Recent Why SERVPRO Posts

How To Decide When To Call In The Pros

5/13/2022 (Permalink)

How To Decide When To Call In The Pros To Clean Up Water Damage

Water damage in your home can occur from a number of different sources ranging from outdoor flood damage, roof damage that lets in precipitation to interior causes such as a burst pipe or overflowing washer causing flood damage. Obviously, the longer water sits, the more water damage it is likely to cause. In addition, damage mitigation of water that comes from a clean interior source such as a pipe or washing machine is also easier than damage mitigation from flooding or a sewer issue. In some cases, whether it is water in your home or water in your business, you absolutely want to call in professionals to deal with the issue. However, there are some types of water damage restoration - particularly if it is water in your home - you might want to tackle on your own. For water in your business, there is the additional issue of valuable electronics, which are more susceptible to water damage and require different restoration and mitigation techniques. For water in your home, however, here is brief overview of how drying and water cleanup should occur.

1. Lift furniture

Once you have cleaned and evacuated the majority of the water, your best friends in the final stages of water cleanup, restoration and drying are air and heat. For restoration and damage mitigation in floors in particular, getting the best airflow possible means getting furniture up above the surface of the floor so as not to block the airflow. In addition, you will also want to protect the legs and lower surfaces of furniture from wicking up the water and leaving stains once it dries. Drying out carpeting and flooring is also important and lifting furniture will aid in the drying process.

2. Remove baseboards and drill large holes in the bottom of drywall

Drywall is not only dry, it also acts like a sponge, which means it will wick water high up into the walls where you can't see it because it's covered by paint. The paint also acts as a protective barrier that will keep air from being able to dry out the drywall. Drilling holes in the bottom of the drywall allows air to get inside the walls and dry out the drywall from the side that is not covered by paint. Drilling the holes in the bottom of the drywall also means they will be covered up once you replace the baseboards.

3. Spray a strong disinfectant on the walls

Mold, mildew and bacteria thrive in moist environments. To make sure that you do not have long-term mildew damage, be sure and spray any carpets and walls with a strong disinfectant or anti-bacterial spray. Also keep in mind that many insurance companies will cover flood recovery, but they will not cover mold and mildew damage, since that should have been taken care of in the initial recovery. This is something to consider when deciding whether or not to call in pros to recover from flood damage.

4. Set up industrial fans, an industrial dehumidifier and crank up the heat

While regular household fans might be enough to create a cool breeze, they are not powerful enough to create a strong enough wind current to climb up high into your walls. Heat will help water evaporate, and dry air will absorb the water as it evaporates, but you have to then remove the water from the saturated air so it will absorb more moisture, which you do with the dehumidifier. You want to keep doors and windows tightly sealed during this process, so you may want to leave the house while the heat and fans do their work.

Water in your home will create damage if left standing long enough but water in your business has the potential to create even more damage due to the presence of more electronics. For water in your business, you will most likely want to call in the pros to do the water cleanup. Even in your home, however, water cleanup from flood damage can be pricey even if you do all the work yourself.

The cost of renting industrial fans and an industrial dehumidifier might be comparable to hiring professionals to do it for you and you can be sure if you hire professionals that it is done properly and does not result in even costlier mold damage.

SERVPRO of Tulsa Hills, Sapulpa 918-248-1440

Yuck! There's Mold in the Washing Machine

4/28/2022 (Permalink)

Mold can creep up in unlikely places in your house. Sometimes it shows up on shower walls, under sinks, around AC units, underneath flooring or in the washing machine. If your clothes washer gets moldy, you don't want to put your laundry inside and regret the fact that it comes out smelly. Instead, you need to clean it. Thankfully, you can get help from residential mold cleaners who know exactly how to tackle this issue.

How To Clean the Washer

Your mold experts will come in to help you remove the fungus from your washer. The main steps for removing the mold smell include the following:

  • Wipe away the surface mold, mildew and grime.
  • Use odor-removing mixtures to kill the smell.
  • Make sure the fungus is killed by using a commercial-grade cleaner.

After the team has cleaned your machine, you will be able to resume washing your dirty laundry without the fear of it coming out smelling musty.

