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Water damage is a homeowner’s worst nightmare, especially when it affects the carpet. Whether caused by flooding, a burst pipe, or a leaky roof, water-soaked carpets can quickly become breeding grounds for mold and mildew, which leads to further damage. 

In this blog, we will walk you through the steps on how to clean the carpet after water damage and help salvage it, restoring your living space to its former condition.

Nine Steps To Clean And Restore Your Water-Damaged Carpet

1. Locate The Source Of The Damage

To clean the carpet after water damage, first of all, all you have to do is locate the source of the water. If you don’t address the source of the water damage, the carpet may likely dampen again. So look for broken or malfunctioning machines and also inspect the underneath of your carpet for tiny cracks. 

2. Ventilate The Room 

The next step is to ventilate the room. Damp carpets often emit unpleasant odors. By increasing airflow, you can help disperse these odors and prevent them from becoming trapped in the carpet.

3. Assess The Damage On The Carpet

The third step is to assess the damage to the carpet. Assessing the damage lets you know if the water has seeped into the carpet and to what extent. With this, you can get a better estimation of the restoration cost, which includes labor, materials, and tools needed.

4. Move Furniture To A Separate Room 

Once you’ve assessed the condition of your carpet, next, shift the furniture and all other items to a separate room. Furniture sitting on the wet carpet can further soak up water and contribute to further stains or damage. 

Shifting the furniture also exposes hidden areas that may be affected by moisture, ensuring you clean the entire carpet more thoroughly and effectively. 

5. Extract Standing Water 

Now, as the carpet is ready to tackle, the most important thing you need to do is extract the surface water. Water-damaged carpets can emit unpleasant smells if the water has been contaminated or has seeped deep within the fibers. 

There are a number of ways to do so. One of those is using a wet/dry vacuum cleaner. These machines are specifically made to pull out standing water from surfaces, including the carpet. 

So, buy a good-quality wet/dry vacuum cleaner (or rent one from your nearby hardware store) and work in a proper manner to pull out the water. Move from one area to the next to make sure you remove the water completely. 

6. Remove The Carpet Padding 

Carpet padding, in most water-damage cases, also soaks water. Once it does, it can lead to uneven carpet drying. Removing the padding ensures that the carpet dries properly and evenly. Thus, carefully lift the carpet to access the padding underneath, and dispose of any saturated padding. 

7. Sprinkle Baking Soda

Next, sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda all over the carpet. Baking soda is a great solution to soak up water deep within your carpet and also act as a deodorizer for any resulting dampening smell. After sprinkling the baking soda, leave it for an hour before you vacuum it up. 

8. Steam Clean The Carpet 

Now comes the most important step. Steaming is one of the best cleaning techniques for your carpet, especially after water damage. Steam cleaning uses high-temperature steam to penetrate deep into the carpet fibers and remove dirt, grime, and any lingering moisture as well as kill bacteria and other microorganisms, making the carpet cleaner and healthier.

It also helps restore the appearance and texture of the carpet fibers, making them look and feel like new. Hence, choose the right steam cleaning machine, add vinegar or a commercial carpet cleaning solution to its designated compartment, and start steam cleaning the carpet, working in small sections. 

9. Replace The Padding 

Finally, inspect the carpet for one final time and replace the padding with new, moisture-resistant padding. Once done, reinstall the carpet and stretch it properly to make sure it lies flat without any signs of wrinkles or bubbles. 

Let’s Conclude It!

Water damage incidents are never called for. But when they occur unexpectedly, they can have a devastating impact, especially on carpets. Water-damaged carpets might appear beyond repair, but contrary to such popular belief, the reality is quite different. 

With the techniques, tools, and solutions (as described in the blog), you can effectively clean the carpet after water damage and help restore its lost glory for good.