If your carpet and padding stay wet for a long period of time, mold can begin to grow quickly. Mold loves dark, humid environments – and wet carpet provides the perfect environment for it to multiply.
If the carpet or rug was wet for more than 48 hours, regardless of the source of the water, general EPA/FEMA/CDC guidelines recommend removal and replacement.
The majority of carpets should be dry if left for 24 hours if the temperature and air is right. If the carpet is wet for more than two days, it may develop mould, mildew, and bacteria, so it's best to do everything you can to speed up the drying process.
Fortunately, the process is simple. Run a fan pointed at the wet area to help moisture evaporate. A dehumidifier also works to pull moisture out of the air and dry out the carpet. “Another option is to get rags and lay them over your damp area,” says Happy DIY Home founder Jen Stark.
Dry the Carpet Quickly
The best defense against dangerous mold and mildew is to dry out the water damaged carpet as quickly as possible. You can do this with fans (some exist primarily for this purpose), dehumidifiers, and wet/dry vacuums. If you don't own these tools, you can rent them.
mildew and mold will develop within 24-48 hours of water exposure. Even worse, it will continue to grow until steps are taken to eliminate the source of moisture, and effectively deal with the mold problem.
Knee-deep flooding is clearly a major problem. But just a fraction of an inch of water can destroy carpet, and the larger the area affected the more likely that's going to happen. So any large leak, overflow, or spill spells carpet trouble.
Will wet carpet smell go away? Not unless you do something about it! You can temporarily quell the smell with bleach and baking soda, but to cut it at the source, you need professional-grade equipment or full carpet replacement.
Carpets can take an extremely long time to dry by themselves, so if you've suffered a flood or standing water from a leaky pipe, you'll need to figure out how to dry wet carpet fast. Below, we've compiled some suggestions of how to dry out wet carpet to prevent further damage or mold growth.
Mold can grow in your carpet anytime if it has stayed wet for a while, without the opportunity to dry out thoroughly. And if your home had some flooding and the carpet was damp for more than 24 hours, it is the beginning of the threat.
For less significant patches of wet carpet, using a home remedy like baking soda is effective. After you've absorbed the majority of water with towels, sprinkle baking soda over the wet areas and leave for around 30 minutes. Vacuum up any remaining baking soda and your carpets should be pretty fresh.
If a carpet has been wet for 72 hours or longer, consider replacing it and especially if it has added layers of padding underneath. Mold often takes no longer than 72 hours to form and spread, and can be difficult to clean thoroughly after that time.
Unattended wet carpet is prone to mold and mildew. When you leave moisture sitting in a warm, dark place, these toxins will invade your home – and once moisture and mold permeate a carpet pad, it's impossible to eradicate. Mold is incredibly toxic to humans and pets.
Mold will often grow under the carpet or within the carpet padding, making it difficult to diagnose. If there was a recent spill or flooding, then there is a high risk of mold growth. Mold can also grow in homes and rooms that experience high humidity.
In addition to cleaning, baking soda is also an effective deodorizer that absorbs moisture and smell. Apply a suitable amount of baking soda to the affected carpet or rug and leave it overnight or for 48 hours. This gives the baking soda time to get to work cleaning out your wet carpet.
A soaked carpet can trigger allergic reactions in some people with weakened immune systems like flu-like symptoms and respiratory problems. If you've recently experienced carpet water damage, it's important to take action immediately and get the water damage restored to avoid putting your health at risk.
The smell of mold is usually quite foul and unpleasant, and it grows stronger over time as the mold starts to spread and sporulate. “Musty” and “stale” are the most accurate descriptors of what mold smells like.
Because hydrogen peroxide is a natural antifungal, you can use it on pretty much any surface to stop and even eradicate mold. Combine about 3 percent hydrogen peroxide with water in a spray bottle, apply to the area, and leave for 10 minutes. Then scrub the mixture out and dry the area.
Use a vinegar and baking soda mixture. This might kill some mold, and it will help remove musty odors from the carpet.
Molds produce allergens, which are substances that can cause allergic reactions, as well as irritants and, in some cases, potentially toxic substances known as mycotoxins. Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
Even a small amount of water can cause damage if you let it sit for long enough. With carpet, it can be hard to notice that water has soaked into the floor. One of the first visible signs of carpet water damage is discoloration. If you notice any green, black, or white spots you may have water damage.
Carpet is prone to mold. It can easily grow in damp places, which is why your carpet can easily develop it. The problem has to be remedied as soon as possible because mold can spread quickly. It can sometimes be hard to tell whether you have mold because it can grow under the carpet.
Water damage has bubbles or peels in it that make it bumpy and loose, whereas mold growth is slimy, damp, and can smudge if touched.
Open windows – air flow can help to improve drying times and opening windows can help, unless it is very humid outside. Use floor fans – running floor fans in areas with damp carpet will help to move the humid air created by evaporation out of the space, and dry the carpet more quickly.