7 Tips for Removing Odors From Flood Water

8/18/2023 (Permalink)

Avoid lingering smells cause by water damage in North St. Paul, MN.

Water damage can leave behind unpleasant odors caused by mold growth and bacteria. These tips can help you get rid of them.

Removing Odors Caused by Flood Water

Water can severely damage your home and contents in a variety of ways. One of those ways is by leaving behind unpleasant smells due to bacteria from sewage loss or mold growth. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to eliminate odors.

1. Identify What Is Causing the Odor

If mold is the problem, then you have to remove the mold to get rid of the odor. If something else is causing the smell, then you can try cleaning and deodorizing to get rid of it.

2. Dry Out Your Property Quickly

The most effective way to avoid mold odors is to prevent mold from becoming a problem in the first place. Mold can begin to grow in 24 to 48 hours after water damage occurs. The faster you can dry out your property, the less likely you are to have problems. Consider contacting a flood remediation company in North St. Paul, MN, to help you speed up the process.

3. Remove Damaged Items

Removing water-damaged furniture, carpets, drywall and other materials can help you avoid a mold problem. Place these items outside to dry, if the weather permits. Removing this source of moisture will help you get your property dried out faster.

4. Remove Mold

If you discover mold, you need to remove it to get rid of the smell. Inspect the damp places in your home where mold may be present. For areas smaller than 10 square feet, you may be able to clean up the problem by scrubbing surfaces with household detergent and water. Avoid using bleach. Bleach may kill mold, but will not kill mold spores and your attempt to clean the area may cause the spores to spread throughout your home. For larger areas, consider contacting a mold remediation company to assist you.

5. Use Baking Soda on Carpets

When your carpet is dry, sprinkle baking soda on it and let it sit overnight. Use a vacuum to remove the baking soda. If you still have odors, try removing the carpet pad. Carpet pads usually can not be saved after water damage.

6. Apply White Vinegar to Upholstery

Use a spray bottle filled with white vinegar to spray vinegar on your upholstered furniture. Allow the vinegar to air dry. Once the vinegar has dried, the odor from the vinegar and the water damage should be gone.

7. Remove the Source of the Odor

If your water damage is the result of an ongoing problem, such as sewage backup or leaking pipes, repair whatever is causing the damage before you try to clean up odors. If you don't fix the problem, then the odors will probably keep coming back.

Lingering smells from mold growth or other problems caused by water damage can be a frustrating problem, particularly if you have already put in a lot of work to repair your property. However, there are steps you can take to get rid of bad smells and prevent them from coming back.