We’ve been discussing water damaged carpet and the steps in the restoration process. When the padding below the carpet is affected by water damage there is an extra step that needs to be taken. Think of the padding as a giant sponge that soaks up as much water as it can and never dries out. This dampness is enough to cause mildew and mold to form. This of course creates an odor and conditions that are unsafe under the carpet. These problems can occur no matter how dry you get the carpet. The safest step you can take is to pull up the wet carpet and remove the padding underneath. Throw the padding away and lay the carpet back down. Use the wet vac along with the blowers and dehumidifiers to dry the carpet out. When it has been determined that the carpet and the floor below are completely dry, you can purchase new padding and lay the carpet back down. You may need to have a carpet repair service in to help with bulges and bunching as carpet that has been dried can be hard to lay back down. They can stretch it and secure it to make it look like new.
After your carpets are completely dried, you will have to take the right steps to clean it. Your best bet is to hire professionals to do it but if you do it yourself, you will want to make sure that any germs and contaminants won’t be left to linger in the carpet. There are benefits to hiring professionals because they have the knowledge, tools and experience needed to get it done so you don’t have to worry about any problems in the future. Anti-microbial cleaner should be used at the end of the cleaning process to prevent the growth of mold. Don’t think that grabbing bleach will solve all your problems. Not only can the bleach damage the carpet backing and the floor below, if your carpet isn’t white, the bleach will strip the coloring in the carpet. Use all other options to clean your carpet before you resort to bleach.
It doesn’t take long for mold to start growing in wet carpet. It can start in as little as 24 to 48 hours. The initial growth may be small, but if it’s not taken care of right away, it can take a week or two of growing before it’s easy to see with you own eyes. It usually happens from delamination. This is the process where water weakens and loosens the glue of the carpet. Delamination allows separation of carpeting and creates a space foe mold to start growing.
Unless you can do it properly, you should contact professionals to dry water damaged carpets. Hiring professionals gives you the best chance of saving your carpet and preventing mold and mildew growth. Ameribest Carpet Cleaning can take care of any water damage issues if you call us right away!