Dealing with the aftermath: How do you actually dry out a flooded basement?

If the carpet got soaked, it’s tough to save—padding underneath holds onto moisture forever and can get moldy fast. I tried cleaning mine after a flood a few years back, but the smell never left until I pulled it up. Drywall’s trickier; if water wicked up more than a few inches, you might need to cut out the bottom foot or so. Have you checked behind any baseboards or under the carpet yet? Sometimes it looks dry on the surface but is still damp underneath.

That’s pretty much been my experience too—once the carpet padding gets soaked, it’s nearly impossible to dry out completely. Even if you rent those heavy-duty fans or a dehumidifier, the smell just lingers. I tried saving money by shampooing the carpet instead of replacing it after a minor flood, and honestly, I ended up wasting time and cash because the musty odor came back within a week.

One thing I’d add: don’t underestimate how far water can travel under flooring. I pulled up a corner thinking it was just a small area, but half the room was damp underneath. As for drywall, I agree it’s tricky. If it feels even a bit soft or crumbly at the bottom, cutting out at least a foot is safest. It’s a pain, but fixing mold damage later is way worse—and way more expensive.

If you’re on a tight budget, focus on getting as much airflow as possible and use fans from other rooms if you have to. Sometimes you gotta get creative... but honestly, some stuff just needs to be tossed.

If it feels even a bit soft or crumbly at the bottom, cutting out at least a foot is safest.

Yeah, learned that one the hard way. Tried to “save” a patch of drywall once—ended up with a science experiment growing behind it. Also, if you’re into eco-friendly stuff, vinegar and baking soda can help with lingering smells, but honestly, sometimes you just gotta admit defeat and rip things out. Mother Nature’s not messing around when it comes to mold.

Title: Dealing With The Aftermath: How Do You Actually Dry Out A Flooded Basement?

Yeah, the “just dry it out and you’ll be fine” advice is a bit of a myth. Once water’s gotten into drywall or carpet, it’s like giving mold an all-inclusive vacation package. If your drywall feels even remotely mushy or you see that telltale bubbling/peeling at the bottom, it’s probably toast. I know nobody wants to start hacking up their walls, but trust me—mold behind drywall is like the worst surprise party ever.

Carpet’s another beast. If it’s just a little damp and you got to it fast, sometimes you can pull it up, get fans under there, and let it dry out. But if it was soaked for more than a day or two? That musty smell is basically mold RSVP’ing for a long stay. Padding underneath is usually done for.

Dehumidifiers are great, but they’re not miracle workers if stuff is still wet inside the walls or under flooring. Fans help too—point them at anything that feels damp and keep air moving. Open windows if humidity outside isn’t crazy high (otherwise you’re just swapping one problem for another).

For the smell, vinegar and baking soda can help a bit, but if there’s still moisture trapped somewhere, it’ll keep coming back. I’ve tried those “odor absorbing” gels—meh, they just mask things unless you tackle the source.

One thing I wish someone had told me: check any wood framing near the floor for softness or discoloration. It can look fine but be quietly rotting away.

Long story short: if in doubt, cut out what’s wet (at least a foot above where the water line was), toss soggy carpet pad, run fans/dehumidifiers like your electric bill doesn’t matter (it will, but so does not living in a petri dish). And yeah… sometimes you just have to admit defeat and start fresh with some materials. Mother Nature really doesn’t care about your renovation budget.

If nothing else, at least you’ll have some wild stories for future houseguests about “that time my basement tried to become a swamp.”