A story from the field: the morning Ton had to reopen his shop

Ton has run a phone and tablet repair shop in a shophouse near Tao Poon, in Bang Sue district, for seven years. At the front of the shop is a glass display case full of phone cases, screen protectors, charging cables and earphones. Behind it are two repair benches with magnifying cameras, hot-air rework stations and soldering irons. At the back there are shelves of spare parts, replacement screens and batteries, and boxes holding customers' devices that are waiting to be repaired or collected. Most of his customers are office workers, students and market vendors nearby who rely on their phones for work every single day.

In early October 2026, heavy rain went on for days until water from Khlong Prem Prachakon and the street drains overflowed into the soi. Water entered the shop to about the height of a hand span and stayed for three days. Ton rushed to carry customers' devices and spare parts up to the second floor and saved almost all of them. But the plywood base of the display case, the rubber mat in front of the counter, the legs of the repair benches and some cardboard boxes of stock sat in muddy water for days.

When the water receded, he washed out the mud and scrubbed the floor until it looked clean. Yet a musty smell mixed with the odor of drains still hung throughout the shop. The plywood base of the display case had swollen and was dotted with black mold, and a tide line ran along the lower walls. The first customer to come in after he reopened wrinkled her nose and asked, "The shop was flooded, wasn't it? Will my phone pick up the smell or mold?" Then she asked for her phone back without having it repaired.

That night Ton thought hard. He wanted to disinfect the shop and get rid of the smell once and for all, but he was afraid that chemicals or ozone might damage customers' devices, screens, batteries and his expensive tools. "My shop survives because customers trust us to handle their devices," he said. "If the shop smells or looks dirty, they won't dare leave their phones with us."

This is a realistic example scenario based on the kinds of situations service teams meet after floods, not a news report. But many small electronics businesses along the canals of northern Bangkok are dealing with exactly this dilemma right now.

Why phone repair shops face higher risks after a flood than you might think

Health risks

• Phones touch faces and hands all day: Devices brought in for repair pass through many hands, which makes repair benches, counters and device trays important shared touchpoints. After a flood, bacteria such as E. coli from muddy water can linger on these surfaces.
• Leptospirosis: Canal-side shophouses often have rats. Mud and standing water contaminated with rat urine are a risk for anyone cleaning without boots and gloves.
• Mold and allergies: Plywood cabinets, cardboard boxes and rubber mats that soaked up water are perfect places for mold. Spores spread through a narrow shophouse with poor airflow, making staff sneeze, feel congested and get headaches.
• Skin problems: Technicians who handle wet items and mud for long periods risk itchy rashes and skin infections.

Risks to equipment and business

Lingering humidity does not only affect health. It also speeds up corrosion and oxidation on circuit boards, connectors and metal tools. Spare parts kept in damp cardboard may deteriorate early. Lithium batteries that were submerged are dangerous: they can swell, overheat or catch fire. They must be separated, stored safely and disposed of through proper channels, never sold or put back into use.

From a business point of view, a repair shop lives on trust. Customers need to feel sure that if they leave a device, they will get it back in good condition. A musty smell and visible mold directly affect that decision, and a few online reviews mentioning the smell can quickly reduce new customers.

Time pressure after the water goes down

After a flood, demand for phone repairs actually rises. Many people in the neighborhood have dropped phones in water, need new charging ports or want data recovered from damaged devices. A shop that can reopen quickly, and that customers trust to be clean and safe, is well placed to help the community and recover lost income. A shop that stays closed, or that reopens with a lingering smell, risks losing those customers to competitors in nearby areas such as Pracha Chuen or Chatuchak. Speed matters, but only if the job is done properly, because a second closure to deal with returning mold would be far more costly than doing it right the first time.

Common methods that do not work, or that put equipment at risk

• Pouring bleach around the shop: Chlorine fumes in a closed space can corrode metal, connectors and tools, and leave a harsh smell that customers dislike.
• Heavy wet spraying over everything: Droplets that are too large and wet can seep into ports and speaker grilles of uncovered devices.
• Buying an ozone machine and leaving it running overnight: Without dose control and without removing equipment, rubber parts, waterproof seals and some plastics may degrade faster, and anyone walking in before ventilation is at risk.
• Charcoal bags or air fresheners: These mask the smell for a while, but mold in the plywood cabinets remains.
• Repainting immediately: If the wall is still damp, mold will blister the new paint.

In short, an electronics shop needs a method that genuinely disinfects and that is planned carefully around the equipment, not the same approach used for an ordinary home.

The solution: shop-area disinfection fogging and controlled-dose ozone by WHD

The World Health Disinfection (WHD) team uses a disinfection fogging service with Chemgene HLD4H, applied through ULV (ultra-low volume) foggers onto floors, lower walls, display cabinets, bench legs and shared touchpoints, after electronic equipment has been removed or covered. This is followed by an ozone treatment service with a controlled dose and duration, which reduces mold spores and breaks down the musty odor trapped in plywood cabinets and walls.

