How to Clean Up Carpet Water Damage

Decide whether the carpet is worth saving. If it's been soaked with contaminated water that contains sewage or harmful chemicals, the health risk may be too great to bother keeping it. If it's been wet for more than 48 hours in warm weather or more than 72 hours in cool weather, the carpet may already be starting to mold. In those cases, the safest and simplest approach is to take it out while wearing protective clothing and discard it. If your home is insured, take photos first and contact your insurance company to see if it will cover the water damage and replace the carpet.

Dry the carpet as quickly as possible if you've decided it's worth saving and the water-damaged area is small or only slightly damp, or if the carpet is impossible to take outside.

Remove as much furniture as you can and try not to walk on the carpet more than necessary to avoid damaging it while it's drying.

Set fans to blow over the carpeting and remove moisture from the room with a dehumidifier. Additionally, vacuum excess water away with a wet/dry vacuum or carpet extractor cleaner.

Pull up carpeting that can be removed and carry it outside. Use a wet/dry vacuum to remove as much water as possible before carrying it, if it's extremely heavy. Spread it in the sun if possible, propping it up in places to allow air circulation underneath. If the carpet is muddy from flood water, hose it off before beginning to dry it.

Assess the water damage to the padding. It may be easier to replace than to dry and clean, and it may even need to be scraped from the floor in pieces.

Set up fans and a dehumidifier to dry the floor while the carpet is outside.

Rub disinfecting carpet cleaner into stains using a broom, or rent a steam cleaner to treat stains that remain from the water damage after the carpet is dry. If stains due to water damage are severe, you may want to pay for a professional cleaning after you dry the carpet.