Cleaning up the mess in a flooded basement is never an easy task. It's not only time-consuming but also requires a lot from the homeowner in terms of efforts and money. Most of us would prefer hiring a restoration specialist for getting rid of all that water, odor and molds from our flooded basement. But when we do realize how costly it can be, reluctantly we have to pick up our own mops and pumps to clean the mess.

Now that you have decided to clean up your flooded basement yourself, here are a few steps that can help you getting things back in order.

Stepping into your flooded basement

Before entering your flooded basement, take a few precautions:

Turn off your power source.

Turn of your gas and fuel sources.

Check for any possible damages to the structure of the building.

Put on protective gears before entering your flooded basement.

Open all doors and windows to allow fresh air inside.

Use generator-operated fans for circulating the air.

Draining your flooded basement

Pick a portable gas-powered pump from the nearest store.

Buy a large drain hose to drain out the water as far away as possible from the foundation of your house. This will help in preventing the water from re-entering the basement again.

If your basement is flooded too much you can try and get the help of your local fire department. They can help you pump out the water from your flooded basement.

Make sure that you do not pump out the water too quickly. Pushing out water too quickly can lead to excessive pressure on the walls and floors result in cave-ins.

Once the water has been pumped out of the basement, you will be left with puddles of water. Use a floor squeegee or mop to remove the puddles.

Shovel out any dirt or debris which is left on the floors.

Use a hose to wash your wall and remove any mud on them.

Disinfect using chlorine beach, if the water source is contaminated.

Drying your flooded basement

Once all the water has been removed and extracted from your flooded basement, its time to start drying.

Use a dehumidifier to control the moisture and speed up the drying process.

Use an air fan for circulating the air.

Begin with repairs

Hire a professional contractor to check if there are any damages to the structure of your property. If there are, get them fixed.

Remove odors

Use a chlorine bleach to remove any odors that may be present in the basement.

Scrub your floors and walls with hot water and a good cleaner. Then take 2 tablespoons of chlorine bleach in a gallon of water. Rinse your floors and walls using this solution. Repeat the scrubbing and the rinsing until the odor is gone.

Put on the air conditioning or use a fan to dry your floors and walls.

Drying and cleaning a flooded basement can take sometime and some efforts on your part. However, it is not an impossible task. Taking the help of your family and your friends will help you dry and clean your flooded basement in no time. With the right attitude and the right people helping you, your basement will be back in a good condition.