Picture this; you're driving home after a long day in the office, rain is bucketing down, almost heavy enough to break your windscreen – and all you can think of is getting home, cozying up on the couch with a warm cup of tea. But just as you've finally rolled into your driveway, and opened your front door, your heart sinks as you find your home isn't as dry as you expected. Water has managed to seep into the roof, run down the walls, and soak into your beautiful carpets. And you can't quite get away from that damp smell of the sodden floor. Not ideal, but the sooner you act on drying your carpets out, the more you'll be able to prevent that smell and water damage from getting worse.
Now of course we are just a phone call away from bringing our professional drying equipment and a team around, but while you wait for us to get to yours, we have some handy tips on what you can do to begin the flood restoration process.
With removing water from the carpet, it's best to act fast and thoroughly. If the flood or water damage is still pretty fresh, and you can see water sitting on the carpet, your first step is to remove that excess water. If you have a wet/dry vacuum handy, get it going and try to remove as much of the water as possible. Of course, a squeegee is an alternative option if you don't have a wet/dry vacuum, this just demands a bit more manpower – but hey if you're feeling up to the challenge then go for it!
When it comes to an enclosed space soaked with water, your damp home and carpets will be craving some airflow to begin drying. Open up all your doors and windows (where appropriate if there's still heavy rain). If you've got fans in the house, set these up and get them circulating air throughout. And of course, a dehumidifier is ideal to set up in the room/s with affected carpet – those things are designed to suck water out of the air!
After letting your carpet dry out, it’s time to give it a clean. If you have a steam cleaner or carpet cleaner, whip that out and thoroughly go over your carpet – following the manufacturer's instructions. Or call JAE to get your carpet cleaned.
If at this point you can still smell that damp odour emitting from the carpet, and you've got some baking soda in the pantry – this can help. Generously sprinkle the baking soda over the carpet, and leave it to absorb any remaining odour overnight. Then bring out your vacuum cleaner to remove the dry baking soda from the carpet.
Still, smelling damp carpet? You could always try using an odour neutraliser, specifically for carpets. If you don't have this already you can check out your local DIY Home store, or even pet stores. Follow the product instructions for usage.
If you've tried all you can to DIY your wet carpet, and you're getting to your wit's end – have no fear, the flood restoration and carpet cleaning experts are here! Get in touch with our friendly team and we'll find a time that suits you to bring our innovative drying equipment to get you back to that warm and cozy home.
If you need professional flood restoration services, you can find your local JAE branch and contact us to know more.
If you are affected by the recent flooding, check out our posts on How to Prepare for a Flood and What to Do in a Flood for more information on how to keep you and your loved ones safe.
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