What if carpet gets wet

If the source of the flood was clean water, then your carpet is safe to clean and dry yourself, and you can continue using it. Water is gray when it has harmful contaminants in it. It includes water from machines, showers, bathtubs, toilets, etc. Also, clean water becomes gray water within 48 hours. So if the flooding occurred due to these sources, you might want to call in a professional. Plus, it is always better to be on the safe side when it comes to health and safety.

Clean or gray water that stays stagnant for too long becomes black water. Additionally, water that has sewage mixed in it or other harmful chemicals , and water from floods and storms, is also black. Gladys K. Water leaked into my closet, from a broken pipe from the washing machine… first I used towels to soak up what I could then I got two big boxes of baking soda, I am currently letting it sit and have a fan going… I hope this works.

But I sure am glad I found this page!!! Your email address will not be published. Connelly Updated December 20, Table of Contents. How wet is your carpet? Be sure to use the heater in your supervision as it can be hazardous to leave it on for a long time, especially near a carpet.

These vacuums cannot remove water. Not only will this ruin your vacuum, but it also poses a high risk of electrocution. Baking Soda for Drying Carpets.

Yep, you read that right. Now, sprinkle it all over the wet area. You can also do this with a sprinkler, which will prevent the soda from clumping and make it easier to spread it. High-powered fans are best for this job.

However, if you only have standard fans, a little airflow is better than none. Consider using a dehumidifier to remove even more moisture from the atmosphere. In most cases where water has saturated your carpet , your carpet padding is a goner. Replace it to prevent the main carpet from becoming saturated with mold.

Steam cleaning wet carpet removes any toxins and deodorizes it. You can do this yourself or call a professional for help. Steam has a high enough temperature to kill any toxins, and also removes the toxins when the steam cleaner sucks up the dead mold spores.

Baking soda works wonders when it comes to lifting and removing trapped moisture. Simply sprinkle a liberal amount of baking soda over your wet carpet and allow it to sit for at least half an hour. Since bleach can stain carpeting, only use it to disinfect the subflooring. After disinfecting the sub-floor, use a shop vac to suck up any dirt or debris.

Then you can install the carpet padding. Most padding will come in rolls, but sometimes it comes in sheets or tiles. Cut the padding so it fits perfectly in the space, covering the entire area between the tack strips.

Once the padding is installed, you can reinstall your carpeting. Check that the tack strips are still in good condition and replace them if necessary. Then use a knee kicker tool to tack the carpet down to the tack strips.

Finally, you should clean your carpeting. Not only will this remove stains and odors, but it will also help restore the carpet pile. You can either rent a machine to do it yourself or hire a company. If you clean your carpets yourself, start by vacuuming it several times first to remove as much dirt and dust as possible.

Then follow the instructions for your cleaner. Let the carpeting dry completely before you start moving furniture back into the room. You might want to think about throwing it away if any of the following are true:. It will take between 12 and 24 hours to dry wet carpet using the right equipment and lift it up off the floor.

You should dry the carpet as quickly as possible for two reasons. First, mold can start to grow in 24 to 28 hours. Second, the water can cause your carpet to fall apart. These are such great tips. Thanks for sharing them. Wet carpets are the biggest downside of carpeted floors as it may lead to mold. If a carpet has been wet for 72 hours or longer, consider replacing it and especially if it has added layers of padding underneath. Mold often takes no longer than 72 hours to form and spread, and can be difficult to clean thoroughly after that time.

However, a professional water damage restoration company can often salvage carpets with proper cleaning. There is no cut-and-dried timeframe for when you want to consider replacing rather than cleaning carpets and upholstered furniture after a flood. However, you might consider some vital information about water damage restoration and flood cleanup, as well as fire damage restoration, so you know the best method of returning your home to a like-new condition!

Be sure to discuss these options with a water damage restoration company near you, as they can offer helpful advice and tips on how to restore your home in particular.

Before you start pulling up carpets or head out to rent a shop vacuum to extract floodwaters on your own, note some vital reasons to call a water damage restoration company for help. This can also help you determine if you should replace carpets after water damage or if rugs, upholstered furniture, and other materials and surfaces around your home are salvageable.