that is not contaminated with mold. Anything with a high moisture content that is contaminated like sour cream or jelly must be thrown away. Blocks of cheese or dense items like hard salami can have the molded parts cut out and thrown away. Cut 1 inch around and one inch under the molded part(s), remove, and discard. The rest is usable.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Miami water damage restoration companies and
mold remediation companies across the united states.
Take everything out of your refrigerator and put it either on your kitchen table or on the counters for you to deal with later. You will go through these items after you are finished cleaning out the inside of your refrigerator.
Remove all drawers, shelves, and racks so that you can wash them in the sink in whatever household chemical you have chosen for this task. Whether it is anti-bacterial soap, bleach, or even better, a chemical made specifically to kill mold, use plenty of it, but do not mix chemicals, especially bleach. If you do use bleach, do your best not to get it on your hands. Wear rubber gloves.
Wash the inside of the refrigerator with a sponge or a rag thoroughly. To get some things that might be stuck to the wall of the fridge or stuck to a shelf off, let some warm water and some of the chemical you have chosen soak on it a few minutes. After you are done with the inside of the refrigerator, wash the parts that you removed, dry them, and replace them.
As for the food you took out, put back everything that is not contaminated with mold. Anything with a high moisture content that is contaminated like sour cream or jelly must be thrown away. Blocks of cheese or dense items like hard salami can have the molded parts cut out and thrown away. Cut 1 inch around and one inch under the molded part(s), remove, and discard. The rest is usable.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Miami water damage restoration companies and
mold remediation companies across the united states.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Fire Damage Cleanup Tips
Having to deal with a house fire, even a small one, is something that no homeowner ever wants to have to do, but unfortunately, these are often cruel facts of life. If you are like the majority of the rest of us, you probably do not have enough money to hire a professional to take care of the cleanup process for you, so educating yourself about how to go about it before this event takes place is a good idea. The cosmetic damage to your home can mostly be done by you, but the structural damage will probably need to be handled by a professional.
Depending on the size of the fire, there is probably some standing water in the home from the fire hose spilling gallons upon gallons of water into it to put out the fire. Electricity to the part of the home affected by the fire and water should be cut off so that you can clean up the standing water without fearing electrocution. Remove the standing water as quickly as you can, since this will cause water damage to your floor and walls in addition to the fire damage that is already there.
Pets should not be allowed back into the home until the initial cleanup is finished.
Any plants that you have need to have the soot and ash cleaned off of their leaves. Leaving this on the leaves will kill them.
If there is food in your kitchen that was open at the time of the fire, it should be thrown away, since it could be contaminated due to the excess heat and soot.
The smoke damage to your ceiling and walls can often not be removed by washing. The most that you can do to this is paint over it with a primer made for this purpose and then paint over that with the color of your ceiling.
Things like marble, stainless steel, chrome, and formica should be cleaned as soon as possible with the proper cleansers, since soot and ash can etch these items if you leave it on there too long. This etching cannot be repaired.
Furniture that is upholstered should not be sat on until it has been vacuumed thoroughly with a hose that has no brushes on it, since a brush attachment will only work the soot further into the fabric. This is also true for carpets. Once these have been vacuumed, put plastic over them so you do not track soot and ash in from other areas of the house.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
flood water damage restoration chicago and other states such as
South Carolina mold remediation companies across the united states.
Depending on the size of the fire, there is probably some standing water in the home from the fire hose spilling gallons upon gallons of water into it to put out the fire. Electricity to the part of the home affected by the fire and water should be cut off so that you can clean up the standing water without fearing electrocution. Remove the standing water as quickly as you can, since this will cause water damage to your floor and walls in addition to the fire damage that is already there.
Pets should not be allowed back into the home until the initial cleanup is finished.
Any plants that you have need to have the soot and ash cleaned off of their leaves. Leaving this on the leaves will kill them.
If there is food in your kitchen that was open at the time of the fire, it should be thrown away, since it could be contaminated due to the excess heat and soot.
The smoke damage to your ceiling and walls can often not be removed by washing. The most that you can do to this is paint over it with a primer made for this purpose and then paint over that with the color of your ceiling.
Things like marble, stainless steel, chrome, and formica should be cleaned as soon as possible with the proper cleansers, since soot and ash can etch these items if you leave it on there too long. This etching cannot be repaired.
