A Story from the Field: "When Can I Go Home?"

Khru Nid is the resident caregiver at a small foundation-run children's home in a lane in Don Mueang. The home is a two-storey building that looks after around thirty children aged four to fifteen. Downstairs are the kitchen, the dining room, a homework room and a storeroom for donations. Upstairs are two dormitories, one for boys and one for girls. Behind the house is a small play yard, the children's favourite place in the world.

When water from a nearby canal spilled into the lane and stayed for more than two weeks, the foundation moved all the children to temporary lodging in a partner building in an area that had stayed dry. Everyone was safe. But every night at bedtime, the youngest girl asked Khru Nid the same question: "When can I go home?"

On the day the water receded, Khru Nid and two volunteers went back to open the house. Downstairs, a line of mud ran almost knee high along the walls. The kitchen cupboards had swollen. In the homework room, the plywood desks had puffed up and split. Boxes of donated toys had soaked until the cardboard fell apart. A sewer smell was rising from the bathroom drains. Upstairs, the water had not reached the dormitories, but the rooms had been shut for weeks and smelled damp and stale. Several mattresses had spots of mold at the corners, and the curtains smelled musty.

Khru Nid knew that many of the children have allergies, some have asthma, and the little ones love to sit and play on the floor and put things in their mouths. So the question for the foundation was not only "When can the children come home?" but also "How do we make this home safe enough for children?" This article brings together practical guidance for children's homes, residential care facilities and foundations that look after children after a flood.

Why a Children's Home Needs a More Thorough Recovery Than an Ordinary House

• Children are more sensitive to germs and mold spores than adults. Their immune systems and airways are still developing, and children with allergies or asthma can have flare-ups easily.
• Young children play on the floor and put things in their mouths. Floors, toys and table edges that still carry germs from floodwater are a direct risk.
• Many people live together. In shared dormitories, shared bathrooms and a kitchen that cooks three meals a day, any germs left behind can spread quickly from one child to another.
• There are large stocks of donated goods. Clothes, soft toys, books and games stored downstairs are often submerged and need to be sorted systematically.
• Budgets and staff are limited. Most foundations run with only a handful of staff. Good planning ensures that every baht and every pair of hands is used well.

The Risks of Bringing Children Back Too Soon

Health. Floodwater can carry bacteria such as E. coli, which is linked to diarrhoeal illness, and the bacteria that cause leptospirosis, leaving them on floors and lower walls. Children may develop skin rashes, stomach upsets or lingering coughs from mold spores in their bedrooms. If a child develops a high fever, muscle pain or severe diarrhoea after a flood, they should be taken to a doctor.

Emotional wellbeing. Many children in residential care have already experienced instability in their lives. Coming back to a home that smells stale, looks dark and feels messy can make them feel unsafe. Waiting a few extra days so that the home feels fresh and welcoming is well worth it.

Trust. Donors, social workers and the agencies that refer children to the home want to see that the foundation takes responsibility for the children's environment. A clear, well-documented recovery strengthens that trust.

Common Methods That Are Not Enough for a Home Full of Children

• Pouring strong bleach all over the house. Chlorine fumes irritate the airways of children with asthma, and mixing bleach with some toilet cleaners can create dangerous gases.
• Spraying air freshener in the dormitories. It masks the smell only briefly, and some fragrance ingredients can trigger allergies in children.
• Putting mattresses in the sun for a day and using them again. If mold has grown inside a mattress, sunlight cannot reach it.
• Rinsing toys with plain water. Toys that sat in floodwater need washing with soap and disinfecting. Soft toys that were submerged for a long time usually need to be thrown away.
• Painting over mold stains. The mold will be back within weeks, because the wall is still damp inside.

The Solution: Chemgene HLD4H Disinfection Fogging and Ozone Treatment While the Children Are Away

The period while the children are still staying elsewhere is the best time to restore the home, because the work can be done thoroughly without any children in the building. World Health Disinfection (WHD) provides disinfection fogging and ozone treatment for children's homes and other buildings that care for children after flooding.

How the Work Is Done

1. Survey with the home's caregivers. We walk through every room, including the dormitories, bathrooms, kitchen, homework room, donation store and play yard, noting where mold is present and which materials should be replaced.
2. Sorting and preparation advice. Mattresses and soft toys that were submerged or have mold deep inside should be replaced. Plastic toys are washed with soap. Mud and swollen furniture are removed. Children's personal documents are stored somewhere dry and secure.
3. Disinfection fogging with Chemgene HLD4H. We apply CHEMGENE HLD4H through an ultra-low-volume (ULV) fogger, covering floors, lower walls, bathrooms, the kitchen, stair rails, door handles and bunk beds.
4. Ozone shock treatment. A Master Ozone Generator runs in the dormitories, homework room and storeroom to reduce airborne mold spores and break down the musty odour soaked into curtains, cupboards and walls.
5. Full ventilation. Every door and window is opened until the ozone has completely broken down, before staff go back in, and at least a day before the children return.
6. Re-check before the children's return. We assess the smell with the caregivers, check the risk spots again, and advise on controlling humidity in the dormitories during the rainy season.

