Tag: Food

Top 5 Tips for Dealing with Water Damage

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Top 5 Tips for Dealing with Water Damage - RestoPros

Whether it’s a storm or a burst pipe, the water in your home could be doing a lot more damage than you think. Not only can it destroy building materials, it can also lead to mold growth and indoor air quality problems.

As soon as you notice water damage in your home, it’s important to speak with a water damage restoration specialist, such as RestoPros. Preventing mold in the home is important for protecting your home and keeping the indoor air clean and healthy.

Here are some tips to deal with water damage while you wait for a professional:

  1. Disconnect and move possessions out of the way

While you should never handle electronics while wet or standing in water, the sooner you unplug electronics and move possessions and furniture out of harm’s way, the more likely they are to survive. If safe and possible, turn off power to the circuits of the affected area at the breaker box.

Keep in mind these electrical safety tips during a flood:

  • Never step into a flooded basement if you suspect the water is in contact with any outlets, cords, or appliances.
  • Never touch anything electrical while wet or standing in water.
  • If an electrical device has come in contact with water, do not use it until a professional has inspected it.

Don’t forget to remove all carpets, rugs, and underpadding if you can. Even if your possessions do get water damaged, it’s still possible to save them, as long as you contact a professional water restoration specialist right away.

  1. Remove the water

Getting rid of the excess water is a great way to prevent mold from forming. If you don’t have a wet/dry vacuum, you can use the old-fashioned method of removing water with towels, dust pans, buckets, and mops. Pour the water down the drain or onto your lawn or other permeable surface.

When using a wet/dry vac, make sure the outlet and cord are far away from water. Don’t use an extension cord.

  1. Dry out the area

If you have fans and dehumidifiers, it’s time to bring them out. Turn on the air conditioner and dehumidifier if you can. If there is low outdoor humidity, open up windows and get the air moving with fans.

Unfortunately, if water has affected the drywall, those sections will probably need to be replaced. If wood and baseboard trim have been damaged, it may be salvageable, but pressboard will need to be replaced.

  1. Clean and disinfect

After the area has completely dried, it’s important to clean and disinfect the affected areas, such as walls, wood, and furniture. Avoid using bleach since it’s not effective against mold spores. If there has been a lot of water damage, speak with a professional water restoration specialist for the proper cleaning and disinfecting methods. If the water damage was used by sewage or other contaminated water, you’ll need to call in a professional for safety reasons. For small cleanups, look for EPA-registered mold and mildew disinfectants and all-natural products.

  1. Properly dispose of damaged items

You may be tempted to throw everything in a dumpster, but there are rules for disposing of certain items, such as electronics, old paints and toxic liquid, drywall, and even furniture.

Failure to properly deal with water damage can lead to serious long-term health effects. Always speak with a professional mold remediation specialist if you have a mold or moisture problem. The longer you wait, the more damage it will cause.

Contact a professional right away if you notice any of these signs of water damage:

  • Wood damage
  • Drywall damage
  • Ceiling tile stains
  • Damp, musty smells
  • Mold or mildew

For professional mold and water damage specialists in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, contact RestoPros today!

How to Prevent Food from Spoiling

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How to Prevent Food from SpoilingNo food lasts forever, not even that one you’re thinking of.  It’s a shame that we don’t have meals with eternal shelf-lives but we can prolong the ones that they do have.  While refrigeration and airtight packaging have improved the sell-by-dates of many products, there are simple things you can do to improve just how long your food lasts.  Leftovers are an important part of any family dynamic, but when they sit for too long they, like any overly humid part of your home, can start to develop mold and rot.

Food spoils when bacteria and mold begin to grow in or on it.  This process of rotting and spoiling is both gross (because of mold and bacteria) and hazardous (due to the byproducts of both these things).  Food poisoning and foodborne illnesses are more common than you might think, with the CDC estimating that roughly 1 in 6 Americans get sick from foodborne illnesses each year.

Refrigeration

Most of the time when we talk about mold we recommend keeping things cool, ventilated, and dry.  Cool and dry is ideal for most of the food you store as well.  Desiccants are necessary to help keep powders such as flour or baking soda from clumping together when stored while the cold storage of a fridge or freezer helps to stall or stop the buildup of mold and bacteria in food.

Both bacteria and mold are living organisms.  They require certain conditions to thrive and aren’t as adapted to cold environments.  Chilling or freezing an area reduces the ability for spores and bacteria to propagate.  For one thing, the cold temperature is not a sustainable environment while frozen water is not suitable for bacteria to breed in.  You should store most foods in your refrigerator when they aren’t being consumed.  Even all-day events and parties shouldn’t leave items such as cheese, meat, or vegetables out for more than 30 minutes to an hour.

Foods that shouldn’t be refrigerated but should be eaten within a few days of purchase are:

  • Melons
  • Potatoes
  • Tomatoes
  • Onions
  • Bread
  • Apples
  • Avocados

Bear in mind that not refrigerating these items reduces their shelf-life but improves their flavor.  Always inspect food before cooking with it.  To store them for the long-term, freezing is the best option.

Sealed Containers

Another way to protect your food from spoiling is to make sure that it stays in a sealed container.  Without a replenished supply of air, many of the oxygen-dependent molds and bacteria are not able to thrive.  Sealed containers, prevent food from drying out while keeping them guarded against additional contaminants carried through the air or on dust particles.

Salting and Preservation

This isn’t used as often in homes but it’s interesting to point out.  Salted meats were an initial way to preserve meat throughout the winter.  The salt itself would cure the meat, preventing bacteria and mold from setting in and rotting the meat.  You’re also left with a very tasty, if salty, slice of beef.

At the end of the day, the way you protect your food is similar to how you protect your home from mold and mildew.  Storing food in a cool, dry location is important for prolonging its shelf-life.  Environments that are hot or humid will promote rotting faster as they improve the spread of mold and bacteria, facilitating the breakdown of food.  Any food that has been sitting out for multiple hours becomes suspect, as bacteria can set in without showing symptoms early on.  Stay safe, and stay healthy!

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