You are running against time if you face flood-related issues on your property. Do you have carpet flooring? It is time to dry the area as early as possible, but there is no easy cleanup process. Whether you are a residential or commercial property owner, you have to follow some basic steps to deal with this issue properly. In this article, you will learn a step-by-step process of carpet cleaning that helps you to restore the area. The following process may take up to two days to complete. However, getting the help of a carpet cleaning service in your locality is always better to get rid of all these headaches. It is a matter of your life and property. Do not take it lightly!
What You Will Need
You will need the following things to conduct the process:
- Wet/ dry vacuum
- Towels or microfiber cloths
- Antibacterial carpet sanitizer
- Fans, blowers
- Baking soda
- Dehumidifier
6 Steps of Carpet Cleaning after a Flood
Step 1: Find the Water Source
You may feel perplexed after facing such a catastrophe, but you have to be confident and start cleaning as early as possible to avoid further damage. The Mould starts to grow if the carpets remain damp for more than 24 hours, especially after black water damage. Now, what is black water? If you do not want to get the help of an expert, you must have a clear idea about the categories of water. According to IICRC, there are three categories of water.
Clean Water
It is the water from faucets and busted pipes that do not mix with contaminants. It is safe and can be reused in the backyard.
Grey Water
As the name suggests, it contains chemicals. Water from washing machines and kitchen pipes is the source of greywater.
Black Water
It is the most dangerous category of water. Sewage backflow, toilet backflow, and flood water are the sources of black water. If you face black water flooding, do not conduct any cleaning process because it is unsafe for humans. Minimum exposure to this gas can be deadly. You should consult with a professional carpet cleaning service provider; they apply advanced equipment and proper safety measures to conduct the cleaning process on your property.
It means the first step would be to assess the condition of the damage and find out the water source (for this article, it is flood water). Now you have to build a barrier to prevent water flow into your premises.
Step 2: Document Your Household Damage
Do not forget this step because it helps to claim insurance after restoration. For this, you have to use your smartphone/ video camera to document the household damage. It will work as evidence of the catastrophe. It makes the policy claiming process easier. Besides that, you should consult with your insurance agent to let him know about the incident. Do you know that if you hire professionals, they also complete this documentation before conducting their restoration process? It helps the insurance provider with more details to understand the extent of the damage.
Step 3: Start Carpet Cleaning and Water Extraction Process
It is always better to consult with an expert before starting the carpet cleaning or extraction process because it needs expertise, knowledge and skill to conduct the process safely. Otherwise, it may deteriorate the quality of carpet fabric.
If it is clean water, you can easily start the water extraction process by renting a wet/dry vacuum from the nearest store. You can also conduct different troubleshooting measures such as mopping up the water using a dry cloth and air drying the area using fans and blowers.
In the case of grey or black water (flood water), you should get the help of professionals. They come with advanced equipment and certified ingredients to properly clean and sanitize the affected area. In case of severe damage, they use truck-mounted machines to extract standing water from the floor. After that, they use fans, blowers and dehumidifiers to dry the area quickly.
If you do the process alone, you have to rent/ buy hot water extraction machines and vacuum cleaners. Do you know that regular vacuum cleaners and HWE machines differ from professional ones? Service providers use industry-grade equipment that covers a large area quickly. It is mainly used on commercial premises.
Step 4: Complete the Drying Process
The combination of dry towels and a wet/dry vacuum is the best option for a homemaker to complete the drying process. It also helps to reach the tough areas of your premises. On the other hand, a carpet cleaning service provider has a dedicated team to complete the drying process. Besides wet/dry vacuum, they also use industry-grade dehumidifiers and moisture detector tools to find dampness in your premises.
Please remember to extract water from the padding. Many homemakers forget to dry the padding, which leads to foul smells and mould growth. Professionals separate the spongy designed part because it can be the breeding ground for mould and mildew, which also poses health risks.
Step 5: Apply Sanitizer after Drying
After a few hours of drying, you have to apply a certified sanitiser to kill the germs and remove the foul smell. You can use baking soda as a home remedy. If you want to use baking soda, you have to prepare a paste using two tablespoons of baking soda, water and vinegar. After that, use a microfiber cloth or white paper towel to rub the area gently with this paste. Sodium bicarbonate is very effective against stains, germs and foul smells. You can also buy regular antibacterial carpet solutions from the market and apply them as directed on the package.
However, if you hire a professional carpet cleaning team, they use certified chemicals instead of these DIY solutions. They have years of experience in finding appropriate chemical-based solutions depending on the severity of damage, temperature, fabric, material, colour and texture of the carpets.
