How to Dry Water From a Carpet

Carpeting can get wet in many different ways. A leaky roof, broken pipe, faulty water heater, backed up toilet, overflowing septic tank or a flood can all soak your floor. Different kinds of water require different types of treatment. In some cases, such as with septic overflow or flooding from a river or stream, the carpet should be removed and discarded. There are too many health hazards involved to try to dry out such contaminated water. Other times, though, a carpet can be saved if you can get it dried out quickly and thoroughly.

Wet-dry vacuum
Sturdy clothesline
Large fan
Dehumidifiers

Instructions

- 1
  Determine what type of water is on your carpet. In the case of contaminated water from flooding or septic backup, do not try to dry the carpet. It must be removed and thrown away. In most other cases it is safe to proceed.
- 2
  Check to see how much of the carpet is wet. If it is just one area, you can dry it out without removing it. If all or most of the carpet is soaked, it should be removed in order to dry it.
- 3
  Remove any furniture from the carpet as quickly as possible. Vacuum the carpet with a wet-dry vacuum cleaner (a vacuum, usually canister-style, that can pick up liquids as well as solids). Use it to get as much water off of the carpet as possible. Note that wet-dry vacuums can be purchased at discount stores or home centers as well as online.
- 4
  Pull up the carpet if possible. Carpets that have been laid with tack strips can easily be lifted and taken outside. If you can remove the carpet, hang it on a clothesline, rinse it with a hose and leave it to dry.
- 5
  Dry any carpets that cannot be removed by blowing air across them. Also place some dehumidifiers in the room. If it is cold, also warm the room with your furnace or a space heater. This method does not work as well as removing the carpet, but it can be done. It may take longer to accomplish.

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