Step-by-step process for phone repair shops

1. Survey with the owner: The team looks at the shop front, repair benches, parts shelves, storeroom and toilet, noting the water level, mold spots and a list of equipment that must be moved or covered.
2. Removing customer devices and spare parts: Customers' devices, screens, circuit boards, batteries and expensive tools should be moved upstairs or out of the work area. Cabinets or machines that cannot be moved are wrapped tightly in plastic sheeting.
3. Separating flood-exposed batteries: Batteries that are swollen or were submerged should be kept apart in a fire-resistant container and sent for proper disposal, never mixed with normal stock.
4. Mud removal and sorting damaged items: Collapsed cardboard boxes and badly swollen plywood should be set aside. Mud must be washed off surfaces first so the disinfectant can work fully.
5. ULV disinfection fogging: A fine mist is applied only in areas where equipment has been removed or covered, reaching floors, lower walls, bench legs, display cabinets, the toilet and the counter. Repair bench tops are best wiped with a cloth dampened with disinfectant rather than fogged heavily.
6. Controlled-dose ozone treatment: The shop is closed and the generator runs according to the floor area. During this time no people, pets or plants may be inside.
7. Ventilation and re-check: Doors are opened and fans switched on so ozone can break down into oxygen. The team then checks odor and mold spots with the owner before equipment goes back in place.

Ozone safety: Ozone is very effective against mold and odor, but it must not be inhaled at high concentrations. The team closes the shop, posts no-entry signs and ventilates until it is safe before the owner goes back in. Controlling the dose, together with removing or covering electronics, rubber parts and waterproof seals, reduces the risk to items inside the shop.

After reopening, we recommend spraying Chemgene HLD4H spray (750 ml) onto a cloth and wiping the counter, device trays and bench surfaces every day, rather than spraying directly onto devices.

Electronics and ozone: what shop owners should know

Many repair technicians have heard that ozone can be hard on electronics, and they are right to be careful. Ozone is a strong oxidizer. At high concentrations and over long exposure times, it can speed up the aging of natural rubber, some elastic materials and certain plastics, and it can contribute to oxidation on exposed metal contacts. That is exactly why a professional plan matters.

• Remove what you can: Customer devices, loose boards, screens, batteries and small parts should leave the treatment area entirely. This is the simplest and most reliable protection.
• Cover what you cannot move: Large equipment such as rework stations, microscopes and display cabinets with stock can be wrapped tightly in plastic sheeting and taped closed.
• Control the dose: WHD sets the ozone level and treatment time to match the room volume and the odor level, rather than running a machine all night.
• Ventilate fully: Once the cycle ends, ozone breaks down into oxygen. Fans and open doors speed this up before equipment returns.

Handled this way, ozone becomes a useful tool for getting the smell out of the shop's structure, cabinets and walls, while the valuable electronics stay safely out of the way.

Reopen quickly without risking customer devices

Most phone repair shops cannot close for long. Customers are waiting to collect devices and urgent repairs keep coming in. The team therefore usually plans to work in the evening after closing time or on a day off, then ventilates fully before the shop opens the next day. Meanwhile, the owner should make a detailed list of every customer device that is moved, with photos before and after, so each one can be returned correctly and customers feel reassured.

Communication helps a great deal too. A sign at the front saying that the shop has been cleaned and disinfected after the flood, or a short message to customers who have devices in the shop, shows that you care about both their phones and their health.

Do not forget the back of the shop. Many shophouses have a toilet, a small kitchen or living quarters upstairs. A ground-floor toilet that was flooded should be included in the disinfection plan, and if the family lives upstairs, the team will plan for everyone to leave the building during ozone treatment and return only after ventilation is complete.

The first 72 hours: what you can do before the survey

1. Stay safe with electricity: Do not switch on power to a flooded floor until a qualified electrician has checked sockets, extension leads and the distribution board.
2. Protect yourself: Wear rubber boots, gloves and a mask when removing mud, and cover any cuts because of the leptospirosis risk.
3. Isolate batteries: Move any battery that touched floodwater, or any device with a swollen battery, to a metal box or other fire-resistant container away from flammable items.
4. Record customer devices: List and photograph every customer device, noting whether it was exposed to water, so you can talk honestly with each customer.
5. Dry tools and parts: Wipe and dry metal tools quickly to limit rust, and move parts out of wet cardboard into sealed plastic boxes with desiccant packs.
6. Remove mud while it is soft: Dried mud turns into fine dust that spreads germs and gets into everything, including device ports.

Caring for tools and workbenches after the flood

A repair technician's tools are their livelihood. Screwdriver sets, tweezers, spudgers, soldering stations, hot-air stations, microscopes and power supplies can all suffer when a shop has been sitting in damp air for days. Metal tools should be dried and lightly oiled where appropriate to stop rust. Anti-static mats that were soaked may lose their properties and are often worth replacing. Microscopes and cameras should be kept covered and stored in a dry place until the shop has been treated and ventilated. Benches themselves, especially if they have plywood or particleboard tops, should be checked for swelling and mold on the underside. Once the shop has been disinfected and ozone-treated, wipe bench tops with a cloth dampened with disinfectant before returning tools, and keep a small dehumidifier running near the bench area for the first few weeks.

