After Flooding Clean up

Cleaners and Disinfectants

• Household cleaners help remove dirt. Disinfectants help stop the growth of disease-causing microorganisms carried in floodwater.
• Powdered or liquid cleaners and disinfectants are more practical and much less expensive than aerosol products, since large areas will probably need to be cleaned.
• Buy cleaners and disinfectants in the largest sizes available to reduce their cost. Farm supply, hardware, wallpaper and paint stores often have these products in gallon or pound containers.
• All products are not suited for all uses. Before using any cleaner or disinfectant, refer to its label for specific directions or precautions. Make sure the product will do the job you want it to.
• Many household cleaners and disinfectants are harsh on hands and may burn the eyes. Protect your hands with waterproof gloves. Avoid contact with eyes. If you splash or spill any product on your skin, wash it off immediately.

Types of Cleaners and Disinfectants

Type of Cleaner:
All purpose detergents (Tide, Wisk, Cheer) or Soap (Duz)

• Usage: Moderately or heavily soiled washable, colorfast textiles. On furniture and appliance surfaces. Painted walls and woodwork and wallpaper. Floors, rugs, and carpets
• Precautions: Do not use on wool, silk or fabric containing these fiber blends.
• Additional Suggestions: Rinse well to remove suds.

Type of Cleaner:
Enzyme products (Biz, Axion)

• Usage: Helpful on tough stains, ground-in dirt and grass stains, restoring whiteness to fabrics.
• Precautions: The use of chlorine bleach will inactivate enzymatic action when both products are used.
• Additional Suggestions:

Type of Cleaner:
Liquid household cleaner (Top Job, Ajax, Janitor in a Drum)
Powdered household cleaner (Spic 'n Span, Ajax, Comet, Bon Ami)

• Usage: Removes mud, silt, and greasy deposits from hard surfaces such as painted walls, floors, woodwork, porcelain.
• Precautions: Dilute with water as directed on container for specific uses.

Type of Cleaner:
Household ammonia

• Usage: Hard surfaces: windows, walls, woodwork, floors, tile, porcelain
• Precautions: Dilute in water. Do not get in eyes. May irritate skin. Do not combine with chlorine bleach.

Type of Cleaner:
Tri-sodium phosphates (TSP)

• Usage: Wood walls, wood work, floors.
• Precautions: Powder. Dilute in water. Do not get in eyes. May irritate skin. Do not combine with chlorine bleach.
• Additional Suggestions: For mildew removal, combine 8 to 10 tablespoons tri-sodium phosphate and 1 gallon water

Type of Cleaner:
Customary (Rocozal, Zephrin, Crew, End-Bac) (Available in janitorial, dairy and poultry supply houses.)

• Usage: Laundry-safe for all fibers. Helpful in removing musty odors on floors and walls
• Precautions: May cause some color change
• Additional Suggestions: Add at beginning of rinse cycle.

• Usage: Laundry-safe for washable clothing.
• Precautions: Do not use on wool or silk. Pine odor will linger on these fabrics.
• Additional Suggestions: Add before putting clothes in machine, or dilute in 1 quart water.

Type of Cleaner:
Liquid chlorine disinfectants (Clorox, Purex)

• Usage: Use as rinse on carpets and furniture or in laundry to disinfect or to control mold. Follow instructions for use with colored fabrics.
• Precautions: Do not combine with ammonia. Follow instructions. Bleach can ruin many items. Do not use in rinse water. Do not use on aluminum or on linoleum.
• Additional Suggestions: Add bleach before putting clothes in washer or dilute in 1 quart water.

Type of Cleaner:
Phenobic disinfectants (Pine-Sol, Al-Pine. Lysol)

• Usage: Laundry-safe for washables. Bathrooms, plastic or ceramic tile floor.
• Precautions: Do not use on wool or silk.
• Additional Suggestions: Add in wash or rinse cycle.

Where trade names are used, no discrimination is intended and no endorsement implied.