Carpet is not designed to get wet. Whether you had a pipe burst or experienced flooding in the basement after a bad storm, any soaked carpeting needs to be dried as quickly as possible. Leaving moisture trapped in the fibers will encourage mold growth inside the material. as well as water damage to the structure underneath.

How to Treat a Wet Carpet 

1. Create Air Flow

Air flow will help dry out any remaining moisture. The fresh air will clear out odors and moisture, so mold won’t have a chance to grow in your flooring. Open all your windows and turn on ceiling fans. If you have access to high-powered fans, place these on the floors to blow air across the flooring.

2. Pull Up the Excess

Use a wet/dry vacuum to pull up as much of the extra water as possible. These machines are designed to pull moisture up and out of the carpet’s fibers. Most home vacuums are not designed for this amount of moisture, so you may need to rent one.

3. Remove Furniture

Moisture will get trapped underneath your furniture, even if it’s just the legs of a chair. Remove all furniture from the affected rooms. Place them out in the sun so they can dry as well, if needed. You can use a hose attachment to vacuum any soaked furniture as well.

4. Steam Clean

Steam clean the carpet to remove any remaining toxins or mold spores that have taken root. It will also deodorize the room, so your flooring doesn’t get the musty odor of wet carpet. The steam’s high temperature will kill mold spores, then pull them out.

5. Replace the Padding

If your floor was completely saturated, the padding will need to be replaced. Have it swapped as soon as possible; the longer you leave it, the more likely the main carpet material will become imbued with mold. By replacing the padding immediately, you may be able to save the carpet itself.

If you do need new carpet, you can get the finest new materials at Carpet Land in Lincoln, NE. This outlet is the largest among floor companies in Nebraska with an extensive selection at low prices. They make getting your new floors quick and easy with their guaranteed 48-hour installations and 12-month financing options. Learn more on their website and call (402) 467-6363 for a free carpet installation estimate.