Yes, you should keep cleaning the carpet until the water is clear. This will ensure that your carpets are clean and free of dirt, dust, and other allergens. However, you should be careful not to scrub too hard or use too much water. Doing so can damage the carpet and lead to more stains in the future.
While moisture is necessary for a deep clean, a carpet that's still wet after several hours or days is a tell-tale sign of a poor job. The best course of action is to have your carpet cleaned by a trusted company with a truly fast-drying process.
Regardless of when the soaking occurred, once you know an issue exists you must take action to clean up the mess. Leaving wet carpet sitting risks not only damaging the carpet and the padding beneath, but risks damaging your subfloor as well. Unattended wet carpet is prone to mold and mildew.
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.
A wet carpet, if not dried immediately, can become problematic. Mold growth is just one of the many problems that can develop but can cause negative effects to your health. Besides mold growth, a wet carpet can stink up your home.
When water sits deep in the carpet pile and on the foam underpadding, and it is not dried as quickly as possible, it can lead to mold and mildew. Once mold and mildew begins to form, even though the foam and carpeting may dry out, when moisture gets back into the air, it can rejuvenate the mold and mildew.
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.
Carpets that still look dirty or have stains reappear after cleaning is a result of something called wicking. This is due to over wetting the carpet, the backing, and pad which causes them to return back to the surface once dry.
The fibers should feel soft and smell fresh. A clean carpet will also not have any signs of stains, mud, or contaminants. Clean carpets feel lighter and fluffier in hand once completely dry. In other words, a professionally well-cleaned carpet will feel as good as new.
Keep people and pets off newly cleaned carpets.
As much as possible, don't walk on the carpet until you're sure it's dried properly. Make sure your children know not to walk on the carpet, too, and keep pets away from the area while you're at it. Walking on the carpet may flatten fibers and increase drying time.
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.
You shouldn't need to make more than two passes with cleaning solution (especially if you pre-treated stains) when deep cleaning your carpet. Make additional passes without spray button pressed.
To keep your carpet looking and performing at its best, The Carpet and Rug Institute recommends having your carpet professionally deep-cleaned every 12 to 18 months.
You should clean your carpet at least every 12 months to remove dirt, grime, and allergens. However, this schedule can vary depending on several factors in your household. If you have children or pets, you might shampoo your carpets more regularly.
Detergent left in a carpet, serves as a magnet for new dirt. When finished shampooing, run a tank of clear water over the heavy cleaned areas (e.g. entrances and walkways). This will help remove excess shampoo and keep those areas cleaner for longer. It also helps to rinse out the shampoo from inside in the machine!
The biggest reason for smelly carpets after a cleaning is simple. Underneath your carpet is a layer of backing or padding. If that bottom layer gets wet and isn't dried properly, it can give off an odor. The good news is that as the backing or padding dries out, the sour smell should go away all on its own.
As the water slowly evaporates and the carpet dries, the residual soap and chemicals dry into the carpet fibers. It is this residue that gives the carpet a stiff, sticky, hard or "crunchy" texture. It is quite similar to how your hair would feel if you rubbed shampoo into it but did not properly rinse the shampoo out.
Itchy skin, rashes, athlete's foot, and eczema are all dirty carpet dangers that can be triggered or made worse by dust mites in unclean carpet. Even if you maintain a regular cleaning schedule, dust mites are small enough to evade the most diligent home cleaners.
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.
It can take around 24 hours for a carpet to completely dry, but this may vary depending on its thickness and the amount of water used in cleaning it.
Don't let water linger on carpet, even if it's just a little bit. Mold grows fast, and water can quickly soak through and damage the pad and subfloor.
Evaporation can only occur when the air surrounding your carpet is dry. Sometimes humid weather can slow the drying process, because the air has more moisture than the carpet.
Anything with fabric or upholstery needs frequent vacuuming. Dust settles deep into the fibers, holding onto pollutants, bacteria, and unwanted smells. Plan to vacuum carpet and area rugs at least twice per week, even if they don't look dirty.