Furniture that is upholstered should not be sat on until it has been vacuumed thoroughly with a hose that has no brushes on it, since a brush attachment will only work the soot further into the fabric. This is also true for carpets. Once these have been vacuumed, put plastic over them so you do not track soot and ash in from other areas of the house.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
flood water damage restoration chicago and other states such as
South Carolina mold remediation companies across the united states.
Areas in the Bathroom Prone to Water Damage
Since your bathroom is one of the most important rooms in the house, you need to be aware of the different areas of it that are the most at risk for water damage. These are the water junctions in your bathroom and this means that these are the areas that water comes out of the plumbing and into the room at some point, whether it is at the shower, the sink, or the toilet.
Having tile down in your bathroom to protect the floor underneath from water is an absolute must. While you can put down carpet in the bathroom, this is not advised, since mold will eventually start to grow in it or under it, especially in the bathroom closet where you are likely to throw wet towels and clothes. These wet items are usually forgotten about and dry clothing is thrown on top of them.
Do an inspection of your bathroom when you go in it every now and then to make sure that there are no real signs of water damage occurring.
The tiles on the floor and on the walls around the shower and bath tub can become cracked over time and when they do become cracked, you need to replace them to keep water from seeping under them. Water that gets under these tiles will damage the surface underneath and if they become very damaged, tearing up the tile and replacing this surface is the only option to maintain structural integrity.
The plumbing under the sink should be inspected for leaks on a regular basis and you should replace the pipes if they are cracked or loose at all.
You should also pay attention to the area around the base of the toilet and cracked tile around it needs to be replaced. Toilets overflow all the time from clogging and you can prevent this most of the time by just not putting too much toilet paper in the toilet. Also avoid putting hanging toilet bowl cleansers in it, because these also tend to cause clogging.
The plumbing inside the walls can be checked out, but this is the most difficult area of the bathroom to keep an eye on, since the pipes are located inside the walls. Watch for moisture on the drywall or leaking into the floor from any part of the wall. Either of these signs should be a giveaway that there is a problem in the wall.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
North Carolina Sewage Damage Cleanup and other states such as
South Carolina mold remediation companies across the united states.
Having tile down in your bathroom to protect the floor underneath from water is an absolute must. While you can put down carpet in the bathroom, this is not advised, since mold will eventually start to grow in it or under it, especially in the bathroom closet where you are likely to throw wet towels and clothes. These wet items are usually forgotten about and dry clothing is thrown on top of them.
Do an inspection of your bathroom when you go in it every now and then to make sure that there are no real signs of water damage occurring.
The tiles on the floor and on the walls around the shower and bath tub can become cracked over time and when they do become cracked, you need to replace them to keep water from seeping under them. Water that gets under these tiles will damage the surface underneath and if they become very damaged, tearing up the tile and replacing this surface is the only option to maintain structural integrity.
The plumbing under the sink should be inspected for leaks on a regular basis and you should replace the pipes if they are cracked or loose at all.
You should also pay attention to the area around the base of the toilet and cracked tile around it needs to be replaced. Toilets overflow all the time from clogging and you can prevent this most of the time by just not putting too much toilet paper in the toilet. Also avoid putting hanging toilet bowl cleansers in it, because these also tend to cause clogging.
The plumbing inside the walls can be checked out, but this is the most difficult area of the bathroom to keep an eye on, since the pipes are located inside the walls. Watch for moisture on the drywall or leaking into the floor from any part of the wall. Either of these signs should be a giveaway that there is a problem in the wall.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
North Carolina Sewage Damage Cleanup and other states such as
South Carolina mold remediation companies across the united states.
Waterproofing Your Deck
A water damaged deck tends to be an ugly one, as most people know, but waterproofing is not that difficult. Waterproofing your deck is essential if you want it to stand the test of time and seasons that it will go through even after you are gone from the house that you call home. Cracking and warping can occur to any deck, but waterproofing it can help assist you in removing the majority of this risk, since the water sealant will lock out the vast majority of any liquid spilled onto it.
The waterproofing of your deck has to start with a thorough cleaning first. The best time to waterproof your deck is after the deck is first built, but if you do not have this option, then cleaning it off is the first thing that you have to do. Begin by sweeping off all the debris from the deck and removing all furniture from it. A cleaning solution can be bought from home improvement stores. A pump sprayer can be used to apply the solution to the deck. After it starts to foam up, you need to scrub the deck with a scrub brush that has stiff bristles. This will help to remove many of the stubborn stains that might exist like grease or soot. After you are done with the scrubbing part of the project, you can rinse it off thoroughly with your garden hose. When you rinse, wear some eye protection to keep any grit on the deck from getting in your eyes.
