A stack of carpet patches dripping water.

Credit: U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jonathan Snyder (source)

Maybe you’ve had a pipe burst. Maybe ice dams have caused a slow leak into your basement. Maybe an aquarium got knocked over. Maybe heavy rains have caused flash flooding. No matter what the cause, if you’ve got a waterlogged carpet, it’s time to act fast!

Water soaked carpets become water-damaged carpets in the blink of an eye—and water-damaged carpets need to be replaced ASAP. The alternative is bad odors, mold, and even damage to the house itself.

So how can you deal with wet, flooded carpets or other water damage? Keep reading to find out.

Remove as Much Water as Possible, as Quickly as Possible

Getting up as much excess water as possible is critical. Towels and other absorbent fabrics might do the trick, but in most cases, a wet/dry vacuum is what you really need. Don’t have one handy? They can be rented at many appliance rental stores.

Finish Drying Out the Room with Fans and Dehumidifiers

Once you’ve done the heavy lifting in terms of picking up excess water, finish drying the room by placing fans to help circulate air, and dehumidifiers, which remove excessive moisture from the air. This will help inhibit mold growth.

Steam Clean the Carpet

carpet water damage restoration ct

Even if you’ve done the best job possible drying out the carpet, flood waters likely brought with them dirt, dust, and other debris. Professional steam cleaning is necessary to make sure your carpet is at its best. (You can rent a steam cleaner, but most experts recommend hiring a professional.)

Clean Walls, Baseboards, and Furniture

It’s not just carpeting that gets damaged by floodwaters. Walls, baseboards, and furniture are at risk as well. Clean each as well as possible, with bleach if you can. This will further prevent mold growth. Depending on the extent of the furniture damage, professional upholstery cleaning may be advisable.

Hire a Professional

As with many things in life, when it comes to dealing with water damage is often something that’s best left to the professionals.

If you’re in Connecticut, call Always Clean LLC. A professional carpet and upholstery cleaning company serving New London, Middlesex, and New Haven Counties, Always Clean LLC specializes in water damage cleaning and more.

Get in touch to make an appointment for service today!