How to dry a carpet with a vacuum cleaner

The carpet is part of the interior, making it cozy and soft. And in any home, an unexpected situation can happen when liquid is spilled on it. This can happen while cleaning, children playing, or simply by accident. It is not always necessary to take a product to dry cleaning; most often, a small amount of moisture can be dealt with using improvised means.

What is it made of, the amount of dirt and moisture

To understand how to care for a carpet, you need to know what material it is made of.

There are two types:

• synthetic;
• natural.

Synthetic ones are easy to care for and are inexpensive. They are easy to clean and dry.

Natural ones are often made from wool or silk. If not properly cared for, the fiber may stretch and its shape may change. Products made from natural materials can be easily dried with your own hands if a small part of the surface is wet. If the entire carpet is wet, for example due to flooding, it is safer to contact a dry cleaner.

The drying process is also affected by the amount of water spilled:

• if a corner is wet (for example, a mug of tea or water has been spilled), available means will suffice: napkins, rags;
• if a bucket is spilled, you can’t do without technology;
• if the entire carpet is wet and occupies a large area, the easiest way is to call a special service. But if you have free space, you can dry it at home.

Drying process

Typically every rug has a care label on it.These instructions will help you understand how best to dry the product, whether it can be hung or using chemicals.

What to do if a little moisture gets in:

1. Make sure no water gets under the furniture. If this does happen, move it aside and wipe the floor dry. If the moisture is not removed, it will begin to deform the wood, and mold and an unpleasant odor will appear on the textiles.
2. If there is no water sloshing under the carpet, then it is enough to blot its surface with a couple of towels.
3. If it gets wet on both sides, the back side is also wiped with a rag or napkin.
4. When the surface becomes slightly damp, it is left to dry naturally. Additionally, you can use a hair dryer or conditioner, but be careful - especially if the product is made from natural materials.

The coating cannot be actively rubbed with a rag or napkin, as this can destroy the structure of the pile. All movements should be easy and confident.

If the carpet squishes, it means it has absorbed a lot of moisture. You will have to save him in another way:

1. Clear the floor of furniture and, if necessary, wipe the floor underneath.
2. Fold the rug in half so that the wet part is on top.
3. Walk along the back side with a wet vacuum cleaner in the liquid-suction mode. The vacuum cleaner has stopped drawing in moisture, which means the carpet is dry enough.
4. Wipe the floor dry.
5. Lay it out again and go over it with a napkin or a washing vacuum cleaner.
6. Using patting movements with your hand, check whether it squishes. If the sound remains, repeat the procedure with the vacuum cleaner again.

If the carpet is covered in water because the apartment was flooded or another unpleasant incident occurred, you should think several times about drying it yourself.

If you decide to dry it yourself, you will need free space:

1. The carpet is rolled up with the front side facing inward. The roll is placed vertically on the balcony or street.
2. The floor is wiped dry with a rag and washed from dust.
3. The carpet is unrolled and passed over it with a washing vacuum cleaner, and then with dry rags or napkins.
4. If moisture occupies no more than 20% of the surface, it can be hung on a clothesline to dry.

In other cases, after vacuuming, the carpet is left to dry on the floor. Additionally, you can turn on the air conditioner or open the windows so that the moisture evaporates faster.

How not to damage the carpet

To avoid damaging the coating, you must follow the drying technique and precautions:

1. Do not step on wet pile to prevent creases from forming.
2. All furniture and foreign objects must be removed from the wet surface.
3. Dry the product on both sides. This will get rid of mold.
4. The carpet is not line dried if it is 20% wet. The material may stretch and deform.
5. If you decide to dry-clean the item, roll it up inside out.
6. For drying, only a washing vacuum cleaner is suitable, which can be rented at a dry cleaner. A regular vacuum cleaner will not be able to draw in moisture, but will cause a short circuit.
7. After drying the carpet, the vacuum cleaner must be disassembled, washed and dried.

Drying a carpet at home may not be as difficult or scary as it seems at first glance. Everything must be done without unnecessary haste. If in doubt, it is better to give it to specialists.