A wet rug is a pain to clean and a dangerous item to have lying around the house. Moisture is known to make allergies flare, impact indoor air quality, and turn your rug into a tinderbox around electrical appliances. So, when dealing with a water damaged rug, the important thing to remember is to act fast.
Wondering where to begin? Here’s a quick guide.
How to Clean a Soaked Carpet: First Steps
The first moments after discovering the damage are crucial. By handling the situation properly from the start, you give a professional rug cleaner in Los Angeles the best chance of fully restoring your rug. Start by focusing on these three essential steps:
- Step One: Unplug all electrical appliances. Water is a very good conductor of electricity. Water damage, whether from rain, a spill, or otherwise, increases the risk of electrical shocks or sparking an electrical fire.
- Step Two: Maximize the airflow in the room. This could involve opening a window or setting up a fan. The goal is not to dry the rug entirely, but help clear the air and speed up the process. A dehumidifier can also be effective.
- Step Three: Carefully lift the rug from the ground slightly to ensure the bottom isn’t entirely soaked and stuck to the ground. This could seriously damage your floors, which will require expensive renovations later.
Once these three steps have been followed, take a step back from the damaged rug, and call the professionals. Any attempts to clean or restore the carpet beyond this point require expertise and, experience.
Why Water Damaged Rugs Need Professional Cleaning
Many online guides will offer you a list of DIY solutions for rug cleaning from water damage, but these tips carry risks and caveats that are rarely advertised.
For instance, did you know?
- Vacuuming a rug in the wrong direction for even a second can cause pile damage.
- Folding or wrapping up a rug while it’s still wet can damage fibers, make the colors bleed, and worsen stains.
- Using harsh cleaning materials can ruin your rug’s fibers permanently.
- Drying with a fan or open window will only help remove moisture from the surface, and ignore all the dampness collected deep in the fibers.
Despite these risks, we’ve seen many homeowners use these methods for antique or Oriental rug water damage restoration. We do not recommend this, as these materials are incredibly delicate and a lot more vulnerable to water damage.
How Experts Clean and Restore Damaged Rugs
A professional rug cleaner, by contrast, takes a more focused approach to carpet water damage restoration. As a result, our rug cleaning process is more effective at reducing the immediate impact of water damage, as well as preventing long-term consequences.
Here are some ways we fix area rug water damage:
Expert Cleaning
Unless you’re absolutely certain that the water that damaged your carpet was 100% bacteria-free, you will need a deep clean. At our facility, each rug is thoroughly washed and dried to ensure no bacteria, mold, or mildew settles into the fibers.
Rug cleaning after water damage can also be tricky since moisture makes colors bleed, and attacks delicate fibers fast. When you opt for our rug cleaning in Los Angeles, you can rest easy knowing we’re using the right tools and knowledge to stop the spread.
Restoration
Another benefit of working with the professionals is that we won’t stop at cleaning. A member of our team will inspect the damage closely before coming up with a flooded carpet restoration plan. We can remove even the most stubborn stains, as well as conduct extensive color correction. These services are particularly useful when dealing with Oriental rug water damage or wool rug water damage.
Prevention
Once your rug is fixed and its shine has been restored, our team can help you install a number of precautionary measures to prevent further damage. Key among these are rug pads — thin cushioned layers that lie between your rug and the floor. Waterproof padding blocks moisture from soaking the floors, and allows for more airflow.
The Risks of Owning a Water Damaged Rug
A professional will never advise dealing with water damage on your own. One reason is that DIY hacks are not always effective. But beyond that, the risks of improper rug cleaning after water damage are just too high. Moisture has a tendency to destroy most household items and pose a significant health risk.
Here’s an overview of just some of the threats of ignoring water damaged rugs:
Respiratory Illnesses
Mold and mildew are two substances no homeowner ever wants to come face-to-face with. But water damaged rugs are notoriously hotbeds for fungi and bacteria. It’s important to act fast because it can take less than 24 hours for mold and bacteria to start growing. The spores released can seriously impact your respiratory system, particularly affecting residents who suffer from chronic illnesses like asthma or bronchitis. Spores can also trigger a multitude of allergies, leading to heavy coughing and sneezing fits.
Skin Irritation
Mold and mildew spores also affect the skin. In some cases, it triggers allergic reactions in the form of eczema or hives. In many others, it can simply cause itching and swelling, which may require medical intervention to resolve.
Pest Infestations
Rug cleaning after water damage should never be taken lightly. Even a little lingering dampness can foster an environment where bacteria thrive. Beyond that, it also provides a suitable climate for pests — mites, fleas, spiders, or other insects. Leave it unattended for too long, and you might need an appointment for rug repair in Los Angeles instead.
Unpleasant Smells
The smell of mold and mildew can fill up a room in minutes, but linger for weeks. It’s a particularly foul smell that’s hard to eliminate without multiple rounds of shampooing and deodorizing. Plus, once you get used to the smell of mold, you tend to not notice it — meaning your home could have a damp smell for a while without your knowledge.
Fix a Water Damaged Rug the Easy Way
The next time your rug is damaged by rainwater, or a big spill, don’t panic. Simply give us a call. The Thomas Rug Cleaning team has helped several homeowners protect their rugs with our carpet water damage restoration services.
To learn more about our antique rug water damage restoration process, or make an appointment for area rug water damage restoration, give us a call. We even offer a rug pickup and delivery service to make fixing extensive damage easier than ever.
