{"id":101458,"date":"2025-09-19T14:58:38","date_gmt":"2025-09-19T06:58:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iqiglobal.com\/blog\/?p=101458"},"modified":"2026-01-09T15:55:27","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T07:55:27","slug":"things-to-know-when-cleaning-flood-property","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iqiglobal.com\/blog\/things-to-know-when-cleaning-flood-property\/","title":{"rendered":"Malaysia\u2019s Flood: 6 Steps To Remember When Cleaning Up Your Property"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Version: CN<\/mark><\/a>, BM<\/mark><\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Malaysia<\/strong> is no stranger to flood problem<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Each year<\/mark><\/a>, the expected heavy monsoon<\/strong> would hit the East Coast<\/strong>, Sabah<\/strong>, Sarawak<\/strong> and some area in Kuala Lumpur<\/strong> from September and could last until January. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This leads to thousands of people being relocated to Pusat Pemindahan Sementara (PPS)<\/strong> until it is safe for them to return home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a homeowner, there’s nothing more daunting than seeing signs of flooding in your home, like water pooling<\/strong> on the floor or stains creeping up the walls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can expect a few important items to suffer permanent damage<\/strong> too, but don’t panic<\/strong>! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s important to prepare and plan for how you’re going to deal with safety while cleaning up<\/strong> your property. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your health and safety<\/strong> should be your top priority during the post-flood clean up<\/mark><\/a>. There are several steps you can take to help the clean up process go as smoothly as possible. <\/p>\n\n\n
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Step-by-Step Cleaning After a Flood<\/strong><\/h2>1. Wear protective gear <\/a><\/li>
2. Turn Off All the Electric Utilities <\/a><\/li>
3. Remove the Water <\/a><\/li>
4. Toss and Sanitize <\/a>
Check on the furniture <\/a><\/li>
Toss out all the damages <\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
5. Dry your Property <\/a><\/li>
6. Contact your insurance <\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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1. Wear protective gear<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
When entering a flooded property, it’s important to remember that the water is highly contaminated<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It could contain sewage<\/strong>, dead animals<\/strong>, or various other harmful substances<\/strong>, and the building might not be safe to walk around that much. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While your instinct might be to jump right into the clean up, your safety should come first. We suggest wearing long pants<\/strong>, rubber boots<\/strong>, and gloves<\/strong> to protect yourself from mold exposure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since activities like scrubbing, hosing, or pressure-washing can create a lot of splashes, it’s wise to wear a regular face mask<\/strong> as well. <\/p>\n\n\n
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$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
2. Turn Off All the Electric Utilities<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Remember that water and electricity don’t mix<\/strong>! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first thing you should do when returning home after a flood is to check on all the electrical<\/strong> stuff like your breaker box, fridge, and gas lines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Make sure to check the power. If it looks like it’s still on, turn it off <\/strong>right away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Important:<\/mark><\/strong> Use a battery-operated flashlight to examine your home instead of candles or lighters, as they could ignite flammable materials. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you smell gas or suspect a gas leak, leave the area<\/strong> immediately and notify local authorities<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Remove the Water<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Begin by thoroughly removing all the dirty water and silt from your property as much as you can. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Take your time with this process. Rushing to wash everything away can lead to further damage<\/strong>, so it’s best to clean in stages<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most injuries happen during the recovery phase after disasters like floods, so prioritise safety and caution once the water has receded. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can use a bucket<\/strong> or another container to transport the water out. When only a small amount remains, switch to a mop<\/strong> and a nylon hard brush<\/strong> for the final clean up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Next, grab a shovel <\/strong>to scrape off the mud and debris<\/strong> while it’s still wet. If you wait too long, it’ll harden and be tougher to remove. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since your home needs to dry from the inside out, you might need to remove any wallpaper<\/strong>. Otherwise, trapped mud and water can lead to wall damage or worse, termite problems<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Important:<\/mark><\/strong> Use lots of hot water<\/strong>, a sanitizing detergent, and a disinfectant. Hot water has a better ability to dissolve dirt<\/strong> because of its molecular structure, making it more effective than cold water. <\/p>\n\n\n
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4. Toss and Sanitize<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Check on the furniture <\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
While cleaning, take a moment to check on all the items<\/strong> inside your property. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For items that are soft and can’t be properly cleaned, like books, mattresses, pillows, curtains, and clothes, you might need to toss them out<\/strong> depending on how bad the water damage is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As for carpet, furniture and other textiles, double check the level of damage<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you believe the damage is not too severe, clean<\/strong>, sanitize<\/strong>, and dry <\/strong>each piece of furniture with a germ-killing product like sanitizing soap. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Using a sanitizing product that contains bleach, or a diluted bleach solution will effectively eliminate bacteria<\/strong>, including mold on surfaces that may develop after flooding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Toss out all the damages <\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If something’s been sitting in flood water and can’t be cleaned up, it’s time to say goodbye<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I know it’s tough to part with something you love, but keep in mind that flood water can carry nasty sewer stuff, which is pretty gross on its own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Plus, anything left in water for more than 48 hours<\/strong> can start growing molds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But don’t just toss them in the trash or leave them on the curb; those items might have some unwanted germs and bacteria. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead, put them in plastic<\/strong> bags and take them outside. Depending on local rules, you might need to tag and dispose<\/strong> of them properly if they’ve been contaminated with sewer water. <\/p>\n\n\n
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5. Dry your Property <\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
After you’ve gotten rid of as much water as you can, it’s time to dry out<\/strong> your place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Open up all the windows<\/strong> and switch on the ceiling fans<\/strong>. If you have any standing fans, aim them at the dampest areas<\/strong> in your home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Using air circulation and dehumidifiers will help draw moisture<\/strong> out of the air. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Keep the air flowing<\/strong> to prevent molds from setting in. Plus, sunlight is great<\/strong> for zapping those pesky micro-organisms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
6. Contact your insurance<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In Malaysia, several companies offer insurance for flood<\/strong> victims, including Allianz<\/mark><\/a>, Zurich<\/mark><\/a>, and Berjaya Sompo<\/mark><\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to a report from Bank Negara Malaysia<\/strong>, this improved coverage requires an extra premium and is determined by the underwriting policies of each insurer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We recommend that you examine their polic<\/mark><\/a>ies<\/mark><\/a> and speak with your intermediaries<\/strong> for more detailed information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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