Dealing With Wet Carpets And The Threat Of Molding

Mold in carpets can develop in damp and humid environments. If water stays in the carpet for more than a day or two, it becomes a breeding ground for mold. It gets worse if the humidity is high as well. Removing moisture from the carpet fibers should be done quickly. Mold spore growth can be reduced if water will be removed on the first day of the incident.

Multiple drying methods are required for carpet cleaning a large room or for an entire section of a room. An absorbent towel can be used to quickly dry smaller areas that are drenched by spilled water.

Use towels to soak up excess water. Open the towels thoroughly before laying them around the wet sections of the carpeting. Absorb the water by pressing the towels with your feet or hands. Towels should be replaced as they become drenched with water. Keep a bucket nearby to prevent dripping water on other areas of the room as you store towels or wring the water out.

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Plug in the wet-dry vacuum instead of a traditional vacuum using your dry hands. Use the wet vacuum to draw the water out of the wet carpeting. Move it over the damp carpeting repeatedly in slow, straight lines. The vacuum’s canister can be emptied if needed.

To provide a cross breeze, open the windows throughout the floor and in the room with damp carpeting. If there’s humid air outside and there’s a window air conditioner in a room, keep the windows closed. A central air can be used if there’s no window air conditioner.

Plug in fans before placing them on dry areas of the floor or in the doorway of the room in the direction of the wet carpet. To suck in the moisture from the room, plug in the humidifier. The humidifier’s water-collection canister can be emptied if needed.

Sprinkle baking soda over the carpeting and let it sit for 30 minutes to allow any absorption of remaining odors and liquids. Remove the baking soda by vacuuming the carpeting. You may need to sweep off the solid pieces first, so that the vacuum cleaner will not become jammed.

Let the humidifier and fans run overnight. To avoid getting electrical shock, keep the humidifier and fan off the wet carpeting while plugged in. Inspect the carpeting on the following day for any signs of dampness. Pressing paper towels against the carpeting can be done to see if any dampness remains. Once you have determined that the carpeting is dry, return the furniture to the room.

Take furniture out of the room so that you have space to do carpet cleaning. Any furniture sitting on the wet carpeting should be dried completely and inspected for water damage.

If your carpet has remained wet for more than a day and a half, or if you feel that the carpet has become seriously damp and you cannot effectively deal with it, we recommend that you consult with reputable mold-removal experts or professional carpet cleaners.

Picture Credit: Pixabay user kropekk_pl, Public Domain License

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Emmeline Chu

Emmeline Chu is the Chief Reviewer on this site. She likes to keep all things clean, especially carpets and rugs. Emmeline admits to a quirky obsession with carpet cleaner machines. Since 2014, she has been writing reviews on carpet cleaners. She shares her story here.