What You Should Do if You Have Damp Carpet

A damp carpet can be more than a nuisance; it can cause a handful of other problems. Wet or damp carpets are the perfect breeding ground for fungus, including mold. Mold will live and feed on damp carpet causing unsightly stains, a musty odor and the potential for health problems in all who are exposed to it and its spores. You should deal with a damp carpet as soon as possible to prevent further damage.

Damp carpets are not only unsightly, but are a serious danger to your health. Left too long, a damp carpet will grow fungus, mould and bacteria. Yuck. When you spot damp in your carpet, you need to clean it as soon as possible. A damp carpet is the perfect home for fungus and bacteria.

In winter, when damp areas are more likely to appear, it might be worth doing a damp check around your house every couple of weeks. Damp carpets are most likely to appear under a faulty radiator, in the cellar or next to a window that wasn’t closed properly before heavy rain. When you spot damp – or worse, mould – on your carpet it’s time to swing into action.

There are a couple of options for dealing with damp carpets. Of course, you can contact a professional carpet steam-cleaning company, who will remove the damp, get rid of any stains and leave the carpet bacteria- and mould-free, looking clean and damp free so that you don’t have to worry about any further problems.

If you don’t have professional steam-cleaning as an option, you will need to do something yourself as soon as you see the damp.

If you have a wet vacuum, go over the damp spot to take out as much of the moisture as possible. If you don’t have a wet vacuum, dab the damp area with towels until it’s feeling a little drier.

Basic Steps:

Remove as much water from the damp carpet as possible using a wet vacuum. Work in small sections at a time.

Create a cleaning solution by filling a bucket with 1 pint of warm water, 1 tbsp. of distilled white vinegar and ¼ cup of laundry detergent that does not contain bleach.

Submerge a scrub brush into the suds and begin to scrub the carpet in a back-and-forth motion. Start at the area farthest away from the entrance and work toward it.

Allow the carpet to air dry thoroughly. Point fans in the direction of the carpet and--if on a warm, sunny day--open doors and windows to help the drying process.

Use a dehumidifier in the room with the damp carpet. Mold spores thrive in damp areas and can easily begin to grow and spread on damp carpet. Using a dehumidifier will take the moisture out of the air and inhibit mold growth.

Vacuum the carpet thoroughly when it is completely dry.

For more discussion of this topic, check the link below: