Cleaning water-soaked carpets and floors is a difficult chore in itself, but in the aftermath of a flood, contamination by mud, silt, and mildew can compound the problem. Carpets contaminated by sewage should not be salvaged. It's best to get professional cleaners to work on carpets and floors, but this may not be possible. In any case, begin cleanup as soon as possible. Pull up carpets and rugs and drape them outdoors.
Hose carpets down.
Work a low-sudsing, disinfectant carpet cleaning product deep into soiled spots with a broom. To discourage mildew and odors, rinse with a solution of two tablespoons bleach to one gallon water. Don't use this solution on wool carpets. Dry carpet and floor thoroughly before replacing carpet to avoid future mildew problems and shrinkage. Use fans, vacuum cleaners and dehumidifiers to speed the drying.