Water Damage

Water is the source of life. But when it comes to your carpets, water can damage them to the point beyond repair. A little amount of water from a clean source that can be identified within a short period of time can be cleaned without a problem. But if water is left with no treatment then your carpets might be subject to mold that will not only cause an unpleasant smell but can also damage the back lining of your carpets so that you have to replace it.
Calling a professional to help with cleaning water damage will depend on the cleanliness of the water source and how soaked up your carpets and rugs are. If the water comes from a dirty or contaminated source, it might contain organisms that can cause a lot of health problems.

Different types of water contamination
Water can be classified into three categories. White water is clean water that comes from a broken water pipe. Gray water might contain some chemicals from a washing machine or an aquarium. Black water is the most dangerous kind of all. This is heavily contaminated and will cause a lot of damage to your carpets and rugs. This will include flooding from seawater or rivers. Gray water and black water are better left to the professionals while white water can be handled at home if you can identify and fix the source within the first 48 hours.

Best water damage tips

• Carpets and rugs that have been subject to black water contamination must be disposed at once. The cost of cleaning and restoring these carpets might exceed the cost of a new carpet. At the same time, cleaning those carpets of all the harmful organisms might seem impossible.
• Professionals use biocide to clean gray water contamination. Hot water extraction is another way to help restore valuable carpets and rugs. But if the contamination hasn’t been handled fast enough, it might be better to replace your carpets.
• If your carpets have been contaminated by rain water, then it is advised to remove them and let the floor underneath them dry first. This will limit the amount of moisture your carpet is subject to. If your carpet in installed with track strips, they can be easily removed and left to dry. Replace the padding if it has been heavily saturated.
• Use a wet vacuum to clean white water damage. If you don’t have one, you can rent one from a carpet cleaning company.
• Use fans and air conditioners to speed up the drying process as this will prevent mold formation and will keep your carpets clean and sanitary. Keep the fans working as long as you can to make sure that all the moisture is dry.
• Steam cleaning is a great way to sanitize your wet carpets. Although you might need to replace the padding, the cost is a lot less than having to replace all your carpets and rugs.