How to Treat Carpet and Rugs After Water Damage

October 10, 2018
Intense water damage can take a major toll on your rugs and carpeting. Not only are you in the midst of one of the most stressful circumstances of cleaning up water, you likely have no idea the extent of the damage until after the water has been removed. The biggest concern when it comes to carpeting and water damage is the development of a dangerous, unpleasant mold infestation. Angie’s List offers the perfect list of steps on how to treat carpet and rugs after water damage, after all of the water has been removed.

Begin Thoroughly Drying
After any standing water from a water incident has been removed, your number one priority needs to be getting things dry. If you do not have a restoration company helping you with the cleanup process, then it’s likely you don’t have the right equipment on-hand to get the job done quickly and effectively. You need industrial fans going around the clock on the carpeting or rugs – they can usually be rented from a home improvement store.

Dehumidify
Not surprisingly, one of the most important measures you can take to prevent mold is to inhibit the amount of moisture the fungus has access to. To do so most efficiently, you will need dehumidifiers to keep the air dry, and allow the carpeting to only be exposed to the air that will keep the excess water from developing into mold.

Steam and Sanitize
After your rugs have been completely dried and dehumidified (keep in mind that this could take several days to a week), your next step is to steam clean. Whether you can do this yourself or you have to hire it out, it’s a crucial step in the cleaning process for carpeting and rugs. Your next step – and this is especially important if the water damage was caused by gray or black water – is to sanitize. The best formula to do this is a cleaning solution with a ratio of 1.5 cups of bleach per every gallon of water. Also, take steps to protect yourself.

Call Restoration 1 Today
Restoration 1 of Central Maryland is your one-stop destination to tackle all of the steps that accompany effective water damage remediation and mold prevention. If you have had a significant water episode, do not wait. Schedule a service with us immediately, We are based in Eldersburg and serve the surrounding cities.
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