Water-Damaged Carpets and Rugs

You can clean the carpet yourself if there is no water damage and it is not from a contaminated source. Call a professional if water damage has occurred from gray or black water sources. Flood-damaged carpets or rugs will need to be replaced or cleaned. This is dependent on the level of contamination and how long the carpet or rug was saturated. Unsanitary water can contain organisms that could infect carpets or rugs, and pose a risk to safety and health.

How clean is the water?

Skip to How Clean is the Water? Broken water supply lines, sink or tub overflows without containment or rainwater may all be considered clean water. Unsanitary water, also known as “gray water”, may be contaminated by washing machines or dishwashers, or punctured waterbeds. Black water is highly unsanitary and contains pathogenic agents. This includes flooding from rivers, streams and seawater. Untreated gray water that is left untreated for more than 48 hours could become “black water” as microorganisms multiply. You can clean the flood damaged carpet cleaning yourself if water damage was from a clean source of water and was detected within 48 hours. Call a professional if water damage has occurred from gray or black water sources.

General Guidelines

  • Skip to the General GuidelinesGet rid of carpet that has been saturated with black water.
  • If carpet padding has been dampened from clean water for less than 48 hours, or if only a portion of the padding is wet in a room, it can be repaired.
  • A professional can clean carpet saturated with “graywater” by using a biocide and allowing for the appropriate time. Then, they will use hot water extraction to clean it. Other cleaning methods, such as shampoo, bonnet, dry foam, and absorbent compound are not sufficient to clean the carpet. They can also spread contamination.
  • Professionals should clean valuable area rugs. A biocide should be applied and extensive cleaning done. Rugs should be returned to their original sanitary condition. If that is impossible, they should be thrown away.
  • Throw rugs that are washable can usually be washed in hot water with a biocide. Use 1 1/2 cups chlorine bleach per load for extra-large capacity automatic washers. Standard (large capacity) automatic washers use 1 cup of chlorine bleach per load. This chlorine bleach can affect the color of the rug’s rugs.
  • Private wells could be contaminated by floodwaters. Washable throw rugs should not be washed until your water has been tested. Remove any furniture that could cause damage or stains to the carpet as soon as possible.
  • Avoid walking on the wet carpet. The backing can be damaged by moisture and can also become brittle from walking on it. The backing will regain most of its original strength once it dries.

Carpets that have been soaked in rain

Avoid cleaning rain-soaked carpetsIt is not a good idea to clean wet carpeting indoors in summer, as it can add moisture to an already moist area. It is possible to remove, clean, and reinstall carpeting that has track strips. It is impossible to clean or dry a saturated area of padding.

Also, the subfloor must be checked for moisture. Rainwater that has soaked through the top of the carpet may have not reached the subfloor. It will depend on the type of carpet under it and how long it has been wet before it needs to be replaced.

If your subfloor is plywood, you should remove the padding and wet carpet from the subfloor and allow it to dry completely before installing the new flooring. Particleboard subfloors will shrink and become brittle if they get wet. It will therefore need to be replaced.

If the carpet is glued to the ground without a pad, it can be removed in its place. If electricity is available, use a shop water vacuum to clean the carpet. To remove any excess moisture, dry towels and blankets.

To dry carpet, use oscillating fans or an air conditioner. It is important to dry the carpet within 24 hours after it has been wet. Otherwise, mold and fungi could grow to dangerous levels and pose a risk to your health and that of your family. It is best to call professionals to remove the carpet and replace it if it cannot be fixed within 24 hours.

Pull up carpet that has been soaked by water from a pipe or roof leak to allow it to dry. Remove any wet padding. You can prevent mildew and odors by rinsing the backing of your carpet with 1/4 cup beach to 1 galon of water. Use a soft bristle brush to gently brush the solution off the carpet. This will ensure that it doesn’t soak into the carpet and cause damage. This solution should not be used on wool carpets. To disinfect the subfloor, mix 3/4 cup bleach with 1 gallon water. The bleach solution must be left on the surface for at most 10 minutes to disinfect. You should not replace the carpet or padding until the subfloor has completely dried.