Water damage to your carpets can be a very serious issue if left for prolonged periods of time. Mould and bacteria thrive deep down in your carpet and can result in respiratory problems, so be sure to properly dry your carpets if they’ve suffered any level of flooding.

If you’ve experienced water damage or flooding on your carpet, chances are that you can have the carpet dried and repaired rather than completely replacing it, which can cost substantially more. These tips will help you properly dry your carpets and should be carried out as soon as possible to stop mould before it begins to make its tracks!

Remove Water Immediately

You’ll want to use a shop vac to remove as much of the water as possible. Thoroughly vacuum the carpet and get as much liquid as you can in one go.

If you don’t own a shop vac or a vacuum cleaner suitable for wet/dry conditions, then you’ll want to rent one or hire a trusted and reliable water damage restoration expert like ElectroVac if you live in Melbourne.

Remove Furniture

Remove all of your furniture and belongings from the affected area as soon as possible. Not only will they impede the proper drying process of your carpet, but they can also sustain water damage.

Put all of your furniture and belongings in another room. Dispose of any items that can’t be dried out properly (paper, for example). Dry your furniture separately and be sure to clean underneath tables and chairs as well. Isolating the water damaged carpet means that you can dry it efficiently and reduce the chances of mould or bacteria spreading.

Use Fans to Remove Excess Water

Vacuuming is the first step to remove the bulk of the water, but your carpet will have absorbed a substantial amount and this will take time to dry. Run fans around the affected areas and keep them churning out ventilation over a long period to ensure that all of the excess water is gone.

This can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days depending on the extent and severity of the damage. High-power fans are also available for rent, or you can hire a professional like ElectroVac who will have the right equipment to treat and repair the water damaged carpet.

In addition to fans, dehumidifiers work wonders at maintaining good levels of humidity within the room. Humidity is a concern because mould and bacteria thrive in humid conditions. Dehumidifying the room robs them of any chance of spreading beyond your control.

Steam Clean and Sanitise

Good, thorough cleaning with the right products and equipment will be able to rejuvenate your carpet. Rent a high-quality steam cleaner and purchase the appropriate shampoo and sanitising solutions and you’ll be able to rest assured that mould and bacteria have been dealt with properly.

Note that although the carpet itself can be repaired, the padding underneath will likely need replacing. Water damage can compromise the padding underneath carpets and thus you’ll have to remove the carpet padding and replace it yourself, or you can hire a cleaning professional who specialises in treating water damage.

This last consideration is very important to do properly because lifting a tacked down carpet can be difficult and you risk further damaging the carpet if done improperly. It’s for this reason that we always recommend you contact a Melbourne water damage restoration specialist to do this job for you.