Have you got home to your property and found a leak in your home? Or has there been extreme weather with flood water seeping into your property? Either way, if water has gotten into your carpets it can be a huge headache.
The good news is, even if your carpet has got soaked through, there are ways to get rid of the moisture with a little work. Although it’s tempting, it’s not advised to just ignore wet carpet stains as they will damage the carpet and padding underneath, create an unsightly stain and encourage the growth of mould. If left, mould can taint your homes air supply increasing the likeliness of illness.
Steps to Dry Out Your Carpet After a Flood or Leak
1. Absorb All Moisture from the Carpet
Place large thick towels over the wet areas and walk over the towels to help absorption. Leave the towels for around 30 minutes and change them once they get soaked through.
Another option is to use a wet vacuum. They are not that expensive and can also be rented. If your wet carpet is significantly soaked through, consider calling in expert Adelaide carpet cleaners for assistance.
2. Turn On Fans, ACs and Open Windows
While the towels are absorbing up the bulk of the water, you need to get airflow going around the room. If you have ceiling fans or freestanding fans, turn them on so air flows across the wet area. If you have an air conditioning unit, this should also be turned on.
Open windows also to increase air flow around the room. This will help rid the room of any musty smells that may have built up from the wet carpet.
3. Rent or Buy a Dehumidifier
Dehumidifiers are great to use in rooms prone to moisture and mould growth. If you live in a flood prone area or you regularly get leaks in your home, a dehumidifier will help pull the moisture from your property and prevent mould build up.
4.Get Your Carpet Steam Cleaned
Professional steam carpet cleaning is performed at a super high temperature that will kill any toxins in your carpet. Even if you clean a carpet after it’s been wet, there may still be bacteria left deep down in the carpet fibres. Steam cleaning will be able to reach these nasties and remove any mould spores.
5.Use Baking Soda to Remove Trapped Moisture
For less significant patches of wet carpet, using a home remedy like baking soda is effective. After you’ve absorbed the majority of water with towels, sprinkle baking soda over the wet areas and leave for around 30 minutes. Vacuum up any remaining baking soda and your carpets should be pretty fresh.
6.Get Experts to Assess Your Carpet Padding
If a large amount of water has saturated into your carpet, the padding underneath may have been affected. A professional carpet cleaner can assess your carpet padding to see if it needs replacing. If carpet padding is left wet, again this can encourage mould growth and an unsanitary air quality in your home.