Cleaning up your house, after the water subsides

By Alan J. Heavens | McClatchy-Tribune

September 13, 2008

Full hurricane force rarely hits as far inland as Baltimore, but it doesn't take even a Category 1 storm to flood a basement. Here's some advice on dealing with the havoc water can wreak on a house.

Need to know: Standard homeowner's insurance policies do not cover flooding. For information on the National Flood Insurance Program, go to floodsmart.gov or call 888-379-9531.

Ooh, that smell: Get the water and mud out with a wet-dry vacuum or broom. Then spray all surfaces with lukewarm water, starting with the floor and working up. Scrub the surfaces with hot water and a heavy-duty cleaner, then rinse using a brush moistened with a solution of 2 tablespoons of chlorine bleach per gallon of water. Repeat until the odor is gone. If it's humid in the flooded space, do not open windows. Instead, run a dehumidifier, air conditioning or fans to dry things out.

Rug redemption: If a carpet has been soaked with water and sewage, ditch it. Wear rubber gloves and be careful not to scrape your skin, to avoid infection. For slight water damage, remove the carpet if possible, roll it up, and take it outside. Drape it over a sawhorse or chairs so it will drain, but don't let the rug dry this way - it might stretch. Once the water drains, lay the carpet on the ground. Have the carpet cleaned professionally or rent a steam cleaner.

Walls and floors: You may need to remove baseboards to ventilate wall cavities. After you have removed the baseboards, drill holes a few inches above the floor between the studs to drain water. Any insulation might have to be removed, dried and replaced.

Plastered walls and washable vinyl wallpaper can be cleaned. Use a mild soap and water to clean painted walls.

Inspect the furnace: Heating systems exposed to flooding should be checked by a pro. The chimney and smoke box could be clogged with dirt, and the furnace could explode. Check where the chimney meets the foundation, to ensure mortar hasn't washed away.