Usually, janitorial services cover carpet cleaning; rug cleaning; upholstery care; spot removal and stain removal, including pet stain removal; and even tile grout cleaning. In cases of water damage, though, janitorial services do much more.
Following are the recommendations of the Institute for Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) for proper water damage cleaning and restoration in residential structures or light commercial structures.
First of all, property owners are advised to immediately and comprehensively document the extent of water damage through video or photographs so that loss mitigation can promptly begin even before insurance claims representatives arrive. Loss mitigation, defined as "reasonable and prudent measures designed to preserve, protect and secure property from further damage," should be implemented as soon as possible.
One of the priorities of water damage cleaning and restoration is to control or minimize the growth of microbes, including fungi and bacteria. The five conditions that support microbial growth are: having an organic food source such as paper and wood; moisture; stagnant air; moderate temperature of 20-30 degrees Celsius; and a time frame of several hours to several days. These conditions, should, therefore, be minimized if not removed.
The ten steps recommended by the IICRC for proper water damage cleaning and restoration are:
1. Ensure safety by checking structural integrity, providing ventilation, eliminating shock hazards, and using personal protective equipment.
Workers should be wearing boots with shanks of steel or fiberglass, hard hats and protective clothing. They should not enter the structure until it is deemed structurally sound. The electrical supply should be turned off to prevent electric shocks. Once inside, doors and windows should be opened to allow the circulation of fresh air and reduce the inhalation of microorganisms.
2. Remove debris such as silt, vegetation and floating objects.
3. Identify whether the source of water is wind-blown rain or rising water; and determine the extent of wetness.
Wind-blown rain can wet ceilings and walls and penetrate into insulation and framing. Rising water can be wicked up within the walls and insulation. Special detection equipment can be used to determine wet areas not visible to the eye.
4. Remove wet materials that cannot be saved.
Usually, ceiling and walls are removed to expose wet areas within. On the floor, wood or vinyl flooring materials are removed to expose water damage and wetness underneath.
Wet insulation, as well as wet carpets and pads are removed and disposed of. All porous materials are usually disposed of; leaving only non-porous materials that can be cleaned, disinfected and dried.
5. If the source of water is clean, start drying procedures. Specialized drying and dehumidifying equipment are required. Make sure that electrical components are already safe to use, though.
6. If the source of water is contaminated, especially ground water, start cleaning soil residues and continue until all surfaces are clean. Pressurized water may be used to flush away contaminants. The water is then vacuumed off using industrial equipment. All organic contaminants have to be removed before biocides can be applied.
7. Start disinfecting with the appropriate biocides. This step may not be necessary if the water is not contaminated.
8. Boost air circulation and ventilation to speed up structural drying. Professional drying equipment may be necessary. Once again, check electrical components for safety first.
9. Allow structural surfaces to air dry for several days or weeks until materials are restored to normal moisture content levels, or at least within four percentage points to it. This is very important before any reconstruction is done.
10. Reconstruct or replace structural components as necessary.
It would be good to keep these recommendations in mind when monitoring and checking the quality of water damage cleaning and restoration done by a janitorial service.