how to reduce odors from flooded basements

• A chlorine bleach solution may be used to remove odors from basements that have been flooded, said Mary Yearns, Iowa State University Extension housing specialist.
  
  
  
• After checking the structural safety of the basement and removing water & mud, use a coarse brush or long handled broom to scrub down the floors, walls & ceiling.
  
  
  
• "First, spray surfaces w/ lukewarm water to remove flood residue," Yearns says. "Start w/ the floor, then move to the bottom of the walls & work your way up. This will lessen the chances of leaving muddy streaks on any basement surfaces."
  
  
  
• Next, use hot water w/ a heavy duty cleaner to scrub all surfaces, again, starting at the bottom & working up to the top. Follow up w/ a rinse using a brush moistened w/ a solution of two tablespoons chlorine bleach per gallon of water. Repeat the scrubbing & rinsing until the odor is gone.
  
  
  
• "You'll want to dry out the basement, but if the outdoor air is humid, don't open the windows to do it," Yearns says. It's better to run central air conditioning or a dehumidifier. These methods will remove moisture from the basement air. Running a fan also will help dry things out.