A flooded basement may be the result of a number of factors. The more common among these include heavy rainfall, storms or poor drainage which may block the sewer. There are a certain important things to be borne in mind while carrying out the entire process of draining and cleaning your flooded basement.

Be observant about the water levels around and act quickly to take the requisite steps to make the flooded basement dry because the molds can grow and multiply quickly thus posing a major health hazard for the people living around.

It's highly advisable to wear rubber gloves and protective clothing including rubber boots and protective eyeglasses to ensure your safety and prevent any untoward happenings when cleaning your flooded basement as flood water contains contaminants which may cause many waterborne diseases including diarrhea.

Switch off the power of the house and unplug all the appliances to remain on the safe side as electrical accidents can be fatal due to accidental contact with electricity while doing the cleaning of your basement from the flood waters.

To drain the water away from your basement, you can use a portable pump which can be had from the market. However, while buying the pump, choose one which best serves your purpose considering the available pumps with different capacities for optimum results. While portable pumps help in draining the water out from your flooded basement, you can remove the remaining water by mops.

Try to remove silt and minor debris from your flooded basement as soon as possible after the water levels recede. Cleaning the basement floors and walls with soap and lukewarm water can further help to make the place free from all sorts of water-borne diseases and infections. You can use the mixture of one tablespoon vinegar, one cup bleach and one to two gallons water to make the basement and surroundings clean and disease free. Sprinkle the mixture evenly all around and let it dry for best results. Do not forget to rinse the entire area with clean water afterwards. You can also use the same mixture for cleaning the furniture and fixtures exposed to flood waters.

Ventilate the affected place to get rid of irritants in the sludge from a flooded basement. Let the fresh air in by opening all the doors and windows. Try to keep the place clean and uncluttered as much as possible. Using a dehumidifier comes as a handy tip for cleaning a flooded basement as it helps in controlling the humidity in the place resulting in its fast drying.

Place the furniture in sunny area after cleaning it thoroughly with the cleaning mixture (mentioned above).

All the above steps can ensure to make the flooded basement clean, disinfected, dry and free from all sorts of water borne diseases. We cannot control the natural calamities including storms or heavy rainfall but we can overcome the after effects of these disasters by keeping our cool and following the above mentioned guidelines to make the place livable again. Of course, we can always get professional help if all our efforts do not bring the desired results.