Checklist for Cleaning Up After a Winter Freeze

Ice, snow, mud, and debris can accumulate indoors and outdoors, making your property feel chaotic and unkempt. However, following a detailed checklist, you can return your home and yard to its pre-freeze state. In some cases winter weather comes quickly and unexpectedly such as the recent winter storm that hit the southern states such as Georgia and Florida extremely hard. Places such as Savannah Georgia and Orlando Florida are not accustomed to freezing temperatures and preparing can be difficult.

Assess the Potential Damage:

The best thing to do after a winter storm is to conduct a thorough walk-through of your home and property to see if there is any damage that needs immediate attention. If so, call a repairman if it is a job you do not feel comfortable doing yourself. Next, examine your pipes and make sure none of them burst during the freeze. It is also good to check around your roof line to determine if the ice and snow have damaged any of your shingles on the roof or your gutters. If so, please contact a roof/gutter specialist to fix this problem. They can usually mobile quickly with dumpsters on site for debris.

De-Ice and Clean the Outdoors:

After any storm with frozen precipitation, your trees and plants need to be cared for. While still frozen, be careful not to shake the limbs because they break. Wait until the ice melts and then remove dead or dying limbs or parts of plants that have been destroyed because of the ice. The plants will heal themselves, in most cases, but keep a close eye on the ones that look particularly injured. Clear

Clear all walkways and driveways of ice, snow, and debris so you can move safely around your property while looking for damage. You will need to clean the gutters of debris so that water can move smoothly through. Also, something people forget is the outdoor lighting and that sometimes the lights will be unplugged by the weight of the snow and ice.

Ensure you Clean and Maintain the Indoors as well:

Our shoes track dirt and salt from the outside indoors without us even knowing. Make sure to sweep and mop the floors because the salt that melts the ice is very caustic to our indoor environment. Also, wipe down the surfaces very well and keep the mudroom, if you have one, clean of debris and mess. It is a good idea to clean your windows at this time and to clean and check your air vents. If you had any moisture leaks during the freeze check very well for mold or mildew that could have formed as a result.

Check your Garage:

Ensure you check all areas of your garage, including appliances that are stored there. The garage is not as insulated as your interior home and can freeze much quicker than other parts of your house. Ensure the seal of your windows and garage door was not compromised during the storm as well.

Address any Moisture and Humidity you Feel:

After any winter freeze, it tends to feel damp in certain areas.  To prevent any mold or mildew issues, dry the affected area immediately with a mop or a large towel. Getting a dehumidifier for the affected area toprevent any problems in the future. Areas that remain damp are prone to mold and mildew that will rot your subfloor, resulting in a huge problem down the road.

Finally Clean and Store the Equipment you used:

If you take care of your yard equipment, it will take care of you, is what my grandpa always said. Therefore, all the tools such as rakes, blowers, shovels, and trimmers were wiped down thoroughly so they do not rust. Store them in a place away from the elements and you will be able to use them after the next storm or in the spring. Savannahs way of life and other southern areas are not usually effected by winter storms but when they are a proper placn like this is the best way to go.