Ten Ways to Manage Rug Restoration After Water Damage

Rug restoration is required when your carpet or rug is exposed to a significant amount of water, usually caused by storm damage, leaking pipes or household appliance accidents. Once submerged, you must act quickly to have any hope of salvaging your carpet or rug.

The chief enemy of rug restoration is mold. Carpet or rugs submerged in water can begin to grow mold in as little as 12 hours. Once mold and mildew set in, you will have to remove the floor covering or face significant health hazards. If you find yourself in this situation, hire professionals to remove it.

But the good news is that rug restoration isn’t impossible if you experience minor water damage, even if the rug or carpet has been significantly soaked.

Here are ten steps to follow for do-it-yourself rug restoration:

1. First, determine what kind of water has soaked your rug. Clean water typically comes from rain or pipes carrying drinking water. So-called “gray water” comes from washing machines, overflowing toilets and dishwashers. You may still be able to salvage the rug or carpet from gray water, depending on the type of discharge (for example, a large amount of brackish or chemically-fouled water may present a problem). The ultimate problem is “black water” from sewers or groundwater. Unfortunately, such black water contains major toxins and cannot be safely restored to your living area. It is advisable to have professionals remove black water soaked rugs or carpeting.
2. Before beginning any clean-up, call your insurance agent to determine coverage and to ascertain whether professional rug restorers can be hired. If you proceed on your own, read the manufacturer’s requirements for treating your rug or carpet. Be careful – you can shrink it or do more damage through incorrect cleaning!
3. Carpet padding cannot be restored. To remove it, tear around the edges of the wet areas using a box-cutter or other sharp instrument, lift up the carpet and remove the padding. Discard the padding and keep the carpet elevated. During this process, check the flooring and sub-flooring for water damage.
4. Apply a commercial rug shampoo or create a homemade cleaning solution by dissolving a few tablespoons of bleach per gallon of clean water.
5. Using a stiff bristle brush or sponge, remove visible dirt with a circular scrub motion.
6. Rinse the cleaning solution with small amounts of clear water. Use a thoroughly-rung sponge to sop up excess water.
7. If you have an area rug that can be removed and weather permits, take it outdoors and hang it up to dry well off the ground.
8. If the rug or carpet cannot be removed, open windows and let air circulate in the room where the damaged carpet remains.
9. Large fans and dehumidifiers can speed the drying process. You can usually rent them from specialty stores and their use may be covered by your insurance.
10. During the drying process, don’t walk on the carpet. Keep a close eye on it and make sure that drying is well underway by the 12-hour mark. Once sure that the carpet is thoroughly dry and you have new, dry padding, place the carpet back in the room. Rug restoration is now complete.

At-home restoration can only get you so far, but if you truly want to restore your rugs to their former glory, you need the help of a certified professional with the tools and experience necessary for perfection. Call Vital Restoration today at 650-262-4545 to get the best service at the best price.