How To Dry Wet Carpet
Is your carpet squishy-squishing under your toes? Well, a wet carpet is more than just gross, it is potentially dangerous for you and your loved ones.
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If you have had water damage or a flood, drying porous materials is essential for a full recovery.
All Dry USA has all the tips and tricks you need to get your wet carpet back into like-new condition!
Why Is It Important to Dry a Wet Carpet?
A wet rug provides a damp, dark space for mildew and mold growth. At the first signs of a wet carpet, you must take action to get it completely dry.
Mold can pose serious health risks even to otherwise healthy individuals. Within 24 hours of exposure to moisture, dangerous stachybotrys chartarum, or the infamous black mold, can take root and begin to propagate.
Black mold has been known to cause shortness of breath, sleep apnea, hay fever, and allergy symptoms. For those with respiratory conditions, black mold can cause persistent headaches, rashes, painful coughing, and irritation to the eyes.
A carpet is pretty much a sponge, and water will soak all the way through and then coat your floors as well. Water-damaged flooring leads to a whole other world of difficulties. Clean and dry your carpet now to save yourself the long-term hassle and expense of replacing hardwood floors.
Read more: Do You Need To Replace Water Damaged Carpets?
How to Dry a Carpet
It is not hard to dry a rug or carpet, but you have to get started at the first signs of moisture. Follow these expert tips and strategies, and you’ll be on your way to a like-new carpet.
Stop The Water Source
Until you identify and stop the leak, all your hard work cleaning will be in vain. Isolate the leaking pipe or hole in the roof and have professionals seal it up before cleaning the inside of your home.
After a flood, hire trained water damage experts to safely remove all chemical and bacteria-ridden black water from your home. Always ask a professional if your carpet can be cleaned after a flood or if the damage is irreversible – in this case it will need replacing.
Prepare The Room
Before you start any cleaning processes, empty the room of everything except the carpet. You want to work in a clean, dry space with plenty of room to encourage quick drying.
Do not let anyone walk on the carpet as the fibers will easily break down when wet.
Remove Surface Water
Take an absorbent rag or towel and gently press into the carpet, ringing out into a bucket each time until you cannot lift any more water off.
A shop vac may also quickly remove water, but this aggressive treatment has the potential to cause permanent damage.
Circulate The Air
If you live in a dry climate, open several windows to achieve a cross breeze that will support air drying.
Try a dehumidifier paired with strong fans during summer. If you are drying in winter, use a space heater to quickly dry out the room. Your typical blow-dryer may take a while to work, but is a great first step in getting your carpet dry in a pinch.
Follow All Steps For Padding
The padding of your carpet needs the same treatment as above. Expose the padding and dry it out quickly. If you skip this step, moisture will stay locked in underneath and allow mold to grow.
Break Out The Baking Soda
Once you’ve dried the majority of your carpet out, take one or two boxes of baking soda and spread them around all affected areas. Let it sit for up to 24 hours and when you vacuum it up, you should have clean and dry carpets with bright colors.
Read more: Can wet carpet be saved after a flood?
Drying Carpet: How Long Does It Take?
There is no easy answer to how long it takes. It depends on the size of the carpet, the extent of the flooding, and the drying tools available.
A fully flooded carpet can take almost a week to completely dry, while minor spills can be taken care of within an hour or two. Luckily, when you call in professionals, even serious water damage can be dried within a matter of hours.
The type of carpet also matters: synthetic fibers or nylon will dry much faster than cotton carpet and will also lower the risk of mold growth.
Get an assessment from our experts at All Dry USA to determine the needs of your specific carpet.
Conclusion — Work With All Dry, It’s In the Name
Despite all the risks that come with a wet carpet, you can rest easy because All Dry USA has seen every type of water damage out there. We are ready at the drop of a hat to get your carpet in tip-top shape in record time.
Some floods are just too big to handle on your own. Don’t risk biting off more than you can chew and leaving water in your home for extended periods.
Our sanitation experts will stop mold growth in its tracks and prevent further damage. Keep your family safe and reach out to All Dry, so we can do what we do best!
Call us today at (866) 971-9152 or contact us via our form for a quick response!
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With Ben’s knowledge, and visionary leadership, All Dry USA has expanded into a national, full-service property damage restoration company with multiple locations across the United States. Ben holds numerous specialty licenses and certifications in restoration and construction.