Sanitize and disinfect
A flooded car needs to be fully sanitized and disinfected after being thoroughly dried out. (Photo Credits)
Flood waters can be very unsanitary and can contains elements that pose risks to the health, and to the car itself. It is important that the car be appropriately treated and dried out after being submerged to flooding.
CNN.com summed up the dangers of flood waters in one of the news feature articles that it published.
“Floodwater is more than simple rain. It’s often contaminated with sewage and chemicals and can hide sharp objects made of metal or glass. Sewage can cause boils or rashes on parts of the body that are submerged for extended periods of time, such as legs, according to environmentalist Wilma Subra. Chemicals can cause rashes and burning of the skin and eyes after exposure.”
The continuation can be found here.
Dry it out first
The initial step in cleaning a flood damaged car is to thoroughly dry it out first. The website Popular Mechanics says the more the flood water lingers in the car, the heavier the damage a car will sustain.
“Don’t wait for the adjuster to arrive. Mold and corrosion are setting in now. You need to clean out as much liquid and mud as you can and dry out your car as soon as possible. Don’t try to start the car. If there’s water in the engine, transmission or fuel system, you’ll just compound the damage. Disconnect the battery ground strap first-you must do this, otherwise you’ll fry something.”
Check out the continuation of this article here.
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CarBrain.com meanwhile shared a comprehensive guide in cleaning up and sanitizing flood damaged vehicles. In their article they mentioned that the first step is to know the level of flooding the car has sustained, and then work from there.
“Start by using a wet/dry vac to remove any sitting water from the car. Be sure to hit in between the seats and check the armrests and center console. Some vehicles also have drainage holes or plugs in the floors. You may be able to unplug these to make getting standing water out of the car easier. You can also use the wet/dry vac on saturated seats and carpeting as well, but it is most effective on areas of the vehicle that may have an inch or more of standing water. Shop towels also work great to soak up water from seats and carpeting.”
The rest of the procedure can be found here.
When unsure as to how to go about cleaning and disinfecting a flooded car, the best way to go is to seek professional detailing and cleaning.