After your deck is dry, you can do one of two things. If the wood is relatively new and you think you want a new stain put on it, this would be the time to apply it. If you do not want a new stain on the deck, then this is the time for you to apply the water sealant onto the deck to protect the wood.
Applying the sealer should generally be done with a sprayer or a roller. If there are any puddles of it on your deck, you can remove these by brushing it out evenly. The deck should dry completely in about two days and then you can walk on it safely without having to worry about damaging the sealant.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when you apply the sealant. Wearing safety glasses, long sleeves, and some gloves is also a good idea to protect your eyes and skin from it.
Drilling very small holes in areas of the deck that tend to retain water can also help stop the weathering of your deck. Holes as small as 3/16 of an inch to ¼ of an inch are sufficient to drain the water out of these areas and do not tend to affect the appearance of the deck enough to be an eyesore.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
flood water damage restoration chicago and other states such as
New Jersey mold remediation contractor companies across the united states.
The waterproofing of your deck has to start with a thorough cleaning first. The best time to waterproof your deck is after the deck is first built, but if you do not have this option, then cleaning it off is the first thing that you have to do. Begin by sweeping off all the debris from the deck and removing all furniture from it. A cleaning solution can be bought from home improvement stores. A pump sprayer can be used to apply the solution to the deck. After it starts to foam up, you need to scrub the deck with a scrub brush that has stiff bristles. This will help to remove many of the stubborn stains that might exist like grease or soot. After you are done with the scrubbing part of the project, you can rinse it off thoroughly with your garden hose. When you rinse, wear some eye protection to keep any grit on the deck from getting in your eyes.
After your deck is dry, you can do one of two things. If the wood is relatively new and you think you want a new stain put on it, this would be the time to apply it. If you do not want a new stain on the deck, then this is the time for you to apply the water sealant onto the deck to protect the wood.
Applying the sealer should generally be done with a sprayer or a roller. If there are any puddles of it on your deck, you can remove these by brushing it out evenly. The deck should dry completely in about two days and then you can walk on it safely without having to worry about damaging the sealant.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when you apply the sealant. Wearing safety glasses, long sleeves, and some gloves is also a good idea to protect your eyes and skin from it.
Drilling very small holes in areas of the deck that tend to retain water can also help stop the weathering of your deck. Holes as small as 3/16 of an inch to ¼ of an inch are sufficient to drain the water out of these areas and do not tend to affect the appearance of the deck enough to be an eyesore.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
flood water damage restoration chicago and other states such as
New Jersey mold remediation contractor companies across the united states.
Waterproof Paint
Water damage to your home can come from all kinds of places, but the most likely cause of interior damage is generally just every day wear and tear from showering, washing clothes, taking hot baths, and cooking on the stove. Even moisture that seeps in the house from outside in the form of humidity can create problems by rusting or decaying building materials and peeling of the many painted surfaces in your home. This humidity can also help with the growth of mold and the growth of other fungi in your home.
You can prevent it, though, in most cases by simply following a few different steps. Using waterproof paint in your home can help tremendously and stop water from infiltrating your walls and ceilings. This will help stop the water from discoloring these items so you will not have to repaint them as often as you would if you used a normal interior paint.
Vapor barriers can be used to coat interior walls and ceilings and keep moisture from getting into these surfaces. When water gets underneath a layer of paint, it creates a pocket of moisture which eventually builds up so much that the paint starts to peel away and become discolored. Waterproof paint does not allow for this. There are both waterproof topcoat paints and primers available for purchase to use in your home.
The best areas to use waterproof paint in if you cannot afford to use it on the whole house right away are the areas that are most prone to exposure to water vapor. This includes the bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, and basement. These areas are the most at risk for coming into contact with large amounts of steam every day. Out of these four areas, the bathroom and kitchen are the most important, since we all have to frequent these two rooms in the home each and every day, often several times a day whether we want to or not.
Using a primer on your wall that is mold resistant is also a good idea in any humid area of your home, since mold is most likely to grow in these areas. Using one that is stain resistant is also a good idea, since water damage will usually lead to discoloration of the wall or ceiling.
High-gloss paint is easy to clean, but unfortunately if the surface you painted it with has many imperfections, each and every one will show up. Semi-gloss paint has less of a shine than high-gloss, but it is much easier to clean up. Eggshell paints and flat paints are the easiest to clean up and are starting to be more popular as higher quality paints with a high pigment content are becoming available in that style.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Connecticut water damage restoration contractors and other states such as
North Carolina mold remediation contractor companies across the united states.
