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4 Tips For Doing Your Own Carpet Drying

 

If you’re thinking about cleaning your carpet, or you’ve been a flood victim, doing your carpet drying is a must. If your carpet drying isn’t thorough it could lead to a whole host of problems.

Mould could start growing and water could spread further, causing expensive damages. That’s why it’s best to call the professionals, but if you need to do it yourself, we’ve got you covered.

Here are four tips to help your carpet drying be successful.

1. Start the carpet drying process as soon as possible

Starting your carpet drying as soon as possible is very important. If you don’t get started, mould could start to grow which leads to health issues. And, water can begin spreading to other areas of your home.

Mould can start invading your home in as little as 24 hours. At this stage you’re unable to see it, so you wouldn’t even know it’s there! But, just because it’s not visible doesn’t mean it’s safe. Plus, once it’s visible, it’s often too late. But, what’s the problem with mould?

Besides looking bad, mould can cause a range of health problems. These problems can mimic a cold or allergies, so they’re often not seen as serious. Breathing in mould can result in coughing and chest tightness, among other things. But, prolonged exposure is where the real problem is. You can even experience reduced lung function!

Now, remember, mould was only one of the problems. Mould begins with water and when water sits in one place for too long it tends to seep into places it shouldn’t. Water can start moving into your floors, walls and foundations. Not only does this spread the mould but it can also cause structural damage.

Structural damage is a whole new can of worms but, let’s just say it’s going to be more expensive than carpet drying.

2. Use a vacuum that can work with water

Not all vacuums are suitable for cleaning a wet surface. You could opt for a combination vacuum or one specialised for water. But, always use the right one for the job, or you could end up getting hurt!

Wet/dry vacuums are a great option if you’re looking to buy your own machine. You’ll be able to use it for any job around the home and get a lot of use from it. They can get a little expensive but you can pick up a home model for a few hundred dollars.

On the other hand, you could try a specialised wet vacuum. If you’re not a professional, it would be better if you hired this one from a local store. We wouldn’t want you to waste your money for one-time carpet drying.

But, always remember, never use a dry vacuum for carpet drying. Doing this is asking for trouble. You can cause electrical issues, hurt yourself or at the very least, break your vacuum. So, make sure you’re using the right tool for carpet drying!

3. Make sure to use air and heat for carpet drying

Incorporating air and heat will make your carpet drying job much easier. Hot or warm air is best for evaporating water and air will help to move it out of the room. But, always make sure to use your appliances the right way.

Using hot air will help you finish your carpet drying much faster than cold air. When the water gets hot enough, it will turn into water vapour. And, if you’ve ever seen steam, you know it always rises. This is where the air comes in.

Having air circulating from a fan will help with the evaporation and carry the moisture out of the room. Without a fan, some can leave the room through windows and doors. But, it’s at a much slower rate. Even more importantly, beware of electricity and water.

When doing your carpet drying, you’re working with water, so always be careful with appliances. Make sure they are not placed in the water, as it’s a great conductor of electricity. Also, be sure to place your appliances a safe distance away. So, they don’t fall into the water by accident.

4. When carpet drying, don’t forget the padding

Now, what your padding is made from makes this more or less important. Materials like rubber don’t absorb water but, if your padding is foam or fibre, the water can soak inside. So, to cover all bases, make sure you dry your padding as well.

To gain access to your padding, find a corner of your carpet that you can pull easily. When you’re pulling, you might hear a ripping sound, this is from your carpet’s tack strip. Don’t worry though, you haven’t broken anything. Tack strips are there to keep your carpet stretched and in place. And, once you’re finished your carpet drying you can hook it back on.

When you’re pulling your carpet off, try not to yank on the fibres as this could damage the carpet. If you’re unable to get a good grip with your hand, use some pliers, they’ll be a great help.

Now, once the padding is dry, your next job is to hook it back on the tack strip. If you’re not able to do it by hand, you’re going to need a tool. You can use something like a Knee Kicker or a Power Stretcher, both can get the job done.

Again, if you’re not planning on running a carpet drying business, it’s best to hire it out for a day or two.

So, before you decide to do your own carpet drying, make sure to refer to these tips. But, remember, if you don’t have the time or energy to do it right, it’s always best to hire a professional.

Here at Mr Flood, we provide professional carpet drying services to keep your home dry and mould free. If you have any questions get in contact with us on our website. And if you’re having a flood emergency, give our emergency number a call on 1300 673 566, you’ll be glad you did!

2021-01-27T02:04:35+00:00 January 27th, 2021|