Healthy Carpets uses hot water extraction, also referred to as steam cleaning, is one of the most effective ways of cleaning any carpet. The cleaning method relies on using pressurized hot water to rinse the carpet, removing all foreign and cleaning agents from its crevices.
Once the cleaning process is completed, it can take up to 12 hours for the carpet to dry. However, wet carpets can take longer to dry if the room is hampered by poor circulation, is humid, or has cold drafts. In that case, the fastest way to dry carpets is to use one of the methods we discuss below or better yet, use a combination of these methods.
Turn On The Fans
One of the easiest and fastest ways to get the drying process started is to turn on all the fans in the room. This will help to dry the carpet faster. If the room does not have any ceiling fans, then any other type of fan should work too. Though ideally, we’d recommend using those high-powered oscillating fans.
Open All The Windows
Opening windows is another very easy way to get all the air in the room to circulate. However, if it is cold and humid outside, this approach can be counterproductive. Though this will work great on hot and dry days since the weather can dry the carpet faster.
Dry Carpet After Cleaning
For maximum mold and mildew prevention, it’s vitally important to allow carpets to air-dry completely after being professionally cleaned. While wet carpets will eventually dry on their own, homeowners can hasten the process with these tips on how to dry carpet quickly.
Open Windows And Doors
Opening Windows and Doors in Your Home can help circulate fresh air throughout the carpeted room, helping it dry faster while eliminating musky smells. By opening curtains and shades to allow sunlight into the room, this can speed up drying processes even faster.
Set Up Fans
Switch on all fans in the house, including ceiling, floor and bathroom vent fans. Doing this can improve airflow which in turn speeds up carpet drying time. Renting industrial floor fans and blowers may further accelerate this process; make sure these high-powered devices are pointed directly at carpet. One room should dry within 30 min with this technique!
Use Air Conditioning
As an alternative to fans, air conditioners offer another effective means of moving air that can help remove moisture and dry out carpets more quickly in warmer months when opening windows isn’t comfortable.
Turn up the heat
Though this goes against tip #1, increasing the temperature can be beneficial during cooler months to encourage evaporation which helps your carpet dry faster. Increase it by at least three degrees to accelerate this process.
Use A Dehumidifier
Dehumidifiers. An efficient way of hastening the drying process is with one or two dehumidifiers. Dehumidifiers reduce moisture, helping your carpet dry faster. Just be wary if running them with windows open as this may compromise their effectiveness and compromise drying efforts.
Using a dehumidifier for wet carpets can help you get them back to normal quickly and effectively. The machine pulls water from the carpet and the pad beneath it, which will help prevent the growth of mold. The drying process usually takes a couple of hours. A dehumidifier can also be helpful when you need to remove excess moisture from a carpet after cleaning it. However, larger dehumidifiers are more effective at drying carpets than smaller ones. But the dehumidifier can be coupled with open windows and a fan to speed through the drying process.
Using A Vacuum To Dry A Wet Carpet
The process of using a vacuum to dry a wet carpet should be done carefully. Most household vacuums don’t have enough suction to handle water and dirt, so using it to dry a wet carpet is unwise. However, commercial vacuums are capable of sucking water out of the carpet, leaving it dry.
You can rent a commercial vacuum from a company like Home Depot. However, you need to be trained to use the vacuum because incorrectly using it can ruin your carpet fibers.
Final Word
Generally, if you hire a company to wash or clean your carpet, they will also dry it. Most commercial carpet cleaning services using high-quality machines can dry carpets in a matter of minutes. That said, if you’ve attempted to wash your carpet, using any one of the methods above should help you dry it sooner than what is otherwise possible.
So, how long should it take for carpets to dry after cleaning? Generally, depending on how damp the carpet is, you are looking at may be up to 12 hours, if not more. Thicker carpets absorb more water and will consequently take longer to dry. Healthy Carpets also offers a 24/7 water restoration services in the Ann Arbor Michigan area.
