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Jeyes cleans up with advice for flood-hit residents

20th March 2014 Print

Now that the extreme weather that hit the UK over the past few weeks has passed, one expert is urging homeowners to think about the hidden risks left behind after the water has subsided and the gale force winds that caused widespread damage have died down.

Flood water, which can potentially contain sewage, and animal waste, can be a breeding ground for bacteria.

Dr Clare Jackson, an expert in domestic cleaning, said: “Whilst the headlines are no longer dominated with news about flooding, for thousands of homeowners the damage to their properties remains. As the rainwater starts to drain off in the worst affected areas I’d urge residents to not only think about the inside of their homes but also begin to plan for the outside clean-up operation to get rid of any harmful bacteria that has been left behind by the flood water.”

Dr Jackson, Research & Development Director at Jeyes, has developed easy-to-follow outdoor cleaning advice for people affected by the extreme weather, and recommends homeowners to:

1. Make sure, before cleaning the outside of any property that people are fully kitted out. Waterproof outwear including gloves, wellington boots and a face mask should all be worn - all of which are available from most DIY outlets.

2. Treat all hard surfaces that have come into contact with flood water, particularly drains which harbour bacteria and dirt, as a priority.

3. Clean away as much of the solid mud and muck as possible. Scrape-off driveways, patios, paths, inside sheds and greenhouses and shovel into strong plastic bags. These can then be collected by local refuse contractors or taken to the local re-cycling centre. The remaining soil should then be hosed away.

4. Use an appropriate outdoor cleaning product, such as Jeyes Fluid, which also has strong disinfectant properties. You can’t see bacteria so it’s important to use a robust disinfectant to ensure that the surface has been cleaned properly.

5. Use a strong disinfectant like Jeyes Fluid to clean animal housings (kennels, hutches, chicken coups, and pigeon lofts), greenhouses and sheds and allow to dry fully before allowing animals to return.

Dr Jackson continues: “When people are able to start tackling the aftermath of such traumatic events, it’s important that they have the right approach to cleaning-up both inside and outside the home. People will require different types of product for cleaning inside their homes and for use outdoors. For example some products such as Jeyes Fluid are designed only to be used outdoors. That is why it is so important that people take time to read product labels, follow instructions properly, and only use fit-for-purpose products.”