Daily Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, IA
05-21-07
Tips for cleaning up water damage
Clint McDonald, Harrison County Extension director
A chlorine bleach solution may be used to remove odors from basements that
have been flooded, according to Mary Yearns, Iowa State University
Extension housing specialist.
After checking the structural safety of the basement and removing water and
mud, use a coarse brush or long-handled broom to scrub down the floors, walls
and ceiling.
"First, spray surfaces with lukewarm water to remove flood residue," Yearns said.
"Start with the floor, then move to the bottom of the walls and work your way up.
This will lessen the chances of leaving muddy streaks on any basement
surfaces."
Next, use hot water with a heavy-duty cleaner to scrub all surfaces, again,
starting at the bottom and working up to the top. Follow up with a rinse using a
brush moistened with a solution of two tablespoons chlorine bleach per gallon of
water. Repeat the scrubbing and rinsing until the odor is gone.
"You'll want to dry out the basement, but if the outdoor air is humid, don't open
the windows to do it," Yearns said. It's better to run central air conditioning or a
dehumidifier. These methods will remove moisture from the basement air.
Running a fan also will help dry things out.
Harrison County Extension has posted to our Web page a host of articles on how
to clean up your home after the flood. This list includes over 20 articles on the
how to deal with flood-damaged items as well as the household structure itself.
Articles for cleaning furniture, walls and flooring; disinfecting bedding;
reconditioning light fixtures (and other electrical items) and much more can be
found on the Web site. One article even informs you how to save water soaked
photos and valuable papers by freezing them.
To find this information simply "google" Harrison County Extension and look for
the flood icons on the home page. In addition to the house hold information, we
have also posted articles for dealing with potential crop loss and crop replanting
issues.