Cleaning Up After the Storm

by Autumn "SoRite" Ryan, Founder and CEO of SoRite

In our neck of the woods, we had a few inches of snow, followed by more inches of ice, followed by single digit temps and a power grid that left over 200,000 in our city without power for days. Now the whole city is left cleaning up after the storm, and we’re not alone. Twenty states have declared an emergency.

As a former owner of a commercial and residential janitorial company that also provided demolition clean up, I see some of the same techniques that apply to cleaning up after a harsh winter storm.

A Clean Sweep 

You need to start with sweeping up and cleaning up the debris...leaves, firewood debris, salt, ice melt, etc. Sweep up or rake up the entry to your home so that you're not tracking in additional dirt and grime.

Inside, working from top to bottom dust landing spots for debris on mantles, counters, tables, seat cushions, hearths and rugs. Then sweep debris from your floors and carpets into a dustpan before vacuuming. By keeping large chunks of debris from being ground into your carpet and upholstery you could save yourself a future unplanned professional cleaning.

Next vacuum carpets, rugs, pet bedding, even the hem of drapes before moving to hard surface floors.

Remove Salts & Grease

Tile, vinyl and hardwood floors will have a thin layer of residue that needs to be removed. Salt brine and ice melt will damage your floors and textiles if left unchecked. I recommend mopping with an all-purpose cleaner/degreaser. Then rinsing with clear water. Also, don't forget to clean the bottom of the shoes and boots that you've worn outside.

Tips for Exterior Clean Up

Outside your home you may be facing bigger tasks. Obviously, you'll need to wait until after the thaw, but following are a few suggestions for items you'll want to inspect:

1. Windows and Doors -- are there broken sills or cracks in windows from ice or downed tree limbs? 

2. Roof, Gutters, Basement -- check for damage, cracks or leaks. Check outside and inside. A sag or discolored stain in the ceiling indicates some type of roof leak.

Another problem on the roof are the creation of "ice dams" which occur when the snow or ice melts then refreezes. Ice dams build up on the edges of the roof. If you can't hire a professional to address ice dams, you might trying blowing ice with a leaf blower or carefully use a rake so that you don't puncture the roof. Ice melt is not recommended as residue can damage your roof material. You can gently pour warm water on the ice dam as long as it won't refreeze.

3. Fireplace -- if it was time to have your fireplace checked and cleaned "before" the storm, now is a great time to schedule that service before using again.

4. Walkways, Porches, Decks, Driveways -- if you applied any type of salt or ice melt you will want to wash that away as soon as temperatures allow you to use your outside garden hose.

5. HVAC, Vents, Outdoor Faucets -- Cold weather, especially snow and ice can impact HVAC units. Now is a great time to replace your indoor air vents as well. Make sure that basement vents are still covered and that there are no leaky outdoor faucets.

Recovering from a harsh winter storm can be a daunting but necessary task. There's still lots more winter to go!

Image courtesy of Nashville Electric Service