How to Clean a Flooded Basement

There are several key steps that must be taken when you start the cleanup process for a flooded basement. The first thing that you need to consider before doing anything is the source of the floodwater. Many floodwater sources are going to represent a serious health hazard which means that your property will need to be evacuated so that the situation can be assessed.

Any flooding that comes from natural sources or sources such as sewer backups is going to be classified as black water. This means that it is going to contain harmful pathogens. These pathogens can include viruses, parasites, bacteria, and E.coli, among other disease-causing agents. A basement that has been flooded by black water should only be entered by trained water damage professionals who possess the right safety equipment to enter back into the flooded area. The key takeaway here is that many types of flooding in your basement should be addressed from the start by trained professionals. Beyond this, there are some key steps that need to be taken so that the cleanup process can begin. These steps include:

• Shut Off the Water Source – If possible, you need to quickly ensure that the water source that has caused the basement flooding is shut off.
• The Standing Water Must Be Removed – Once the inflow of water has been halted, the next step in the cleanup process for basement flooding is to remove the standing water. This is another area where the services of trained flood damage restoration professionals are of vital importance. They will have the necessary equipment and the required expertise to effectively removed all of the standing water from your basement.
• Ventilation Is Key – If you have windows in your basement, it is important to open them up so that the area’s ventilation can be improved. Sufficient ventilation is crucial when it comes to the drying process. The use of dehumidifiers and fans can also be helpful in this process. Equipment such as sump pumps and wet-dry shop vacs can be highly useful for getting the water out. When using any electrical equipment, it is important to verify that your electricity is currently safe to use. It is also important to make sure that you wear rubber boots if you are going to use electrical equipment like this in a flooded basement. Another thing that is important to note is that if a flooded basement has been closed up with poor ventilation in excess of two days, then it is likely that mold will have started to grow. These additional safety and health risks are further reasons to use the services of flood damage professionals for the cleanup process. 
• All Wet Items Must Be Removed – At this point it is also important to quickly remove all wet items of property that can be taken out of your basement. From there, you can decide which ones can be effectively cleaned and saved and which ones have been damaged to the point that they need to be discarded.