Room-by-Room Checklist Before the Children Come Home

• Dormitories: replace any mattress with mold. Wash sheets, pillowcases and blankets in hot water. Check under the bunk beds and in the corners for mold spots.
• Shared bathrooms: flush the drains and pour water into each floor trap so the water seal stops sewer smells coming back. Check grout and silicone for mold.
• Kitchen: throw away any food or ingredients touched by floodwater. Wash and disinfect all dishes and utensils. Check the cupboards and under the sink, and clean the refrigerator thoroughly.
• Homework room: sort out textbooks and exercise books that were submerged. Check swollen plywood desks. Clean computers only after an electrician has checked the wiring.
• Donation store: sort clothes and toys that were submerged. Put shelving back up off the floor and away from the walls.
• Play yard: collect debris, wash mud off play equipment, and empty standing water from pots and containers to reduce mosquito breeding.
• Electricity and water: have an electrician check downstairs sockets and wiring before use, and make sure drinking water is safe.

Preparing the Children Emotionally for Coming Home

Restoring the home is not only about cleaning. For children who had to move suddenly, returning home is an emotional event. Caregivers can help them feel secure in simple ways:

• Tell the children in advance that the house is being cleaned and on what day they will return, to reduce their worry.
• Explain simply that some toys had to be thrown away because they touched dirty water, and invite the children to choose a new toy from clean donations.
• Arrange the dormitories as close to how they were as possible, for example with beds in the same places, so the children feel at home again quickly.
• Teach older children to notice musty smells or mold spots in their rooms and to tell a caregiver straight away.
• Go over hand-washing before meals and after playing in the yard during the first few weeks back.

Some children may be more anxious than usual when it rains heavily in the weeks after they return, or may ask whether the water will come back. Caregivers can reassure them calmly, explain what the home will do if there is another flood, and keep familiar routines such as mealtimes, homework time and bedtime stories as steady as possible. If a child's sleep, appetite or behaviour stays unsettled for a long time, it is worth talking to the social worker or a counsellor who knows the child.

Sorting Donated Goods After the Flood

Many children's homes keep large stores of donated clothing, toys and books on the ground floor, and these are often the first things to be damaged. A simple sorting system saves a great deal of time and keeps the children safe.

• Discard: soft toys, foam-filled toys, cardboard games, mattresses and pillows that sat in floodwater, plus any food or medicine that got wet.
• Wash and disinfect: hard plastic toys, plastic plates and cups, and sturdy items that can be scrubbed with soap and then disinfected and dried completely.
• Launder: clothing that got damp but did not sit in floodwater for long can usually be washed in hot water and dried in the sun.
• Set aside: anything of sentimental value to a particular child, such as photographs or a favourite item, should be kept aside and discussed with the child and a caregiver.

It also helps to let regular donors know which items are needed now, such as new mattresses, pillows and bedding, so their generosity goes where it will make the most difference.

A Practical Timeline from Receding Water to Homecoming

• Days 1 to 3: staff and volunteers wash out mud, remove damaged furniture, and begin sorting donations. An electrician checks the wiring downstairs.
• Days 4 to 5: mattresses and soft furnishings that need replacing are removed. Our team surveys the building, then fogs every room and carries out ozone treatment in the dormitories, homework room and storeroom, followed by full ventilation.
• Days 6 to 7: new bedding arrives, beds are made, the kitchen is restocked and the play yard is cleared. Caregivers do a final walk-through, checking for any remaining musty smell.
• Day 8: the children come home to a clean, fresh, familiar house.

Every building is different, so this timeline will vary, but having one written down helps the foundation keep children, donors and social workers informed.

Getting the Kitchen Ready to Feed Thirty Children Again

The kitchen deserves special attention, because it prepares every meal the children eat. Even a small mistake here can lead to an outbreak of stomach illness that spreads through the whole home within days.

• Throw away all food, rice, dried goods, sauces and snacks that were touched by floodwater, even if the packaging looks sealed.
• Empty and clean the refrigerator and freezer. If the power was off for a long time, discard everything that was inside.
• Wash every pot, pan, plate, cup and utensil in hot soapy water, then disinfect and let them dry completely before putting them away.
• Replace wooden chopping boards and spoons that sat in floodwater, because water and germs soak into wood.
• Check the cupboards under the sink and the back of shelves for mold, and throw out cardboard boxes and paper liners.
• Make sure the drinking water supply and any water filter are safe before cooking for the children again; replace filter cartridges if they were exposed to floodwater.

