The majority of carpets should be dry if left for 24 hours if the temperature and air is right. If the carpet is wet for more than two days, it may develop mould, mildew, and bacteria, so it's best to do everything you can to speed up the drying process.
Your carpet will be only slightly damp to the touch after your cleaning. Most carpets typically need 6-10 hours to dry completely. However, it could take up to 24 hours to dry depending on the time of year your carpets are cleaned, and the air circulation, humidity and temperature in your home.
In most cases, you can leave the carpet to its own devices, and it'll dry on its own time. For carpets cleaned using the hot water extraction (or steam) method, it typically takes 6 to 12 hours. Those that used dry cleaning can take anywhere between 2 to 4 hours.
If it was soaked with clean water and it can be completely dried (meaning the carpet and the flooring underneath) within 48 hours, you may be able to clean and reinstall it. If it has been longer than 48 hours, regardless of the source of the water, general EPA/FEMA/CDC guidelines recommend removal and replacement.
Although it's tempting, it's not advised to just ignore wet carpet stains as they will damage the carpet and padding underneath, create an unsightly stain and encourage the growth of mould. If left, mould can taint your homes air supply increasing the likeliness of illness.
Soaked carpets can cause numerous respiratory problems
The more severe the carpet water damage is, the greater your exposure to mould spores. This can lead to several respiratory complications such as emphysema, asthma, tuberculosis, and even cystic fibrosis.
If you notice carpet is wet or that it smells musty, that's a good sign you are dealing with mold or bacteria. As mold or bacteria grows, you may begin to see it in your home or business. Look for unusual black, white or green splotches or discolored patches.
Once you've removed the water and set up your drying procedure, leave the carpet alone for at least 10 hours. It will take a long time for the moisture to leave, and even if you think the room looks dry, there could still be lingering wetness that will lead to mold growth and foul odors.
Place fans and dehumidifiers in the room to help circulate the air and assist with evaporation. It's best to check back every few hours to reposition the fans. If the water damage is minimal, you can speed up the drying process with the use of a hairdryer.
It's really straightforward – all you need to do is sprinkle a generous among of baking soda over your wet carpet and let it sit. The baking soda not only absorbs moisture, but it'll also absorb any nasty odours.
Open the Windows
Ultimately, opening the windows will indeed help reduce the drying time. That's because you'll have fresh air moving through the room. Just make sure that you open one or two windows at the opposite ends of the room to get a breeze going and improve the airflow.
If you walk on it (especially on the heavy tread areas that take a pile-beating anyway), the damp pile gets flattened back down and may dry that way, which kind of defeats the objective of making it all lovely and fluffy again.
If you walk on it too soon you can track dirt and odors into the wet carpet which will defeat the purpose of the cleaning in the first place. With it being wet, it can allow for dirt to go deep inside the fibers as well as on top making it hard to clean for the next time you need a carpet cleaning.
Faster Drying Time
Despite the heat of the warmer months, your carpet will actually dry faster in the colder temperatures. When the air is cold and dry outside, the warmed air inside your home will absorb moisture at a faster rate.
Moisture equalizes quite readily. Adding Heat: If the outside air is cold (below 50°F), ventilating and heating the air quickly dries the carpet. Proper Use of A/C: If it's hot, the A/C unit cools the air and removes some water.
After the cleaning process is complete, the carpet typically takes 6 to 12 hours to dry. But wet carpet will take longer to dry in rooms with poor circulation, cold air, or high levels of humidity.
Will wet carpet smell go away? Not unless you do something about it! You can temporarily quell the smell with bleach and baking soda, but to cut it at the source, you need professional-grade equipment or full carpet replacement.
Only Vacuum a Dry Carpet
If you vacuum a wet carpet, dirty water could enter the motor and cause damage to it. In severe cases where the carpet is too wet, you could even risk electrocution. Even in a mild scenario, you'd still end up with a soggy mess to deal with when you eventually empty the dust bag.
We do recommend you turn on your heating if the temperature is below 20 degrees as this will speed up the carpet dry time. In most cases your carpet will be dry within 3-5 hours in winter.
How wet your carpet got after water exposure: Usually, flooded carpets take about three to five days to dry up, while partially wet carpets may take 12 to 24 hours. The carpet type: Woolen carpets take longer to dry than synthetics, Berber, and other types of carpets.
Use a vinegar and baking soda mixture. This might kill some mold, and it will help remove musty odors from the carpet.
Many home improvement stores offer commercial sized fans and wet-dry vacuum rentals. Keep circulating air on the carpets for 24 hours a day for up to a week to ensure the carpets are fully dry. Dehumidifiers can also be helpful to remove excess moisture from the air and lower the temperature in a room.
It takes only 24 to 48 hours for mold to grow. Which is why it's so important to address wet carpet and flooding immediately.
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.