Basements are often victims of flooding. This problem causes damage that must be treated and solved, without neglecting the cleaning required to recover the basement’s initial state.
In this article, SCS Group Integrated Services technicians are going to give the readers of this blog some guidelines and resources with which they can carry out the cleaning of their basements after floods.
Information
- 1 What to do after removing all the water from a flooded basement?
- 2 How to carry out the cleaning of a flooded basement?
- 3 How to avoid bad odors that can appear in a flooded basement?
- 3.1 Do you need SCS Group Integrated Services to help you with your flooded basement in Brisbane? Contact us!
What to do after removing all the water from a flooded basement?
Once the water has been removed from the area and everything has been cleared, it is important to go over the outside of the house, premises or building where the basement is located.
This will make it possible to check that there are no problems in the general structure since the water and its accumulation for hours can be very damaging to the skeleton of the houses. If needed, professional cleaners can be a good option for this step.
Likewise, another important step is to check that there have been no gas or electricity leaks in the area. In fact, this step is very important since, otherwise, the cleaning cannot be carried out as individuals would run the risk of electrocution or burning.
How to carry out the cleaning of a flooded basement?
Once the entire structure has been reviewed and it has been verified that there are no leaks of any kind, the flooded basement can be cleaned and remediated. For this, the service of an external company can be contracted or the tenants/owners of the basement can carry it out.
In case of choosing the second option, users must carry out the following steps :
- Grab a shovel and scoop the mud out of the basement as soon as the area has been drained or pumped out. This allows floors and walls to dry out and work on them.
- The remains of mud that may have remained in the area must be removed by rinsing them with a high-pressure hose that extracts hot water.
- Stains may be difficult to remove or may remain in the area, especially in corners or on walls made of certain materials. In this case, it is recommended to use a stiff bristle brush and detergent or solvent, without forgetting to rinse with water.
- In each of these steps, excessive and prolonged accumulation of water should be avoided, as this can promote basement deterioration and mold growth.
- Once the areas are dry, it is recommended to clean the floor with detergent and, subsequently, with bleach or an anti-mold product. In this way, the user will ensure that the area is well cleaned and sanitized.
- The next step should be to open windows and doors, allowing the humidity to escape and the air to be renewed. The user may also require a dehumidifier or fan, which will enhance and optimize the goal of this step.
To carry out all these steps, users and staff must wear masks and insulating clothing, such as gloves and suits or plastic clothing. This is essential if those who will be working in the area are allergic to mold or dampness.
How to avoid bad odors that can appear in a flooding basement?
Although the previous steps have already mentioned the need to aerate and ventilate the area, it is possible that this step will not completely eliminate the bad musty odors that can appear in the basement that has been flooded.
If, under these circumstances, it is desired to eliminate these odors, the following steps must be carried out :
- Clean or mop floor with bleach solution consisting of 3/4 cup of household bleach to one serving or gallon of water. When this step is carried out, it is important to open the windows.
- Let the solution act for 5 minutes and proceed with rinsing and drying.
- While these steps are being carried out, it is advisable to place a piece of dry charcoal in a tin or metal container. This will take care of absorbing odors. Do you need SCS Group Integrated Services to help you with your flooded basement in Brisbane? Contact us!
