Carpet is mostly one time expensive purchase and carpet getting damaged is overwhelming. It is important to fix the water damage to restore the life of the favorite piece of décor. Instead of panicking, read through this post for tips on how to deal with the water damaged carpeting:
- First step is to access the situation. Check how the carpet got wet –
- If the water from broken pipes, sink or rain is the reason – it is safe to clean and use the carpet again.
- If the water from dishwasher or the washing machine wets the carpet, there might be chances of dirt accumulation on the carpet and thorough cleaning is required, but the carpet can be still cleaned and used.
- But if the carpet is damaged with ‘black water’ – like from flood can be toxic with contaminants including mold, spore and bacteria. Replacing this carpet would be most advisable.
- Water damaged carpets tend to accumulate dirt and quick growth of mold which is hazardous and hence quick cleaning of the carpet is important. Pull the water from the carpet using vacuum cleaner or steam cleaner.
- Use the vacuum in one stroke multiple times to dry the carpet faster. Open the doors and windows while cleaning the carpet for better air circulation.
- If the carpets have padding, pull the wet carpet carefully and remove the pad underneath it. Throw away the padding and lay the carpet back down flat to dry the water out using vacuum, blowers or dehumidifiers from the carpet. Once the carpet and floor is dry, reinstall a new padding and lay the carpet back in place.
- The germs and contaminants on the carpet need to be cleaned and sanitized. For this use the carpet cleaning solutions – store bought or home made. Apply anti microbial cleaner at the end of the cleaning process to prevent possible growth of molds.
- Bleaching carpet is not a good idea. Bleaching can damage the back of the carpet and floor underneath. It will also lead to discoloration of the dark carpets.
- With the water damage, the glues used in the carpets gets loosen and create a space for the mold growth starts. This happens fast – within as early as one to two days. Initial mold growth will be smaller, but if not dealt on time it will be spread all over the carpet, making it difficult to clean and hazardous.
- The best step to clean the water damaged carpet is by hiring a professional expert to clean the carpet. The professional will know the quality and material of carpet as well as the right cleansing agent to be used to clean the carpet. They will also have the right tools and machines for deep cleaning of the carpet. This helps in increasing the life span of the carpet with a fresh look to the room. The professional also may help with fixing the water leakages to avoid the damaging next time in the near time.