Water can cause considerable damage to your home if you’re not careful, so it’s crucial you do everything you can as soon as possible to ensure your safety. Once you’ve shut off the water and turned off your electricity, it’s time to start cleaning up some of the water and your possessions. But what’s the best way to do this, and how exactly should you do that?

During the first 24 hours of water damage, you’ll want to act fast to minimize even more harm from occurring. Here are some of our best tips for cleaning up after water damage:

• Inspect for Mold. Mold and mildew can spread fast, and since some molds can be toxic to humans, removing areas with mold as soon as possible is critical. With smaller, less severe types of mold, cut out the affected area, seal it in a bag, and throw it away immediately. For toxic mold, leave the area immediately and call a professional to remove the mold safely. You’ll also want to turn off any airflow in your home to prevent contaminating other places with mold.
• Remove Damaged Items. In addition to moldy items, remove any other items submerged in the water, particularly porous items that the water will permanently damage, including carpet, fabric, insulation, furniture, and even “sturdier” materials like wood and concrete.
• Disinfect Surviving Items. Take stock of the items that survived and start disinfecting them. You’ll also want to disinfect the entire area. A bleach solution will work perfectly, though you can also use a homemade solution with white vinegar and baking soda. Take exceptional care when disinfecting the area; you’ll want to remove every mold spore. Of course, you can’t do this until you…
• Call the Professionals. For standing water, you’ll need to call in professionals for removal. They’ll know what kind of water it is (e.g., what’s safe or dangerous, what kind of damage it can cause) and how to remove it. They’ll also help you ensure water damage prevention in the future.
• Dry Out the Area. Once the water is gone, do your best to dry the area as much as possible. Getting out all the moisture in the area will prevent further damage from happening, even after the water is removed. Use fans in the area to dry it out; consider using a large-capacity dehumidifier for larger areas.