You should assume that both the floodwater and your carpet are contaminated with infectious microorganisms. Rubber gloves should be worn when handling sewage-contaminated carpets. While handling the carpet, keep washing your hands with soap and water. If a carpet has been soaked in sewage-contaminated flood water for days or weeks, it may need to be discarded. Cleaning moist carpets and preventing mildew and odor issues will be difficult even with your best efforts.
How can you clean your flooded carpet?
Continue reading to find out what to do if your carpet becomes wet and how to prevent further damage.
Soak Up All Moisture in the Carpet
Place large, absorbent towels over the wet areas and step over them to aid in absorption. Allow the towels to soak for about 30 minutes before replacing them. A wet vacuum is another option. They are reasonably priced and can be rented. Consider contacting an expert carpet cleaning college station tx that is available for assistance if your moist carpet is considered saturated.
Activate Fans, Air Conditioners, and Windows
While the towels absorb most of the water, you must circulate air around the room. Turn on any ceiling fans or freestanding fans to circulate air throughout the damp area. If you have an air conditioner, you should also turn it on. Additionally, open windows improve airflow across the space. This can assist in removing any musty scents that have gathered in the room as a result of the wet carpet.
Rent or Purchase a Dehumidifier
Dehumidifiers are ideal for use in damp and moldy environments. If you live in a flood-prone area or if your home frequently leaks, a dehumidifier will help annihilate excess moisture and prevent mold growth.
Have Your Rugs Steam-Cleaned
Professional carpet steam cleaning is done at such a high temperature that any impurities in the carpet are killed. Even if you dry-clean a moist carpet, bacteria may stay in the fibers. Steam cleaning will be able to reach and remove these nasties, including biohazards like mold spores.
Use Baking Soda to Eliminate Trapped Humidity
A home solution like baking soda is useful for tiny areas of a moist carpet. After soaking the majority of the wetness with towels, sprinkle baking soda over the afflicted regions and leave for 30 minutes. Any remaining baking soda should be cleaned away, and your carpets should be rather clean.
Have Professionals Evaluate Assess Your Carpet Padding
If your carpet has taken a substantial amount of water, the padding beneath it may have been ruined. A competent carpet cleaner can assess whether or not your carpet padding has to be replaced. Again, keeping carpet padding wet can result in mold growth and poor indoor air quality. Visit their website to learn more on the services that they provide.
Conclusion
If your carpet poses a safety risk to you or your family, or if the scope of the task, such as ripping it up, drying it out, and so on, is beyond your skill set and schedule, it’s best to call a professional. A licensed and bonded professional can also provide a warranty against future mold growth.
