There are certain signs of spring we all welcome: cheery daffodils, increased daylight, and the chirping of birds returning from their winter vacations. Along with those happy signs of spring, a less welcome sign may be an annual event for you—basement flooding. Spring rains often bring out the worst in flawed grading and foundations, leaving homeowners with a mess. If you’ve never dealt with basement flooding before, there’s a set procedure to getting things back in order.

First, get rid of the water. If you don’t have a sump pump, you can rent one from a home improvement store. If you have more than a few of inches of water, you might want to call a professional. They have more powerful equipment and can get the job done quickly. After the water is removed, you need to dry things out. Provide as much ventilation as possible to decrease the possibility of mold growth. Open all the windows and doors, and use fans to increase air circulation.

Throw out anything wet that’s of a porous nature—like cardboard boxes or newspapers. That’s a breeding ground for mold. If carpets can be dried out quickly, you can keep them. Otherwise, they should go. (You can purchase a mold test kit if you’re unsure.) If a significant amount of drywall has been saturated, you’ll need to cut it out and replace it.

Cleaning up basement flooding is a lot of work, and can get expensive. Instead, do yourself a favor: Before the worst happens, follow these simple guidelines from the National Restoration Network to reduce your risk for basement flooding this season.