Twip of the Day – Drying Out a Wet Basement Carpet

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When you find that your basement is soaked, no matter what the cause, it is a hassle. One of the most vulnerable, and often affected places is the basement carpet. Carpet that has become wet must be dried out within 48 hours, or mold will begin to grow. If you need to clean a carpet that has become wet, then follow our guide, or call DryPatrol today!

Whether your entire basement is soaked, or it just has a few damp spots, you must determine exactly what areas of your basement have been damaged. Examine your carpet carefully for mold or mildew, even if the carpet is only damp.

Call for some help. DryPatrol is the reputable name in water restoration and mold remediation. You can also enlist the help of friends or family members to help you cleanup your basement, which is most often a job too big to handle on your own.

Before doing any drying, move all furniture to the dry side of the room, or just off the carpet. This is because you’ll need to pull the carpet up, unless you enlist professional help.

If you find items that have been damaged (such as newspaper, magazines, books, toys, etc) then you need to get rid of them. You won’t want to take the chance that flood waters contaminated them. If you think some of your possessions might be salvageable, have them cleaned professionally. Mold or mildew may have begun to grow on them, depending on when you caught the dampness, and will have to be discarded.

Next, you should focus on getting rid of the water. Pull up as much as possible with sponges, or rags. If there is a high-degree of flooding then you’ll need to rent a vacuum specifically designed to pull water from your floor.

You will need to pull up any areas of carpeting that have been soaked or are wet. You’ll also need to pull up the padding if that is wet. If possible, move your entire wet carpet outside or a well-ventilated space. Make a tent out of your carpet, so dry air will reach both top and bottom layers and dry it more thoroughly.

Once the carpet and padding have been hung and completely dried, lay them on the floor. You will need professional carpet cleaning help to be sure your carpet is as clean as possible. Mar-flex recommends DryPatrol!