Working with Social Workers and Donors

A children's home rarely works alone. Social workers, referral agencies, the foundation's board and regular donors all care about the children's welfare. Keeping them informed builds confidence and often brings practical help.

A short written update, ideally with a few before and after photos that do not show the children's faces, can explain what happened, where the children are staying, what is being done to the building and when the children are expected to return. Listing specific needs, such as new mattresses, bedding, kitchen equipment or school supplies, helps donors respond quickly. After the children are home, a brief follow-up message closing the loop is appreciated by everyone who helped.

Keeping the Home Healthy for the Rest of the Rainy Season

• Open dormitory windows every morning when the weather is dry, even for half an hour, to let fresh air in.
• Keep beds and cupboards a little away from outside walls so air can circulate behind them.
• Use a dehumidifier in rooms that still feel damp, and empty it every day.
• Do a quick weekly walk-through, checking corners, under beds and inside cupboards for any musty smell or new mold spots.
• Store donations on shelves off the floor and in plastic boxes with lids, rather than cardboard.

10 Reasons Foundations and Children's Homes Choose Disinfection and Ozone Treatment

1. It reduces health risks for children. Disinfection fogging covers floors and the surfaces children touch every day.
2. It reduces mold spores in the dormitories. Ozone treatment helps children with allergies and asthma sleep more comfortably.
3. It removes musty odour at the source. No need for air fresheners that may trigger allergies.
4. It is done while the children are away. Their routine is not disrupted, and no children are in the building during the work.
5. It reaches places a cloth cannot. Under bunk beds, behind cupboards and in gaps around bathroom fittings.
6. It uses a purpose-made disinfectant. CHEMGENE HLD4H is what our team uses for fogging.
7. It leaves no harsh chemical smell. That matters in rooms where children eat and sleep.
8. It helps the children come home on schedule. Clear steps and dates make it easy to inform the children, donors and social workers.
9. It can include mattress and pillow care. Add our dust mite removal service for upstairs mattresses that were not submerged but became damp.
10. It reduces mosquitoes around the home. Add our mosquito spraying service, because standing water after a flood breeds the mosquitoes that carry dengue.

A Caregiver's Perspective

"We wanted the children back as soon as possible, but we were afraid the house still wasn't safe. Once we had a clear plan, knowing what to throw out, which day the disinfection would happen, which day the ozone treatment, and how long to air the rooms, we could tell the children exactly when they would come home. On the day they came back, the youngest ran straight upstairs and said the house smelled even better than before."
— Khru Nid (name changed), caregiver at a foundation children's home, Don Mueang

This is an illustrative scenario based on situations commonly seen after floods. Actual results depend on the condition of each building. This article is not medical advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can the children come back straight after ozone treatment?
A: The rooms must be ventilated until the ozone has fully broken down. We recommend bringing the children home at least one day after ventilation is complete, so the house has had plenty of time to air.

Q: Is the disinfectant safe for children?
A: The team fogs while no children are in the building and advises how long to wait before the rooms are used again. Afterwards, surfaces children touch often should be wiped down as part of normal cleaning.

Q: Should we keep donated soft toys and toys that were underwater?
A: Hard plastic toys can be washed with soap, disinfected and used again. Soft toys, books and toys with foam inside that sat in floodwater for a long time are usually best discarded for the children's safety.

Q: Do upstairs mattresses that were not submerged but smell musty need replacing?
A: If there is no visible mold, ozone treatment of the room together with dust mite removal and thorough drying may be enough. If mold spots have appeared, the mattress should be replaced, especially for children with allergies.

Q: How long does the work take?
A: For a typical two-storey children's home, disinfection and ozone treatment can usually be completed within a day including ventilation. We confirm the timing after the survey.

Q: Who should we inform before the children return?
A: The foundation's board, the social workers or agencies responsible for the children, and major donors. A short summary of what was done helps reassure everyone.

Q: Can older children help with the clean-up?
A: It is safest to keep children away from mud, floodwater and moldy materials. Older children can help afterwards with simple, clean tasks such as making beds and arranging books once the rooms have been treated and aired.

Bring the Children Home to a Safe, Fresh House

WHD serves children's homes, foundations and community buildings in Don Mueang, Lak Si, Sai Mai, Bang Khen and nearby areas.

View Disinfection Service – Click Here

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

Related Links

• Residential ozone disinfection
• Dust mite removal service
• Mosquito spraying service
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Health reference: World Health Organization (WHO): Floods · Department of Disease Control, Thailand · Department of Health, Thailand