How to Dry Carpet After a Flood

Remove Excess Moisture with a Wet Vac

First, it's important to remove all water from the floor. The best way to do this is using a wet vac. These tools are specifically designed to suction and hold large amounts of water. Using a different appliance could not only backfire, but might put you or loved ones at risk of electrocution. If you have standing water and you feel it is dangerous to walk around the room, you might want to consider hiring professionals who have the specialized equipment and experience needed to get the water safely out of your home.

Increase the Air Circulation in the Room

Once the excess water has been removed, you'll want to reduce the moisture in the room by increasing air circulation. Open the windows, turn on fans and keep the air moving. This can help you avoid musty odors and will assist in drying out the carpets faster.

Remove Carpet Padding if Necessary

If you've suffered a bad flood, then there's a good chance your carpets padding is ruined. Don't skip this step because you're afraid of what you'll find. If you clean the carpets but the padding is left soggy, you'll develop severe mold problems, which can cause allergies and illnesses for those living in the house.

Steam Clean to Sanitize

After you're certain the padding and carpet has been completely dried out, you might consider steaming the carpet as well to remove bacteria, mold and unsightly stains that developed because of the flooding.

Thoroughly Clean All Surfaces

If mold has already begun to develop, spores could be present on the walls, countertops, cabinets and other surfaces. Be sure to sanitize everything in the room so there's no chance of mold forming.

Don't Forget the Furniture