Suggestions For Cleaning A Flooded Basement
Basements that become flooded can be an aggravation and overwhelming. Many items are usually stored in the basement as most people use this area for storage of seasonal items, keepsakes and paperwork. The water damage can be severe at times and appear a hopeless situation to clean up. You can clean a flooded basement on your own if you stick with it until all water is cleaned up and the area is dry.
The most important thing to do is to figure out what initiated the flooding. If it was not from an obvious outside flood that could have worked its way into the basement, it could be a drain problem. Remove as much of the water as possible with a dry wet vacuum before attempting to sort through any cardboard boxes.
After getting up as much liquid as possible, you will need to remove the items that do not have severe damage. If you have cardboard boxes, sort through them before removing from the basement. To restore the items put them in plastic containers as opposed to cardboard to avoid more damage should you experience another flooding. Remember to completely dry any items before placing in plastic containers to avoid mold building up on them.
Since you are already in the basement now would be a good time to do some much needed cleaning. With a Dyson upright vacuum cleaner and attachments remove all cobwebs out of corners and from the ceiling. Wash all windows with a vinegar and water solution to prevent future buildup of dust.
While doing other clean up jobs it may be necessary to use a delonghi space heater to completely dry the areas affected by water before putting any items on the wet areas. The heater should be plugged into an outlet that did not have any contact with the water.
When all areas are clean and dry apply a good quality water proofing paint on all exposed walls to prevent moisture from seeping in and causing the walls to weaken. Once the paint is dry put all plastic cartons back in the area. Stack them up away from areas that may produce possible damage.
If the flooding occurred due to a drain that backed up or if the sump pump went bad, you should contact a plumber to make any repairs that are needed. Having these problems fixed correctly will possibly prevent a future flood. You may want to wait until the problem is fixed before putting any items of meaning in the basement.