Best Way to Absorb & Soak up Water in Basement -What to use!

Water in Basement? Not sure what to use to Soak it up or how to absorb all of it effectively?

In this guide you will learn:

  • How to soak up water in your basement,
  • What materials you need to absorb the water effectively,
  • How to get water out of different surface materials,
  • The best & fastest methods to soaking up the water in your basement.

It’s important to Soak up all the water in your basement as soon as possible when you’ve been hit with a flood or large amounts of water in your basement.

The water inside your basement can act as a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi such as mold and mildew, which can become a danger to your health.

A flooded/wet basement can be home to live electrical currents. Be sure to turn off the power in your basement to prevent any possibility of electrocution from damaged outlets or wiring.

Wear Rubber boots/gloves before you go down into your basement to soak it up as a safety precaution against possible electrocution.

Important to Read: How to Dry out & Repair Water Damaged Basement Floors


Water In Basement?

Call 844-994-1288 for a Risk Free estimate from a Licensed Water Mitigation Specialist in your area.

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What Will Absorb Water in the Basement

Soaking up water from your basement is made easy with the right use of materials. There are a number of different materials that can be used to absorb the water from your flooded basement – and varying levels of effectiveness.

  • Thick towels. Using thick towels is a cheap and efficient way of soaking up excess water on your basement floors. They can be re-used by wringing the water out of them and allowing them to dry, and placing them down again.
  • Using a mop. Mops are designed to hold water in their mop heads and act like a sponge. They can be a bit of a slower method than towels, but are still useful in absorbing smaller quantities of water flooding.
  • Quick dams. “Quick dams” are a specialized type of absorption pad. Certain hardware or household goods stores carry these products that are a type of material full of sponge-like openings designed to absorb water quickly and efficiently. They can be a little more on the costly side, but definitely perform well for their price.
  • Using a Dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers are used in a setting where there is only minimal water left in your basement – if you notice damp walls, condensation buildup, or musty smells, this is when they come in handy. A dehumidifier will aid in removing the moisture from the air inside the room.

Best Water Absorbing Materials For Your Basement

When it comes to the best materials for absorbing water, it’s recommended that you try specialized water absorbent pads, or snakes, that can be often purchased online, in store, or through a professional water damage restoration company.

Specialty items under the name of Absorbent Maintenance Socks or Absorbent Maintenance Cushions & Pads are a common set of heavy duty durable padding designed to soak up large amounts of water, and fast.

There are also water resistant linings that can be installed in the perimeter or base of your basement foundation that repel water away, in order to prevent any future water damage from occurring.

How to Soak Up Water in Your Basement

There are a variety of different surfaces that your basement flooring may be made out of. This section will help you to determine the right materials to use depending on what surface you have installed.

From Carpets

  • Towels. Using towels (preferably microfibrematerial), is a cheap cost effective way of taking the moisture out of your carpet and transferring it into the towel to be wrung out.
  • Use fans or open up windows to circulate air flow in the room allowing for faster evaporation of the water.
  • Remove any furniture that may be on top of your carpet and ensure you soak the water up from underneath the furniture as well.

If you can, check the flooring underneath the carpet to be positive that no moisture remains underneath.

Be sure to limit walking on the carpet as much as possible, otherwise the water can continue to spread on the surface from your feet or shoes.

From Concrete

  • Remove the standing water with the use of towels, a mop, or specialized absorption pad referenced in the previous section.
  • Use a dehumidifier if after the standing water has been removed and there is still significant damping of the concrete surface.

From Wood Floors

  • Remove water soaked objects from the floor as soon as possible. The longer these objects linger, the worse the absorption will be in the wood.
  • Use towels, a mop, or a clean rag to soak up the standing water quickly.
  • Look for signs of mold or mildew. Wood is a natural material that can hold onto water for a long period of time – if the wood stays damp long enough, it may rot and produce a breeding ground for mold and mildew. If the wood smells musty, you may have an invader.

Overall, What is the Best Way to Absorb Water in Your Basement?

The best way to absorb water from your basement is to use the specially designed Water Absorbing Pads or Hydro Socks/Snakes that can soak up huge amounts of water.

Use Sump Pump first to remove most of the water if you have a flood situation and there is a lot of water to soak up.

Once you have the majority of the water soaked up, it’s important to get rid of the humidity built up in the air.

This can be done either through use of a dehumidifier, or by using fans and open windows to allow for proper airflow through the room.

After the humidity is taken care of, you can spot check the basement and ensure that all moisture is removed.


Large Amounts of Water in your Basement?

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Fastest Method to Soak Up Water in Your Basement?

The fastest method to soak water up from your basement is to use items with the largest possible surface area.

Bigger items such as towels, and specialized absorption pads or cushions are the go-to option for a quick fix.

If you are still facing issues, it may be necessary to contact a professional Water damage restoration company.

They have the ability to finish the job as fast as possible, to be sure that your basement does not suffer long term damage.

Best Way To Absorb Water Continually Leaking in the Basement?

If your basement is continually leaking water, you need to find the source of the leak and start there.

The leak could result from a number of things like a burst pipe, a crack in the foundation, or an improper plumbing seal.

For Continually Leaking water the use of the water-absorbing HydroPads is the best method, they can hold and absorb very large amounts of water in your basement for a very long time.

If the leak is from above, placing a large bucket or tub under a leak can help to hold the water in one place and prevent it from spreading across the room. Check back periodically to empty the container of the excess water.

When to Call a Professional?

If you have exhausted all of these options and still have not removed all of the water from your basement, it’s time to contact a professional water damage restoration company.

You may need professional help with the use of equipment such as a wet vacuum or sump pump in order to fully remove the water.

A water damage restoration company has industrial-grade equipment used to completely dry out your basement, and remove any remaining moisture to make sure that mildew and mold can’t spread further in your house.

We have Water Mitigation and Water Damage Restoration Technicians that can help remove all the water from your basement available in 95% of the USA

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