Sewage is disgusting. There, we said it. However, you need to clean it up fast to keep your family safe if you have sewage in your basement. A restoration company can restore your home in just a few days, but you can also clean up a sewage backup on your own. Remember to wear safety gear and follow these steps to clean up a sewage backup in your basement.
How To Clean a Sewage Backup in the Basement
Unfortunately, sewer backup cleanup will likely be unpleasant. Aside from the mess, sewage has a strong smell and can even make you sick. Follow these steps to clean up a sewer backup in the basement.
1. Secure Children and Pets
If you have young children or pets, keep them away from a raw sewage backup to prevent them from getting sick. Have an adult or older child watch young children or toddlers. Put pets in their pen or kennel or lock them in a room away from the sewage backup.
2. Wear Safety Equipment
Anyone that is cleaning up raw sewage should wear safety equipment. You want as little skin exposed while cleaning up after a sewage backup.
You should wear rubber boots or waders, pants, long sleeves, and rubber gloves during cleanup. Also, wear a ventilator, goggles, and a face shield to prevent sewage from splashing into your nose or mouth.
Always clean, disinfect, and bandage all open wounds immediately. Also, wash your hands, wrists, neck, and face thoroughly. A complete list of safety equipment is listed below.
3. Air Out Your Basement
The smell of raw sewage can be overwhelming, so open windows or vents in the basement to help circulate air. You can also put fans at the top of the stairs to draw in fresh air from above. If you can’t air out your basement, take frequent breaks to ensure the smell doesn’t make you sick.
4. Remove Raw Sewage
The best way to clean up a sewage backup is with a pump. It will clean up raw sewage quickly and help limit the damage. Pumps are available at most equipment rental companies. Keep an eye on the pump since solid waste can block the inlet and slow cleanup.
Alternatively, you can clean up a sewage backup with a wet-dry vacuum. While a shop vac will suck up sewage fast, the biggest downside is the size of the tank. You may need to empty your vacuum many times before the sewage is gone.
While you can use a mop and bucket for sewage cleanup, it takes a very long time. Only use this as a last resort or when waiting for a restoration company. Soak up the sewage with a mop and wring it out in the bucket. Repeat this process until all the sewage is gone.
Regardless of how you clean up a sewage backup, avoid pouring anything down the drain. Either bag up waste or dump it outside and away from your home. Then use your garden hose to wash away sewage and break up solid waste.
5. Throw Away Damaged Materials
Unfortunately, you cannot clean up everything after a sewage backup. For your safety, throw away anything soaked with sewage like electronics, boxes, cabinets, and even walls. When in doubt, the best thing to do is throw it away.
Since it is nearly impossible to clean, always through away carpeting and carpet padding after a sewer backup in the basement. The same is also true of fabric furniture. Even if you can clean the outside of your furniture, it’s much harder to clean the structural parts inside.
Put smaller items in heavy-duty plastic bags. Cut carpeting down into small sections and then roll it up. Move furniture and cabinets directly to the tree lawn for pickup.
6. Clean Your Basement With Soap
After removing damaged items, you can clean your basement. Use soap that doesn’t produce a lot of suds and wash anything that came in contact with the sewage. Clean non-carpeted floors with a mop, then use a rag or a sponge on anything else. Dump out the soap when it stops making suds and mix up a new batch.
7. Dry Out Your Basement
Once you clean up a basement sewage backup, dry it to prevent mold. While house fans will eventually dry out your basement, they are very inefficient. Instead, use high-velocity fans and structural drying dehumidifiers instead.
Not only are they designed to dry out your home, but they work fast too. If you need fans and dehumidifiers, you can get them at most equipment rental companies. Use two or three fans and one dehumidifier for small basements. Drying out larger basements will take more equipment.
Check the fans every few hours and move them as needed to speed up drying. In most cases, you can dry out your home in between 12 and 24 hours. The longer it takes to dry, the greater the risk of mold and odors.
8. Disinfect Your Basement
After drying out your basement, you need to disinfect it. Mix a cup of bleach in a gallon of water and wipe down anything the sewage touched. Use a spray bottle for walls and large, flat surfaces. Let the bleach air dry, then repeat the process to ensure the mold and bacteria are dead.
9. Rebuild If Necessary
Lastly, rebuild your home. Renovations will vary depending on the size of the area and the amount of sewage but commonly include installing new carpeting, replacing cabinets and appliances, and repairing damaged walls.
What Are the Health Risks of Cleaning Up a Sewer Backup?
Since sewage contains anything you flush down your toilet or send down your drains, there are several health risks of a sewer backup in your basement.
All that waste becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can make you very sick. Since all that waste flows back into your home during a sewage backup, take precautions when cleaning it up.
What Safety Equipment Should You Wear for Sewage Backup Cleanup?
- Rubber Boots or Waders – At the very least, you need to wear thick rubber boots that go up to your knees. If possible, wear rubber waders that cover up to your chest.
- Pants – Always wear pants and tuck them into your boots for added protection against sewage.
- Long Sleeves – Wear a thick or water-resistant long-sleeve shirt that covers your upper body entirely.
- Long Rubber Gloves – Use long gloves that cover your wrists. Put them on over your long sleeve shirt to prevent sewage from touching your skin.
- Safety Glasses or Goggles – Safety glasses are okay, but goggles offer better protection against sewage splashing into your eyes.
- Ventilator – Wear a ventilator that completely covers your mouth and nose. Avoid the cheap fabric ventilators in favor of one with a solid exterior.
- Face Shield – Although optional, consider wearing a face shield to provide additional protection from sewage.
Is It Safe To Clean Up Raw Sewage on Your Own?
You can clean up a sewage backup in your basement, but wear the proper safety equipment outlined above. Always work in a well-ventilated space and take frequent breaks.
Also, never use household fans or dehumidifiers. Instead, use high-velocity air movers and structural drying dehumidifiers. Otherwise, mold and bacteria will grow and make cleaning up even harder.
You should throw away anything soaked with sewage as well. Although you can clean the outside, it’s almost impossible to kill everything growing inside.
If you want to clean up raw sewage on your own, make sure you have the time and equipment necessary to do so safely. If you can’t start cleanup for several hours or even days, it’s best to call a restoration company.
If the sewage backup is larger than you can handle or you don’t have the necessary safety equipment, our restoration specialists are here to help. Call 855-783-4196 now for a risk-free quote on sewage backup cleanup services.
