Water damage to your bathroom after a toilet overflows can be incredibly messy and difficult to deal with. Only cleaning what the eye can see can lead to mold, mildew and an overall unsanitary environment in which to live. The odor alone can be difficult to remove if the cleaning effort is not done thoroughly. How would you clean up after a toilet flood? Some steps to take to ensure a successful water damage cleanup are as follows.
Stop the overflow and look around for raw sewage on the floor or walls. If so, be sure to wear protective clothing such as waterproof boots, gloves, and possibly a mask to help alleviate any inhaled vapors.
Find out the reason for the flood. If you see sewage, there is probably a blockage in the pipes. This can be caused by many things, such as too much debris from broken or leaking pipes, or something as simple as a clog blocking the flow of water. If you can’t find the problem yourself, you may need to call a plumber to be sure.
You’re going to need some sort of absorbent material to soak up the excess water. Once you’ve accomplished that, the task of picking up debris from the surrounding area is next. You can do this manually or with some type of suction instrument that is used specifically for wastewater. The latter is recommended if possible.
Disinfection of floors and walls, if necessary, should be done with a strong detergent specific to the material being cleaned. Bleach should also be used, but make sure there is ventilation. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions on measures and precautions. If it is carpets, these must be taken out and cleaned properly due to the residual water. The wall-to-wall carpet should be completely replaced, but if this isn’t possible, padding definitely does. Even then, the carpet itself should be professionally cleaned.
Use a dehumidifier to ensure that even the smallest amount of moisture left under floors, behind walls, or in grout is removed. This is very important so that no odor is produced.
All of this should be done before thinking about replacing any material or carpet.