How To Keep the Washer Mold Free

Even though the mold is gone, it could come back. After all, you still have to wash clothes, so what can you do to make sure the moisture doesn't build up in your washing machine? You need to do a little preventative work. Most front-load washers use a rubber gasket to seal the door. This seal does exactly what it was designed to do; it traps in water. You can help air out the machine by leaving the door open when you're not using it. You may also want to wipe the drum and behind the gasket with a clean, dry towel when you're done with laundry for the day. Switching to a high-efficiency detergent could also help stave off mold buildup.

Your washing machine creates the perfect environment for mold growth. Giving the appliance a thorough cleaning can help get rid of fungus, but you need to change a few habits if you want to keep mold growth away.

Still need help cleaning it, give us a call.. SERVPRO of Tulsa Hills, Sapulpa 918-248-1440

How to Clean a Gas Range

4/28/2022 (Permalink)

A gas range may seem more difficult to clean than a glass top electric stove. In fact, these ranges typically require less scraping or specialized tools. Follow these seven range cleaning steps to safely clean your stove and eliminate any smoke smell.

1. Clean As You Go

Remove spatters and stains with a damp paper towel or washable cloth during and after cooking. This is the easiest way to prevent a range from becoming grimy and more difficult to deep clean.

2. Remove and Soak Grates

Take the grates off of the gas range and soak them in a sink filled with hot, soapy water. Wait several minutes before using a cleaning brush or old toothbrush to scrub off debris.

3. Spray and Wipe

Wipe off any crumbs or debris and then spray the surface with a mixture of one part white vinegar to one part water. Wait several minutes before wiping. Use soap or a specialized cleaning product for severe stains.

4. Scrub Stains

Make circular motions with the small cleaning brush. Wipe up debris with a damp paper towel or cleaning cloth.

5. Remove and Soak Burner Caps

Once the rest of the stove is clean and dry, remove the burner caps. Soak and scrub stains off of these components.

6. Lift and Clean Burner Heads

Lift straight up on burner heads and clean underneath. Use a needle or pin to clear out notches.

7. Lift and Vacuum the Range

Release the spring hinges or pins to lift the range. Use a vacuum attachment to remove crumbs from the inside of the range.

These seven range cleaning methods can help to keep your gas range clean and reduce the risk and severity of grease fires. If a fire does start in the kitchen of your home, seek the equipment and expertise of mitigation and restoration professionals at SERVPRO of Tulsa Hills, Sapulpa!

SERVPRO of Tulsa Hills, Sapulpa 918-248-1440

The Most Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Mold Growth

4/11/2022 (Permalink)

If you’ve discovered mold growth in your home, you may have a lot of questions you want answers to, such as where did it come from, is it dangerous and how can you get rid of it? Mold is frustrating, but it is not uncommon. If you want to know more about the fungi that has invaded your home, this post contains answers to some of the most common FAQs regarding mold.

  • What is mold?
  • Is mold dangerous?
  • Where does mold come from?
  • How can you decrease and prevent mold?

What is Mold?


Mold is a type of fungi that grows in both indoor and outdoor areas. Mold is one of those organisms that can thrive in typically uninhabitable environments, such as in dark places with high humidity or, in more rare instances, in extremely dry environments.

Is Mold Dangerous?

Mold growth is dangerous in that it can eat away at your home’s foundation and structure and, over time, render it uninhabitable. If you do not deal with water damage and resulting mold in a timely fashion, your floorboards may become week, your ceiling may start to sag and your drywall may begin to crumble. These are all hazards that could pose a threat to your safety and well-being.

Where Does Mold Grow?

Mold typically thrives in dark, damp environments, but it has been known to flourish in dry environments as well. If you suspect that there is mold in your home, begin by checking in areas in which there is high humidity, little ventilation and little natural light.

How Can You Prevent Mold?

You can prevent mold by fixing moisture problems as soon as you notice them and by working with a mold remediation team. The best thing you can do to prevent fungus growth is to keep water damage at bay.

If you discover mold growth in your home, you may be feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. If the problem is new, however, don’t panic, as damage is probably minimal. Do call your local remediation team for cleanup and prevention assistance.