Getting Water Out Of Flooded Carpet

Sucking water out of carpet.

Getting water out of flooded carpet.

Even if it s only water a funny odor can accumulate over time. A burst dishwasher hose a foundation leak and a broken water pipe are clean water sources that could soak your carpet. Red cross officials say many homeowners can get rid of the mold just fine after a flood but it will require a bit of elbow grease. Vacuum the carpet with the wet vacuum cleaner until you get no more water.

The most important part is first stopping water from flowing into the problem area. The first step to drying out carpet padding and carpeting post flood is actually removing the water. If you have standing water such as in a flooded basement use wet dry vacuums or pumps to remove as much as you can. Fans bleach and cleaners.

The best way to dry wet carpet is by using a wet dry vacuum if you don t have one you can rent one from a local hardware store. Run a wet vacuum over the wet or damp area of the carpet to bring up as much of the water as possible. Remove as much water manually as you possibly can. When a carpet smells musty or smells like mildew it can be a result of humidity or spills that fell onto the carpet.

Follow these steps for drying your carpet properly and preventing the spread of moisture and mildew. If you don t own a wet dry vac you can usually rent one from a local hardware store. Gently spread the baking soda around the carpet with a broom or sponge working the powder into the carpet as you do so. When moisture gets underneath the carpet a musty odor will form.

The wet vacuum cleaner removes water from the carpet itself but it may not be able to remove it from the padding if the water has wicked through the carpet backing or soaked in under the edges. If you have wet carpet there s no time to lose. Simply get a box from the grocery store and pour it liberally all over the carpet in the room with the wet carpet smell. The tools are simple.

Remove as much water as you can until the carpet is only damp and excess water doesn t come up when you press down into the carpet. Keep an eye on the fill tank and make sure you dump it before hitting overflow. If your home has recently flooded this is most likely the reason for the unpleasant odor. The sooner you start cleaning up after water damage the sooner you can stop mold from growing under your carpet.