A flooded basement cleanup is never fun, nor easy to deal with. Not only do you have to repair significant water damage in your basement, your peace of mind is also negatively affected by the idea of potential flooding in the future. Below are 9 steps for a flooded basement cleanup.

The good news, though, is that you’ve come to the right place by reading this article. Flood damage in your basement doesn’t have to be the end of your basement’s story.

There are measures you can take to restore your basement and the comfort of your home. The fact is, as a responsible homeowner, you recognize that home repairs and maintenance are essential. Experts recognize that homeowners spend one to four percent of the home’s value on home improvements. Keep reading, then, to learn how you and your family can recover from a flood.

1. Contact your local Emergency Basement Flood Removal Services

When it comes down to it, you want your basement flooding to be cleaned up as quickly and efficiently as possible. For that reason, it might be best to hire professional flooding cleanup services. Doing so could ensure all of the finer details are taken care of when restoring your basement to former state.

2. Contact your Home Insurance Company

As a responsible homeowner, you recognize the value of a good insurance policy. While it’s not always the case, flood damage can be covered under some policies as a natural disaster. When you notice your basement flooding, the first thing you should do (after ensuring everyone’s safety) is call your home insurance policy provider.

Check into whether or not you and your family qualify for NFIP coverage. Even if not, though, there are other ways of budgeting for and funding your flooded basement cleanup.

3. Pump the Water Out

No matter how you fund your basement flooding cleanup, you want to get started as soon as possible. After all, recognize that you want to avoid leaving water damage untreated at all costs. The longer you let water sit in your basement, the worse the damage will be in the long run.

For that reason, prepare to pump the water out sooner rather than later. Then, you can start on the rest of the repair and maintenance to recover from your basement flooding.

4. Remove any Remaining Dirt and Mud

Once the water is gone, the next thing you’ll likely notice is the amount of mud and dirt left behind. This debris can be particularly gross the longer it sits there.

The mud will be caked into your floor, on the walls, and on your furniture. Use a vacuum cleaner and other household cleaners to remove as much dirt and mud as you can. If you can’t do the job perfectly, though, you can reach out to professionals to handle it on your behalf.

5. Get Rid of Damaged

It’s an unfortunate truth that not everything in your basement will survive a serious case of flooding. This is true, in particular, when it comes to electronic items.

For that reason, evaluate which items can be saved and which can’t. For those items too damaged to restore, they should be discarded.

6. See Which of Your Belongings Can Be Salvaged

For those items which can be saved, though, congratulations. You won’t have to replace everything in your basement. Perhaps you have a table and a set of chairs that merely need to be wiped down.

Whatever you find that you can save, it still might be a good idea to remove them from the basement temporarily. That way, you can ensure all the nooks and crannies in your basement get properly cleaned before returning back to normal.

7. Sanitize and Disinfect Everything

After all, flooding not only brings damage to your carpet and walls. Floodwater has a variety of bacteria and other microorganisms for you to consider. That’s why you should take care to disinfect everything that you want to keep after a basement flooding.

8. How to Do Flooded Basement Cleanup on a Budget

As mentioned above, you might find some funding from insurance policies that cover flood damage. If not, though, there are other budgeting options.

For one thing, don’t be afraid to dip into your savings account. Getting your basement properly cleaned is worth the investment in the long run.

9. Check for Mold

Before you move all of your furniture back into the basement, don’t forget to check for mold. Even if the floodwater only sat in your basement for a minimal amount of time, it can start to grow within 48 hours so don’t take the risk of leaving mold untreated. Doing so could cause long-term damage to the structure of your home, as well as potential infections for you and your family. If you are unsure, an air quality test can be performed to check for mold spores in the air.