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wet carpet, carpet	6 Mar 2009
Four Steps to Save Your Wet Carpet by David Beavers

When you are facing the problem of having a wet carpet, you have to fix the problem right away. While it is tempting to rely on professional carpet cleaners to do the job, there may not be enough time to wait for them to address the problem. After all, the occurrence of the causes of having a wet carpet is always unexpected. If the wet carpet is not treated immediately, you will be facing greater damage. The molds might spread and form mold colonies. When this happens, you will have to dispose of the damaged carpet and spend money on a new one. Thus, you have to take it upon yourself to save your wet carpet. Fortunately, you no longer need to remain in the dark. When you follow the tips below, saving your carpet will be as easy as S.A.V.E..

1. Be SAFE

Before starting off the cleanup of the wet carpet, make sure that you have the needed safety paraphernalia on.Use hand gloves to avoid any contact with carpets submerged in flood waters. As you may very well know, flooding causes the carpets to be stained with germs and bacteria. If you clean the carpet with bare hands, you will only be exposing yourself to various diseases. You can also wear a safety mask to avoid inhaling germs that may be transported through the air. It is very important to practice safety when cleaning your wet carpet. While attending to your house is critical, you should put a lot of premium on your health.

2. ASSESS

Assess the situation of your carpet. Check if most of the parts are wet. How you will proceed with the drying will depend on how damaged the wet carpet is.

If it has only been slightly wet by the unwanted waters, you can just leave it there to dry. If, however, it has been submerged, you have to do more extensive drying and cleaning.

3. VACUUM and air dry

Use a vacuum to remove the water in the carpet. Make sure that you vacuum extensively so that you are able to cover all the affected areas. If you have electric fans and dehumidifiers in your house, you can use these to dry the wet carpet fast. Make sure that the electric equipments are plugged in outlets which have not been affected by the water damage to avoid any electrocution.

Take off the carpet from the tacks so you can dry them outdoors. You can lay down the carpet in the driveway or the patio. Make sure that the carpet is laid down flat and free from wrinkles or waves so that when it dries, it is in its proper form. Look for a location where the carpet will be most exposed to the sun and wind. This will reduce the time required for drying the wet carpet.

4. EVALUATE

After the carpet has been completely dried, check for any potential growth of molds. Clean and deodorize the carpet if necessary. You can wash the carpet with detergent and disinfectant and repeat the drying process if you want it to be completely clean and germ-free.

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Dan

March 11, 2010

64.215.112.128

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Great tips on drying your wet carpet. Please ensure that the vacuum you use is a wet/dry vacuum like a shop vac - not a household vacuum otherwise your probably going to get a shock. Taking care of water damage is not something for the average do-it-yourselfer. You need to have the right expertise and equipment to perform it with any degree of confidence. If your carpets are wet, chances are you also have wet sheetrock/drywall which can lead to mold damage if not dried out correctly.

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