If you live in a low-lying area, basement floods can be just as common as noisy neighbors, and in most cases, even more annoying. After a heavy rain or a major thaw, it’s not out of the question to expect some standing water in your house. As frustrating as the basement flood cleanup process can be, you don’t have to feel helpless.
There are several ways you can handle a basement flood cleanup all by yourself. 
- The first thing you need to remember with basement flood cleanup is to act quickly. The longer you wait, the more contaminated the water will become. If you take care of the water in a speedy fashion, you’re less likely to suffer extensive damage.
- As always, put safety first, and check the area for live electricity. Your best bet in the case of a basement flood is to cut the fuse to that area of your home.
- If there are items that could sustain water damage, pick them up, dry them off and set them far away from the flooded area. If you pick up rugs and even furniture pieces right away, you won’t have to worry about working around them either.
- Use a wet-dry shop vac or a pump to remove the water. If these tools are available to you, you can pick up the basement floodwater using dustpans and buckets. Remember to pour the buckets down a drain, not back into the surrounding yard.
- Use a mop to soak up any water that’s left over, and run fans for at least 24 hours. This will help dry up any water that hasn’t been removed with a vac or pump.
- Since basement floodwater can be contaminated, it’s important to wipe down anything that has come in contact with the water. Use Lysol to clean walls, floors and even furniture. The main concern here is to prevent mildew.
- Finally, keep an eye on your basement to prevent future basement floods.
By following these simple steps for basement flood cleanup, it’s not impossible to handle this major inconvenience on your own. Having the right information and tools is key to a successful cleanup.
If your basement flood is more than you can take on by yourself, Bloomfield Construction can help you. For information on basement flood cleanup and insurance repair, give us a call at 248-333-3987.
