Michigan State University Extension
Home Maintenance And Repair - 01500011
06/24/03
Cleaning Flooded Floors and Woodwork
Cleaning
1. Shovel out the worst of the mud and silt before it
dries. Use a hose if necessary.
2. Before the house has dried out ,scrub floors and
woodwork with a stiff brush, plenty of water, a detergent
and a disinfectant. Remove mud and silt from corners,
cracks, and crevices.
3. Water may have accumulated in partitions and
exterior walls. Drain these areas by removing baseboard
and drilling holes between studs a few inches above the
floor. You may need to remove sections of the wallboard
or plaster so that wall studding and interior can dry
thoroughly--a process that may take months.
4. Give floors a final thorough washing with a non-
sudsing cleaning product.
Removing Surface Mildew
1. Heat the room to a temperature of 50 to 60 degrees F.
to help dry mildewed wood.
2. Scrub mildewed floors and woodwork with an alkali
solution such as washing soda or tri-sodium phosphate (4
to 6 tablespoons to a gallon of water), available in
paint and grocery stores. Or use a cloth dipped in hot
water and a small amount of kerosene, or in a mixture of
borax dissolved in hot water.
3. Rinse with clear water.
4. Allow wood to dry thoroughly.
5. Apply a mildew resistant paint.
6. Replace badly infected wood, preferably with treated
or decay-resistant wood.
Bleaching Wood Stained by Mildew
1. Remove paint or varnish with paint remover.
2. Apply a solution of 3 tablespoons oxalic acid
dissolved in a pint of water to the stains. (Oxalic acid
crystals can be purchased at drug stores. OXALIC ACID IS
POISONOUS. Label it clearly and keep out of children's
reach.
3. Rinse with clear water.
4. Dry thoroughly before refinishing.
This article was written by Anne Field, Extension
Specialist, Emeritus, with reference from the USDA
Disaster Handbook.
This information is for educational purposes only. References
to commercial products or trade names does not imply
endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not
mentioned. This information becomes public property upon
publication and may be printed verbatim with credit to MSU
Extension. Reprinting cannot be used to endorse or advertise
a commercial product or company.
MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State
University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race,
color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability,
political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status.
Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in
cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director,
MSU Extension, East Lansing,MI 48824. This information is for educational
purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply
endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.
This file was generated from data base 02 on 02/04/08.
Data base 02 was last revised on 06/24/03.
For more information about this data base or its contents please contact
strausc@msu.edu .