How to Repair Water Damage Using Correct Rug Cleaning Techniques

In Everett, Washington, we’re well into the rainy season. For some, that might mean flooding or water damage to their home. From damage to furniture and appliances to drenched carpets and rugs, this wet season can present some serious home challenges.

The good news is, if your rug has suffered water damage, you have options. We provide rug cleaning techniques to guide you in preparing for the unknown during the wet spring in Washington. Here’s what you need to know about what to do after an area of your home suffers flooding or other water damage. 

Extract the Water Quickly

The sooner you get the moisture out of your home, the less damage it can cause. This might mean manually pumping water out if a sump pump fails. Or it means sopping up water or using a wet-dry vacuum to pull the moisture out of carpets, rugs, upholstery and more. 

When water has time to permeate a surface, it invites bacteria, mildew and mold growth. This is especially true for basement flooding because these areas are generally already more humid than other areas of your home since they are lower in the ground.

Remove Furniture and Fixtures from the Room

Once you have the bulk of the water removed from the area, start working to remove items from the room. This will give you a chance to inspect them more thoroughly and allow you to sanitize the surfaces.

If the weather has cleared, you can take items outside to dry in the sun. The sun kills bacteria naturally.

Return to the room with flooding and check for other areas that need to be dried out. Don’t forget about the walls. With time, the walls can start to smell and make your home an unpleasant place to be. Do what you can to pull the moisture out of the area using a dehumidifier and sopping up all water that you can.

Deodorize and Sanitize the Rug

Clean the rug thoroughly. Start by vacuuming it gently with a wet/dry vacuum to pull as much moisture from the rug as possible. Then sanitize the surface of the rug where it experienced water damage.

If possible, dry the rug in a room that did not experience flooding. You’ll want this room to also have minimal traffic as you don’t want people walking all over the rug while it dries.

Open up windows and place fans in the room to aid in the drying process. The sooner your rug dries out, the better because it won’t have time to grow mold. 

Evaluate the Rug’s Viability

Flooding can be an ongoing problem or one that you don’t realize until it’s too late. In some cases, rugs cannot be salvaged after such damage. But know that many rugs can be. It just depends on how long the rug was left in the moisture and how much water it absorbed. 

Taking the rug to a professional rug cleaner can help you make the best decision for your rug. They’ll help you understand damage from mold or bacteria. A good rug care professional will be able to tell you whether a thorough cleaning will salvage the rug before performing the service.

Get the Rug Steam Cleaned

Once your rug care team has decided the rug still has life in it and is worth salvaging, you should get it steam cleaned. This will further sanitize the rug and prevent it from smelling. 

Before returning your rug to your home, purchase a new rug pad. Throw out your existing rug pad as pads are generally very absorbent and challenging to clean. You don’t want to put your rug on a surface that already has mold growing in it. That will invite mold to grow within your rug as well.

It’s much cheaper to replace your rug pad than it is to replace your rug.

Flooding Prevention Tips

You should evaluate your home regularly for flood preparedness. With a few renovations, you can prevent serious damage to your home and its contents. Here’s a look at some considerations for your home.

1. Check your sump pump or foundation vents. Both of these flood prevention devices wear out with time. You don’t want to find out during a heavy rainstorm that your flood-prevention is not working. Check regularly and change out your sump pump based on its recommendations before it breaks down. 
2. Apply coatings and sealants to your home. Coatings and sealants can provide leak protection for your foundation, doorways, walls and windows. Consider closing up all cracks to help prevent flooding issues.
3. Move outlets and switches higher. If you’re in an area that’s especially prone to flooding, consider moving your electrical outlets and switches to at least one foot above the flood level. This will prevent serious damage to your home in case of flooding.
4. Adjust the grade of your lawn. Some homes have poor grading on the lawn. This can bring water toward the house instead of away from it. Regrade your lawn using heavy soil with clay and sand. This will help the rainwater runoff away from your home toward street gutters.
5. Keep space between outdoor mulch and siding. Mulch can hold water and when it sits directly next to the siding on your home, that can rot the siding and damage the base of your home. 
6. Check your downspouts. Make sure all downspouts point away from the house and have no clogs. This will ensure all runoff goes away from the home during heavy storms. 
7. Keep appliances above flood level. Avoid having expensive appliances in your basement, such as washing machines and dryers. Check the placement of your air conditioning unit and generator. It’s worth it to put these outdoor appliances on concrete blocks to prevent flood damage.

Water Damage from Roof Leaks

Some homeowners have no idea there are weaknesses in their roofs until we experience a heavy rainstorm in Washington. Check the age of your roof. 

If you’re getting close to needing to replace the roof, have an expert come out to evaluate it. Most roofing companies provide a free assessment and quote. Don’t wait until it’s too late to replace your roof.

At the first sign of a leak, do what you can to keep the water away from home furnishings, such as indoor rugs. Then, call a roofing expert immediately. See if you can find one that does 24/7 emergency fixes. 

While they probably can’t replace the whole roof on short notice, they can likely patch the roof or prevent further home damage until they’re able to get the materials to replace your roof.

Rug Cleaning in Everett, Washington

Water damage is not something you want to put off handling. Instead, get to work cleaning it up quickly. Rug cleaning can salvage rugs even after they’ve been completely submerged in water.

A Advanced Rug Care has experience restoring rugs after water damage. We’ll be honest with you about whether a rug can be salvaged after water damage and help you make the best decision for your home.

Schedule your service using our convenient online booking portal that’s accessible 24/7.

Further reading:

• Choosing The Best Rug Color For Your Room
• Washing Your Rug in a Washing Machine: What You Should Know
• Which Types Of Rugs Are Easiest To Clean?