The hurricane is over and cleanup must begin. There are still tree limbs, fallen light posts, and broken signs to be carted away. Until yesterday, I had to stop at every stoplight because power restoration was sporadic and there were no working stoplights for several blocks. There is a lot to do after the storm, even if you had minimal damage.

Throw Out Food

A refrigerator can only maintain its temperature for four hours after a power outage–if the door remains closed. If you have children, you know how difficult it is to apply that rule. A freezer can hold temperatures anywhere from 24-48 hours, depending on how full it is. We lost power for about 36 hours, but I’m not sure exactly where we fall in the guidelines. I wound up throwing out all the food in the fridge except for vinegar.

Return Plants to Balcony

I had brought the plants inside so they wouldn’t get torn up in the storm or cause potential harm if the winds got really high. The cats left them alone most of the time, but then I caught Bill eyeing and nuzzling the pineapple plant. Out they went!

Clean Kitchen

Most people had yards to clean after Isaac. I was fortunate enough to only have a kitchen to clean. After forgetting the paper plates, I had a stack of dirty dishes to wash. Plus, there was an incident involving frozen blueberries when I was cleaning out the fridge. Luckily, I have a Hoover TwinTank Disinfecting Steam Mop. Its many cool features made scrubbing on my hands and knees unnecessary:

• Two-tank system allows for using cleaning solution or just steam.
• Adjustable knob for cleaning strength
• Washable microfiber pads
• Versatile for either carpet or floors

The Hoover Steam Mop is great for lifting those pesky blueberry marks, as well as disinfecting the surface. I like that it has a long cord, because I like to go into the hall without having to unplug and replug. Mopping is now an enjoyable experience due the solution’s fresh scent (think baby powder) and the easy glide of the triangular mop head. After cleaning, I can protect what’s left of my laminate by placing the mop on the cooling tray.

A hurricane can be traumatic, but cleaning up afterwards doesn’t have to be. I’m just glad I didn’t have serious damage; my heart and prayers are with those who were more affected by Isaac.

I received a sample of this product to facilitate my review, but my opinions are entirely my own.