Where does your situation fall?

  • IfA small amount on sealed tile, vinyl or bare concrete, cleaned up within hours, nothing porous touchedThenUsually a careful DIY job with protective gear and disinfectant. See the routine below.
  • IfSewage reached carpet, rugs or pad, even in one cornerThenProfessional help is recommended. Carpet and pad touched by sewage are removed, not cleaned.
  • IfWater reached the base of drywall, paneling or baseboardsThenProfessional help. The wall cavity needs to be opened, cleaned and dried.
  • IfSewage seeped under flooring or through to a ceiling belowThenProfessional help. Hidden layers need to be opened and assessed.
  • IfAnyone in the home is pregnant, very young, elderly or immune-compromisedThenLean toward professional help even for moderate spills.
  • IfThe furnace, water heater or electrical equipment was involvedThenBring in the right trade to check it, whoever does the cleaning.

A safe routine for small hard-surface spills

  1. Gear up.Waterproof gloves, eye protection, old clothes or a disposable suit, and rubber boots or shoe covers. A well-fitting N95 helps if you will be scrubbing.
  2. Ventilate without blowing it around.Open a window if there is one. Do not point a fan at the spill.
  3. Remove solids and liquid.Use disposable towels and bag them. Do not use a household vacuum.
  4. Clean first.Scrub with detergent and water to remove residue. Disinfectant does not work well on dirty surfaces.
  5. Disinfect.Apply a disinfectant labeled for the purpose and leave it wet for the contact time on the label, then rinse if directed.
  6. Clean your tools and yourself.Disinfect buckets and brushes or throw them out. Wash clothing separately in hot water and shower.

Signs a DIY cleanup was not enough

  • A sewer smell returns within a few days
  • Baseboards or the bottom of drywall look stained or feel soft
  • Flooring seams lift or feel spongy
  • Someone in the home develops stomach symptoms after the cleanup
  • You find water where you did not expect it, such as under a cabinet

Being honest about the line

Most people underestimate how far sewage travels. It runs along the lowest edge of a room, slips under baseboards and wicks into anything with fibers. A spill that looks like a small puddle on the bathroom floor may have reached the subfloor at the toilet base. When in doubt, ask a cleanup contractor to take moisture readings around the edges before deciding; that check takes little time and tells you whether the job really ended at the visible puddle.

General information for Thornton, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.