Flooded Home Cleanup, What to Keep, Clean, Dry or Toss

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) breaks flood cleanup into four actions: stay safe, sort materials, clean, and dry. EPA says mold can grow on wood, drywall, carpet and furniture that stay wet for more than 24 hours, and that flood water can also carry bacteria, chemicals and other hazards. This page reflects EPA's flood cleanup page (last updated March 18, 2026), read in October 2026.

This is for flood cleanup. EPA says damage from a pipe leak or rainwater intrusion typically presents fewer hazards and a smaller area, and sends readers to its separate mold guidance.

1. Step 1: Stay safe

• Generators: use fuel-powered portable generators only outside and at least 20 feet from buildings. EPA warns the carbon monoxide they produce could kill within minutes and cannot be seen or smelled, and its carbon monoxide page adds that deadly levels can build up in garages, crawlspaces and sheds and linger for hours after the generator shuts off.
• Who should not clean: people with breathing problems such as asthma or weakened immune systems should stay away from moldy sites. Children and pregnant people should not take part.
• Professionals: EPA says cleanup can be difficult and dangerous and suggests experienced professionals if possible. EPA has no certification program and keeps no contractor list; it names groups such as NEHA, AIHA, IICRC and ACAC whose certifications you can ask about.
• What to wear: an N-95 respirator, goggles without vent holes, gloves, pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and boots or work shoes.
• Older homes: building materials may contain asbestos or lead, so take extra care disturbing them.

2. Step 2: Sort what stays and what goes

EPA's rule of thumb:

3. Step 3: Clean in the right order

Go gently. EPA says to use methods that keep contaminants out of the air, and to avoid stirring up dust or scrubbing. The first pass should be gentle, with a cloth dampened in clean water and detergent. Only after that should you use dry tools such as a wet/dry vacuum for leftover debris.

Open doors and windows while cleaning if possible. If you can see mold, wait to start fans or dehumidifiers until you have gently cleaned the visible mold at least once, so the fans do not spread it.

Detergent before disinfectant. Clean water and detergent come first. An EPA-registered disinfectant or sanitizer can then go on clean surfaces that do not absorb water. EPA says these products do not work on surfaces that have not been cleaned, and many are not meant for fabrics or unfinished wood. On the label, look for:

• the safety instructions and protective clothing,
• the correct dilution, prepared in a well-ventilated area,
• the contact time, which is how long the surface must stay wet,
• "food contact surfaces" wording if the surface touches food.

Bleach: the same order applies. Do not mix bleach with other chemicals, including ammonia or whatever chemicals the flood water brought in, because the result can be toxic. If you do not know what is in the water, clean as much as you can with water and detergent before using other products.

4. Step 4: Dry everything completely

• Airflow: if safe, leave outside doors and windows open. Open inside doors and cabinets and remove drawers, shelves and built-in furniture so hidden surfaces dry.
• Humid weather: if outdoor air is very humid and warm, EPA says closing up and running fans, dehumidifiers, air conditioners or heaters (if you have power) may work better.
• HVAC: if any part was affected by the flood, do not use it to dry the house. EPA says to have a professional clean and dry it. A working, uncontaminated system may help, but most cannot dry a very humid flooded home alone.
• Time: usually several days to weeks. Keep air moving even after things look dry. Do not seal flooded wall cavities or paint or seal wet surfaces until the inside of the material is completely dry.
• Moisture meter: EPA says materials should read 15% or less to be ready for refinishing. A meter is usually sold at hardware stores.
• Concrete slab test: tape the edges of clear plastic sheeting to the slab and wait about 16 hours. If moisture shows on the plastic, the slab is still too wet for new flooring. EPA says the procedure is based on an ASTM standard.

5. Key takeaways

• Four steps, in order: stay safe, sort, clean, dry.
• Throw away absorbent items you cannot clean and dry; hard items can usually be cleaned.
• Detergent and water first, disinfectant second, and never mix products.
• Dry fully before refinishing: 15% or less on a moisture meter, and a slab that shows no moisture under plastic after about 16 hours.
• Generators go outside, at least 20 feet away.
• Skip cleanup work if you have asthma, a weakened immune system, or are pregnant, and children should stay out.