Waterproofing 101: How To Handle Mould After Basement Flooding?

A flooded basement is any homeowner’s worst fear. Not only do you have to compromise with the water damages and the repairs, but also replace any personal belongings and eliminate any growth of mould. The presence of mould in your home can be dangerous and frightening at the same time. 

Thus, it’s essential to know the ideal ways through which you can deal with a mould outbreak after the flooding of your basement. The following set of tips should be able to help you out with the same. 

Procedure To Follow When Dealing With Mould After Your Basement Has Flooded

1. Turn Off The Electricity

According to a professional service provider for waterproofing in Auckland, when your basement has been flooded with water, it’s essential to simply turn off the electrical power in your home. Since water is a superior conductor of electricity, you can easily get electrocuted while fixing your basement. 

2. Pump All The Water Away From The Basement

You can either use a battery-powered pump or your sump pump to eliminate all the standing water present in your basement. Try to eliminate as much water as possible, so that you can easily move through the basement. You can also utilise a wet vacuum cleaner to remove the standing water. 

3. Make Your Basement Dry

There’s no doubt that mould generally thrives in environments that are moist and damp. Thus, you must make your basement dry as fast as possible so that you can keep the mould growth under check. It’s recommended that you solve the drying issue within 24-48 hours of eliminating the standing water. 

Proceed to open all doors and windows, use dehumidifiers and fans, so that you can allow air to flow through the basement space. Moreover, try to place your fans as closely as you can on the floor, so that you can quickly eliminate moisture from the rugs/carpets (if you have them). 

4. Remove All The Wet Items

It can be disheartening to lose your personal belongings, but if you want your basement to be mould-free, then you have to perform this procedure. Remove all the wet and damaged items from your basement and keep them somewhere else where the environment is dry. 

Once you remove those items, you’ll have sufficient space to clean your basement. Utilise a mixture of detergent and water to disinfect every item present inside your basement. If there are any porous items, such as carpets, rugs or upholstery, then proceed to remove them as well. Even the smallest presence of mould can easily cause allergic reactions. 

5. Clean The Walls & Floors

Finally, it’s time to scrub all the walls and floors with warm soapy water, so that you can start using your basement again. All the remaining dirt & grime will be removed. 

For any additional basement waterproofing assistance, be sure to contact our experts right away.