Question:

Carpet problems?

We just got new carpeting last year in our family room, and are driveway is flat. It rained really hard three days ago, and the water came into the house and got are carpet soaked! We borrowed a carpet cleaner that sucked up about six buckets of water, but now its dry enough that it isnt sucking anything else up, but the carpet is still wet. It also smells like mildew in our house now. I sprayed Febrez, but the smell keeps coming back. Any ideas on how to get the rest of the water, and the smell out of the carpet?

Answer:

Whenever you have a flooding issue, of any kind, always call a professional out. DO NOT USE A RENTAL MACHINE. The rental units do not have the suction that carpet cleaners have. Most of the cleaners have what is called a claw, that presses down on the carpet and the padding to pull the water out. The rental machine only got the surface water. Water stayed in the padding and is allowing bacteria to grow. You carpet might be salvaged if you get a professional out now. They can kill the bacteria and odor, remove the excess water and have blowers to help dry out under the carpet. Good luck
It is probably ruined. See if your homeowner's insurance covers it.
Try sprinkling bi carb soda on it when it is dry...this will absorb the smell.
try using a humidifier this will help to take some of the water out , but I think it would be a better idea to have your carpet cleaned properly with the right machine,
You will need to pull the carpet up, use a needle nose plier to do this. Start at the far corners. If you can pull the padding up - do that also. Then get some fans and put underneath the carpet and underneath the padding too. Sometime sticks or 5 gallon bucket will help to hold the carpet up. It will take days, but you need to get that water out of there. I've had to do this myself. It works - but takes a long time.

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