How to Care for Carpet After a Flood
- 1). If possible, pull the carpet up from the floor and move it to a dry location like a garage or driveway.
- 2). Use a wet/dry vacuum to suck up all the moisture in the carpet. If you do not own a wet/dry vacuum, many grocery stores rent them for a daily fee. When you are using the vacuum, make sure to empty the moisture reservoir frequently and to thoroughly vacuum every inch of the carpet until it is dry to the touch.
- 3). Spray the carpet down with disinfectant. Even if the carpet was only flooded for a few minutes, mold can occur. Regular household disinfectant does the job, but check the label to ensure that your product won't change the color of the carpet.
- 4). Set up dehumidifiers. Although the carpets may feel dry to the touch, there isl still likely be at least some moisture in the sub-floor, which can creep into your carpet. Set up at least one dehumidifier for each 10 square feet of carpet and leave them running for several hours. If the carpet is still dry after 24 hours, you can turn off the dehumidifiers.
- 5). Keep an eye on the carpet. Check it daily for moisture and clear up any wet spots with a wet/dry vacuum immediately. If you smell mold, make sure to disinfect immediately.
