Leak through kitchen ceiling - help!

[MsFrazzles]

So our toilet cistern overflowed, and it poured through the light fittings in the kitchen downstairs. Plumber has fixed toilet so no more water is leaking, but I'm worried about how to dry out between the ceiling and floor. I'm pregnant and paranoid about mould which I've heard can be dangerous if it's allowed to grow.

We haven't taken the lino or floorboards up in the bathroom, or done anything with the kitchen ceiling, but there are big brown patches where the water came through, and it's in several different places.

As it was a one-off will it now just dry out by itself or do we need to get someone in to remove part of ceiling or take up floor? And if so, who? A normal builder?

Electrician is coming to check lights over to make sure the electrics are safe. Just not sure what our next steps are...

I would have thought that it will dry out ok in this weather. What you don't want to do if have a blister or bump on the ceiling is stab it with anything sharp or drill.

There may be pipes or electrical wiring behind it

Leave it to dry out - in this weather it shouldn't be a problem. Open windows to help circulate air. After a few weeks it should be fine and you can use stain stop to cover the marks on the kitchen ceiling and then re-paint it. Don't be tempted to re-paint quickly - the staining could increase as the moisture works it way down and out.