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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.
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