I’m with you on the enzyme cleaners—they’re way less scary than pouring chemicals down the drain. I’d add rubber gloves to the list, too. The first time I dealt with a backup, I learned the hard way that bare hands are a rookie mistake... Also, I keep a cheap tarp folded up in the basement for emergencies. It’s not pretty, but it saves the floor from getting totally wrecked if things get messy.
I totally get the tarp thing—mine’s just an old shower curtain, but it’s saved my basement floor more than once. I’m a little paranoid about germs, so I keep a stash of disposable shoe covers with my backup kit. Not the most stylish look, but better than tracking stuff through the house.
One thing I learned after a messy incident: paper towels are useless for big spills. I switched to a stack of old towels and rags that I don’t care about. They soak up way more, and you can just toss them if they’re too gross to wash.
Curious if anyone keeps any kind of mask handy? Sometimes the smell is brutal, and I’ve wondered if it’s worth having a few N95s in the kit or if that’s overkill...
I get what you mean about the smell. I wouldn’t say N95s are overkill, especially if you’ve had a bad backup before. I keep a few basic dust masks in my kit, but honestly, the times I’ve needed them, I wished I’d had something stronger. Once the stench gets into your nose, it’s hard to shake. N95s won’t block all the odor, but they do help take the edge off and they’re great for germs.
One thing I’d add—if you’re dealing with a really nasty backup, consider some cheap safety goggles too. Had a splash incident once and learned that lesson the gross way. Also, bleach wipes or a spray bottle of disinfectant is a must for me after cleanup.
Old towels are definitely better than paper towels for big messes. I keep a stack of those, plus a couple of contractor trash bags to haul everything out without leaking. It’s not glamorous, but it works.
I get the point about N95s, but honestly, I’ve never found them worth the price for this kind of mess. I just use a regular bandana or an old t-shirt over my nose—cheap and washable. For goggles, I just wear my old sunglasses. Not perfect, but they’ve saved my eyes from splashes more than once. Bleach wipes are nice, but a jug of bleach and some water in a spray bottle does the same job for way less money. Just my two cents if you’re trying to keep costs down.
I get wanting to save a few bucks, but after dealing with more backups than I can count, I’ll say this—bandanas and sunglasses are better than nothing, but they don’t really cut it if you’re in the thick of things. I’ve had one too many close calls with splashes, and once you get sewer water in your eye, you’ll wish you’d sprung for proper goggles. Same goes for masks—N95s aren’t just about dust, they help keep out bacteria too. Bleach and water does work fine for cleanup though, just make sure you’re mixing it right... seen folks go way too heavy and end up bleaching their clothes or floors.