Step 6: Monitoring
Many homemakers neglect this important step. Monitoring is essential after completing the previous five steps because it ensures better cleaning quality. You can use a dehumidifier to remove the remaining moisture from the area. Please remember that it is not an easy task because you have to check the basement, walls, furniture and all the corners of your property to extract moisture and dampness. That is why professionals use a moisture detector tool that helps them to complete the task within a few hours.
After that, you may find foul smells in some areas. In that case, you can sprinkle baking soda on the affected area and wait for a few days. If you want any specific solutions or face a major issue, you can consult with a service provider.
Some of the Questions that you want Answer: –
When Should You Hire a Carpet Cleaning Service Provider?
You should hire a service provider in case of grey and black water damage. In case of clean water damage, you can air dry it or apply other DIYs. However, many people have the wrong concepts about DIYs. They use home remedies as an affordable alternative, not as an ‘effective’ alternative. They do not know that DIYs clean your carpet from the surface level. However, professional carpet cleaning teams use certified ingredients which are suitable for deep cleaning. Most homemakers consult with an expert only when there are no DIY options left.
Indeed, you can apply DIYs for minor damages such as stains and dark spots. It is better to consult with an expert if you face any flood-related issues that damage your property and floors. They also help you to find proper evidence for insurance claims.
Professional carpet cleaning should be the primary choice for commercial premises because they can restore your property quickly to set up your business again. If you try DIYs for your commercial premises (most owners do not apply DIYs), it only reduces your business revenue for that week.
Can the Carpet be Cleaned after Water Damage?
Carpets can be cleaned after water damage with the help of carpet cleaning and restoration services. If you call the professionals, they will arrive at your location and assess the situation properly. They also analyze the risk associated with the task if it is caused by black or grey water. After that, they used advanced equipment and certified chemicals based on the condition of the carpets.
Do you want a home remedy for this problem? In minor or clean water damage, you can easily clean the carpets using dishwashing soap. You have to prepare a solution using dishwashing soap and warm water. Please remember to conduct the process in a well-ventilated area. Clean the carpets using a microfiber cloth. After that, air-dry it properly. You can also accelerate the drying process using fans and blowers.
It is a simple solution for minor damage. However, if you want a better cleaning outcome, you have to separate the pads of the carpets and clean them using a similar solution. After that, attach them after drying the paddings.
What to Do If Your Carpet Gets Wet during a Storm?
When your carpets get wet during a storm, the first step would be to prepare a barrier to control water flow. If you get a timely alert from the weather department about storms and floods, then you have to remove the carpets to keep them safe at the time of flooding.
If your carpets get wet, you should consult with a professional carpet cleaning expert to restore them to their original state. During stormy weather, you cannot open the doors and windows to maintain proper ventilation, but you can keep your family members safe until the restoration team arrives at your locality.
Can I Clean the Carpets Using DIYs after Sewage Backflow?
Sewage water is category-III black water that contains chemicals and toxic gases. Many people try to apply DIYs even after black water damage, but you can do this at your own risk if you have proper equipment, knowledge and skills. Please remember that minimum exposure to these gases and chemicals may lead to serious health issues, even death.
If you apply DIY, it only cleans the carpets from the surface level, which leads to mould growth and dampness after a few weeks. Regular home remedies soak the black water and remove stains from the fabric level, but they cannot eliminate germs and chemicals from the deep layer of the carpets. It is better to consult with a carpet cleaning expert before starting the process after sewage backflow. Specialists use protective gear, advanced equipment and certified eco-friendly ingredients to deal with the situation.
Should You Clean or Replace Your Carpets after a Flood?
You should not replace your carpet after a flood if you hire a professional carpet cleaning service provider in your locality. Most of the experts are experienced and certified to conduct the process properly, which ensures better outcomes. Many service providers claim to restore your carpets to their original state with their services. It is true that carpet cleaning is a tough task and needs to be done by a professional. Still, many people try to clean it without proper tools and ingredients, which further deteriorates the quality. As a result, even experts cannot restore the carpet. That is why if you face flood damage and need quick restoration, you should take the help of an expert at the earliest.
Who Do You Call for Carpet Drying after a Flood?
In severe cases, you should call an expert for carpet drying after a flood. Clean Sleep is a reputed and reliable service provider in Australia. You can call us for eco-friendly professional carpet cleaning services in your locality. We are available in Canberra, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, and Hobart. If you need urgent same-day carpet cleaning services, please feel free to call us directly on +61 482 078 746. Our experts are available 24/7 to offer services anytime, anywhere. We are also open on weekends and public holidays. Book an appointment now. Our experts will reach your location within one hour of confirmed booking.
