Clean Up Safely

At the first sign of a sewer back-up, stop using plumbing fixtures and appliances that drain to the sewer.

 If water is collecting in any part of the home, including the basement, safely turn off electricity.

before entering affected areas. However, if turning off the electricity requires you to walk through water covered areas, do not attempt to turn the electricity off. Contact a plumber.

 If you enter flooded areas, do so with extreme caution.

 Avoid direct contact with sewage and contaminated items.

Be careful not to track contaminants to other areas of your home.

 Use gloves and boots when cleaning contaminated surfaces and be wary of porous materials such as dry-wall and carpet. Consider consulting a professional water damage service.

Clean Up Activities

Remove any water from the sewage backup using a wet/dry vacuum. If the level of water is significant, use a pump to remove it. Sort any belongings in the area into categories consisting of things you need to discard and things that you can clean. Place in trash bags and remove from area. 

Spray down the area with clean water from a garden hose if solids from the sewer backup remains on the walls. Remove the water again if necessary using the wet/dry vacuum or pump. Clean solids off the floor using a broom and dustpan. Fill one bucket with water and a disinfectant cleaning solution according to label instructions. Fill the second bucket with clear water. Wash down walls with rags and the cleaning solution. Rinse walls thoroughly with fresh water. Start in the farthest area from the door and work your way back.