Several areas in Puncak Alam experienced flooding on the 14th of August after almost an hour of rain. The Selangor Fire and Rescue Department reported a water level of 30cm at Jalan Persiaran Puncak Alam 6, while other people posted photographs showing water inside their houses and residential areas. For homeowners considering house cleaning services, this kind of flooding highlights why cleaning after water intrusion involves more than making the visible areas look tidy.
However, no mass evacuation was needed during this incident, although flooding is a common occurrence in Malaysia. Water does not have to reach the ceiling for it to disrupt your activities in the house.
Water on the ground floor of the house can be mopped up, and the affected rooms, car porch or kitchen may look quite clean by evening. However, it is possible that moisture will be trapped beneath furniture, in cupboards, skirting boards and porous objects.
For the homeowner, there is a clear difference between cleaning the mess and drying the house.
The water leaves more than dirt behind
It is important not to treat flood water on a tile floor as if it were regular rainwater.
The World Health Organization advises that flood water can be contaminated and recommends cleaning and disinfection of the surfaces, as well as disposal of objects that cannot be cleaned. In Malaysia, the Ministry of Health suggests wearing protective boots, rubber gloves, masks, and eye protection during the cleanup procedure after a flood due to the presence of dangerous microorganisms in flood water and silt.
The priorities change when water enters the house.
The primary objective will not be polishing the floor but removing water and contamination from the surfaces, as well as cleaning them properly. This is also where homeowners using house cleaning services need to understand what type of cleaning is actually required after flood water enters the property.
Special attention should be paid to the foods that have come into contact with flood water.
According to WHO, all such products should be disposed of and not cleaned.
Cleaning, drying, and disinfecting are separate stages
People often compress post-flood recovery into one instruction: “clean the house”.
A more useful sequence is:
- Remove. Clear standing water, mud and materials that cannot realistically be recovered.
- Clean. Wash affected hard surfaces and remove visible contamination.
- Dry. Increase ventilation and remove retained moisture from the room and its contents.
Disinfect where appropriate. Follow suitable product instructions rather than mixing cleaning chemicals indiscriminately.
These stages of recovery are highlighted by the WHO in its guidance on post-flood mould. They also emphasize the importance of managing moisture levels to prevent further mould growth.
This is easy to forget in Malaysia because of the high humidity levels.
For house cleaning services, this distinction matters because ordinary cleaning can address visible dirt while post-flood recovery may require additional attention to moisture and contamination.
Look beyond the tiles
A tiled floor may dry quickly. Other materials behave differently.
After water intrusion, homeowners should pay particular attention to:
- mattresses and upholstered furniture;
- rugs and fabric-covered items;
- the lower sections of wardrobes and kitchen cabinets;
- gypsum board and other absorbent wall materials;
- timber or laminate flooring;
- spaces behind large furniture where airflow is poor.
WHO points out that excessive moisture encourages the growth of organisms and is associated with respiratory problems, allergies and asthma. Mould and moisture are regarded as environmental hazards to health in the housing recommendations of WHO.
Not all damp walls have serious mould issues; however, leaving them damp can increase the risk of mould developing over time. It is the process of drying that needs the same attention as cleaning.
Know what kind of service you are booking
General house cleaning services are best suited for daily dusting, cleaning kitchens and bathrooms, mopping floors, and general house cleaning.
If the property has been affected by flood water, other services may be needed.
Before making any appointment, make it clear that the water has seeped into the house and tell them where it seeped in and how far it spread inside the house. Ask them whether they clean the mud or other contamination, disinfect the contaminated hard surface, and/or assist in drying the place.
If there is extensive mould growth, heavily contaminated water, or damage to porous building materials, normal home cleaning might not be enough. WHO recommends professional help in case of large mould growth after the flooding.
Electrical safety will also be outside the scope of general cleaning services. MOH, Malaysia recommends that the electricity should be switched off before going inside the house, whereas WHO recommends that the electrical system and appliances should be checked by a professional before use.
A second inspection is worth doing
Once the initial cleanup process is complete, one useful step after water damage is to reevaluate the affected rooms.
Check the contents of cupboards. Move furniture away from the wet walls, if feasible. Check for musty odor in fabrics. Check the corners and lower areas of walls rather than the entrance.
An individual who hires house cleaning services after a minor flooding problem needs to ask how they will handle any dampness or stains that occur after the initial cleanup.
The room may look clean initially, but the real moisture problem may reveal itself later on.
Malaysia’s flood problem makes this household knowledge useful
In addition, both the Selangor and federal governments have also issued further steps in tackling the floods in the Klang Valley area on 23 August, including reviewing the dam capacity, construction of more retention ponds, and river dredging.
These efforts are important for infrastructure, but the homeowners are still going to be faced with localized flash floods and water intrusion.
The right way to address the problem is not to panic or simply use stronger detergent.
The question is not simply whether house cleaning services can clean the mess made when water seeps into the home, but whether everything that remains wet after cleaning is properly dried.
The home is cleaned when there is no more contamination, and when it has all dried out and been checked in those hard-to-reach corners… not simply when the floor is dry.
After flooding, trust Jashan Corporation for professional house cleaning services in Malaysia. Contact info@jashan.com.my or WhatsApp +6012-3836905 for reliable post-flood cleaning assistance today.
