Cleaning Walls After A Flood
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.