Talking honestly with customers whose devices were in the shop

Customers whose phones were in the shop during the flood will have questions. The best approach is to be open. Tell them where their device was kept, whether it was exposed to water or only to damp air, and what you have done since, including moving it to a safe place and having the shop professionally disinfected. If a device was exposed to water, explain the risks clearly and agree together on the next steps before doing any further work. Honest communication protects both your reputation and your relationship with regular customers, many of whom will remember how you handled a difficult moment long after the flood itself is forgotten.

Why a professional service rather than a DIY ozone machine?

Small ozone generators are easy to buy online, and some shop owners are tempted to run one overnight and hope for the best. The difficulty is that without measuring the room volume, setting the right dose and time, removing or covering sensitive items and ventilating properly, you can end up with either too little effect or unnecessary stress on rubber parts and plastics, and a real risk to anyone who walks in too soon. A professional team combines the right equipment with a plan: disinfectant fogging for surfaces, controlled ozone for odor and mold, and clear safety steps from start to finish.

10 reasons phone repair shops in Bang Sue choose WHD

1. Planning starts with protecting customer devices and spare parts.
2. Uses Chemgene HLD4H disinfectant, designed for high-level disinfection of frequently touched surfaces.
3. ULV foggers produce a fine mist without soaking surfaces.
4. Controlled-dose ozone treatment reduces musty odor in plywood cabinets and walls.
5. Practical guidance on safely separating flood-exposed batteries.
6. Work after closing time or on days off to minimize lost trading.
7. Clear order of work from mud removal and humidity control to cabinet repairs and painting.
8. Chemgene HLD4H spray for daily wiping of counters and benches.
9. Follow-on mosquito spraying for the shop front and sois with standing water.
10. Easy to reach by phone and LINE, with advice before you book.

Before and after disinfection and ozone treatment

Customer voice (example scenario)

"My biggest fear was damaging customers' phones. The team had me list every device and move them all upstairs first, and anything we couldn't move was wrapped in plastic. They finished at night and I opened as usual the next morning. The smell was mostly gone, and my regular customers started leaving their phones with me again."

— Ton, phone repair shop owner near Tao Poon, Bang Sue (example scenario)

Aftercare checklist for electronics shops

• Open the doors to ventilate every morning and run a dehumidifier in the parts storeroom.
• Store parts in sealed plastic boxes with desiccant packs instead of cardboard.
• Raise shelves off the floor and keep them away from exterior walls.
• Wipe the counter, device trays and repair benches with a disinfectant-dampened cloth every day.
• Check battery stock regularly, and move any swollen battery to a fire-resistant container immediately.
• Watch for returning musty smell or mold spots during the first two to four weeks, and ask the team for a re-assessment if needed.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Is ozone treatment safe in a shop full of electronics?
A: The team uses a controlled dose and recommends removing customer devices, spare parts and sensitive equipment, or covering them tightly, to minimize direct exposure. The treatment is aimed at the shop's structure, cabinets, walls and air, not at the devices themselves. Customer phones and tablets should never be placed in front of an ozone generator as a way to remove smell from inside them; if a device smells after water exposure, that is a sign it needs proper technical inspection and cleaning by the technician.

Q: Will the disinfectant get into device ports?
A: Fogging is done only in areas where equipment has been removed or covered. For repair benches, wiping with a dampened cloth is recommended instead of fogging.

Q: How long will the shop need to close?
A: Most jobs are done after closing time or on a day off, followed by ventilation until safe before the next day's opening. The exact time depends on shop size.

Q: What should we do with batteries that were under water?
A: Do not use or sell them. Keep them in a fire-resistant container away from flammable materials and dispose of them through proper channels.

Q: Do swollen plywood cabinets need replacing?
A: If they are badly swollen or the mold goes deep, replacing the affected section is usually best. The team can assess and advise.

Q: Can you treat the living area upstairs as well?
A: Yes. Upstairs rooms can be included, as long as everyone leaves the building during ozone treatment and returns only after ventilation is complete.

Q: Which areas do you serve?
A: Bang Sue, Dusit, Chatuchak, Phaya Thai and nearby areas of Bangkok and Nonthaburi. Ask us on LINE @whd268.

Make your shop a place customers trust with their devices again

Book a site survey for your phone repair or electronics shop in Bang Sue.

View Disinfection Service – Click Here

Book Ozone Treatment – Click Here

Call 065-556-6294 · LINE @whd268 · Email worldhealthdisinfection@gmail.com

Related links

• Ozone treatment for odor and chemical residue
• Chemgene HLD4H disinfectant spray
• Master Ozone Generator
• All articles

Health reference: World Health Organization (WHO): Floods · Department of Disease Control, Thailand