1. If walls have been flooded, hose them down, if possible, while they are still damp to remove most of the mud and silt.



2. Scrub with a sponge and warm detergent solution or a commercial cleaner. Clean a small section of the wall at a time.



3. To get rid of the stench that often accompanies flooding rinse with a solution of 2 tablespoons sodium hypochlorite laundry bleach (such as Purex or Chlorox) to a gallon of water. Repeat the scrubbing and rinsing several times if necessary. Household disinfectants such as Lysol can also be used. Follow directions on the container.



4. Work from the floor to the ceiling to prevent streaking. Rinse with an old bath towel wrung out in clear water. Overlap sections.



5. Clean the ceiling last.

6. Allow walls to dry thoroughly before repainting, repairing plaster, papering, or applying any wall covering. Four to 6 weeks should be allowed as a minimum drying time. Total drying time will depend on weather conditions. You may need to remove baseboards or sections of the walls to dry interior studding and insulation (see DRYING WALLS).



7. If mildew appears on walls, scrub with a solution of trisodium phosphate, a disinfectant, or a solution of 1/2 cup bleach and 1/2 cup mild detergent in a gallon of warm water.

This article was written by Anne Field, Extension Specialist, Emeritus, with reference from the USDA Disaster Handbook.



MSU 2003