You can prevent it, though, in most cases by simply following a few different steps. Using waterproof paint in your home can help tremendously and stop water from infiltrating your walls and ceilings. This will help stop the water from discoloring these items so you will not have to repaint them as often as you would if you used a normal interior paint.
Vapor barriers can be used to coat interior walls and ceilings and keep moisture from getting into these surfaces. When water gets underneath a layer of paint, it creates a pocket of moisture which eventually builds up so much that the paint starts to peel away and become discolored. Waterproof paint does not allow for this. There are both waterproof topcoat paints and primers available for purchase to use in your home.
The best areas to use waterproof paint in if you cannot afford to use it on the whole house right away are the areas that are most prone to exposure to water vapor. This includes the bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, and basement. These areas are the most at risk for coming into contact with large amounts of steam every day. Out of these four areas, the bathroom and kitchen are the most important, since we all have to frequent these two rooms in the home each and every day, often several times a day whether we want to or not.
Using a primer on your wall that is mold resistant is also a good idea in any humid area of your home, since mold is most likely to grow in these areas. Using one that is stain resistant is also a good idea, since water damage will usually lead to discoloration of the wall or ceiling.
High-gloss paint is easy to clean, but unfortunately if the surface you painted it with has many imperfections, each and every one will show up. Semi-gloss paint has less of a shine than high-gloss, but it is much easier to clean up. Eggshell paints and flat paints are the easiest to clean up and are starting to be more popular as higher quality paints with a high pigment content are becoming available in that style.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Connecticut water damage restoration contractors and other states such as
North Carolina mold remediation contractor companies across the united states.
Water Damaged Document Tips
Water soaking some of the most important documents in your household can be a real pain and this is most likely to occur during a flood or a hurricane. No matter what stage you are at in life, odds are good that you have some important papers that could make things difficult for you if you were to lose them. This can include bank papers, loan information, warranties on expensive electronics, birth certificates, insurance papers, and anything else that you might need should a legal situation arise. These are often the only copies that we have and in some cases, the only copies that exist of certain documents and safeguarding them and knowing how to go about restoring them is essential.
Unless the documents have been submerged in water for more than two days, there is no real reason for you to go into a panic when rescuing them. The main concern here is that mold will start to grow on them after a couple of days and this is a worst case scenario, because mold loves to eat paper. You need to get the most important documents out of the water first thing and do whatever you can to get the humidity in the home down. Adjust the thermostat to around 65 degrees and keep the house at about this temperature if you can.
Any standing water in your house needs to be gotten rid of as soon as possible. Opening windows and doors should help air circulate and speed up the drying process. This will not only help minimize water damage in the house, but also help prevent mold.
Remove documents from standing water carefully, since they can disintegrate in your hands if you do this incorrectly. Lay them out on a flat surface to dry and most of the time, they should be fine.
Sometimes, however, items that have been under water for a while need to be freeze dried. Wrap these items up in freezer paper and pack them into a box; like sized items should go with other like sized items. Books should be packed with books and loose papers with loose papers. Do a last check of the house and make sure that you have everything that you intend to have restored.
Put your contact information on the outside of the boxes and have them transported to the nearest freeze dry facility.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Connecticut water damage restoration and other states such as
New Jersey Water Damage Restoration companies across the united states.
Unless the documents have been submerged in water for more than two days, there is no real reason for you to go into a panic when rescuing them. The main concern here is that mold will start to grow on them after a couple of days and this is a worst case scenario, because mold loves to eat paper. You need to get the most important documents out of the water first thing and do whatever you can to get the humidity in the home down. Adjust the thermostat to around 65 degrees and keep the house at about this temperature if you can.
Any standing water in your house needs to be gotten rid of as soon as possible. Opening windows and doors should help air circulate and speed up the drying process. This will not only help minimize water damage in the house, but also help prevent mold.
Remove documents from standing water carefully, since they can disintegrate in your hands if you do this incorrectly. Lay them out on a flat surface to dry and most of the time, they should be fine.
Sometimes, however, items that have been under water for a while need to be freeze dried. Wrap these items up in freezer paper and pack them into a box; like sized items should go with other like sized items. Books should be packed with books and loose papers with loose papers. Do a last check of the house and make sure that you have everything that you intend to have restored.
Put your contact information on the outside of the boxes and have them transported to the nearest freeze dry facility.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Connecticut water damage restoration and other states such as
New Jersey Water Damage Restoration companies across the united states.
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