The Essential Guide to Drying a Carpet after Cleaning: Best Tips & Tricks

Carpets work like air filters that absorb dust, pet dander, and dirt we bring inside the house. Besides regular vacuuming, giving these surfaces the occasional scrub is also important in keeping them clean. Carpet fibers have a certain capacity to trap and hold contaminants but they also tend to release these contaminants into the air again.

Households with high foot traffic and pets should deep clean the carpeting every 2 months to get rid of all the grime, stains, and crumbs that wind up on it. With regular upkeep, you’ll have bright, fresh-smelling carpets and a healthy living environment.

But cleaning the carpets thoroughly also means they will be wet for some time. And, if you don’t let them dry off properly before using them again, your carpet might end up ruined or infested with toxic mold.

Read our full guide on how to dry a carpet after cleaning fast, and where to seek professional service if taking care of your carpet is too demanding.

Can You Walk on Wet Carpet after Cleaning?

When you walk on a freshly cleaned and wet carpet you risk flattening the fibers and leaving traces all over that might stay that way after it dries up. So, it’s best to avoid stepping on damp carpets, but if you must get across the room, do it barefoot. Otherwise, leave the carpet to dry off entirely – a few hours should do – before you set foot on it again. If using a professional approach, keep in mind that your carpet might need a full day before it is entirely dry.

Can You Put Furniture on a Wet Carpet?

Placing heavy furniture on wet and damp carpets will potentially ruin or squish the fibers and leave dents in the carpet. Ideally, you want to wait for the carpet to dry completely before moving furniture on it, especially if you have some hefty furniture pieces like sofas and cabinets. Just like you would avoid placing furniture on a wet carpet, also avoid letting your pets walk on the carpet since their fur might end up tangled in the wet fibers.

How to Dry Carpet after Cleaning?

There are different methods you can try to extract excess moisture from a freshly cleaned carpet. For instance, you can take advantage of the natural airflow or use designated drying appliances to move the air and take away the humidity.

But, how long does it take for a carpet to dry? Well, after a professional cleaning session, carpets are a little damp because all the water is extracted with a suction machine. So, it will take 2-4 hours for your house to be completely functional.

In other cases it, might take 24 hours or even longer for all the moisture to evaporate, depending on the weather conditions and drying methods listed below.

Open the Windows

Open all the windows in the house to allow natural airflow that will take away the moisture released from the carpet. It would be ideal to have windows that are opposite each other because it creates a strong draught. Consider taking the rugs and standing mats outside to dry in the sun.

Turn on the Fans

Another way to create a drying airflow is to turn on the fans in the house. This is a great method for unfavorable weather when you can’t count on warm air to carry away the humidity.

Ceiling fans are ideal as they blow the air directly at the carpet underneath. But, you can also use standing fans or table fans on the opposite sides of the room to get the air to circulate faster.

Put the AC on

Air conditioning doesn’t create as much air circulation as fans, but anything that makes the air move is useful. Air conditioning helps carpets dry by removing the humidity even from the deepest fabric layers. To get the humidity up in the air, you will have to provide more heat or air motion. Here, ACs are a good option to consider, but only if paired with other drying methods.

Get a Professional Blow-dryer

If you have professionals clean the carpeting, you can ask for an additional service of blow-drying the carpets. They will use equipment to blow hot air quickly over the carpets to jumpstart and speed up the drying process.

Run a Dehumidifier

Dehumidifiers are powerful tools for drying wet carpets. They are specially made for removing humidity from the air. Not to mention, you will get the best results if you use a dehumidifier together with ceiling fans or ventilation fans.

Fans make the air circulate faster and the dehumidifier will create a dry environment that allows the carpet to release moisture faster. Place a portable humidifier in strategic corners and let them do the work. Make sure to empty the water tank as soon as it fills up.

The only downside to using dehumidifiers is that they can be an added expense if bought specially for drying your carpeting.

Expose the Padding

Wall-to-wall carpets are secured with padding that can soak up a lot of water and is very hard to dry completely. The danger here lies in the possibility of developing mold or mildew that can ruin the carpets and pollute the air in your house.

If you notice the padding is soggy, try pulling the carpet fibers to expose them to more air. It is best to start at the corners where you can easily take hold of the carpet surface.

You will need pliers to remove any staples used to attach the fibers to the padding. Don’t use too much force so as not to tear the fibers. Check the padding for dampness as you go and decide whether to remove the whole carpet or just expose particularly wet spots.

Rent Air Movers

Air movers are ideal for drying carpets, as well as all flat surfaces, and hard-to-reach areas. They produce a strong, focused airflow that can be adjusted to blow at different angles.

If you don’t already have one, you can rent them or look for budget, lightweight options for home use. Place the air movers facing especially wet areas of the carpet or the exposed padding for quick results.

Turn on a Heater

During wet, cold winter days it is best to turn up the heating in your house to aid the drying process. You can use additional electric fan heaters that will both heat and move the air. Here, you want to open the windows from time to time to let the moisture out of the house.

How to Get Carpet to Dry Faster?

Making your carpets dry faster is not only a matter of convenience but also a matter of preventing health hazards that come from damp carpeting and padding. The methods for speeding up the carpet drying process vary based on the weather conditions and the available equipment you use for the purpose.

When doing it on your own, you want to ensure that whichever drying method you use, the carpets will be entirely dry before they are ready to use again.

All things considered, hiring a professional carpet cleaning service is the fastest way to have the carpets deep cleaned, dried, and ready to use.

A Trusted Carpet Drying and Cleaning Service for You

Steamy Concepts is your leading provider for all things carpet maintenance. As a top servicer, we use advanced methods that deep clean all types of carpets – and leave them entirely dry after the process.

Equipped with the most professional truck-mounted steam cleaning technology, we will make sure you get a squeaky clean and dry carpet – in excellent condition and at a fair cost!

With 20+ years in the carpet cleaning business, Steamy Concepts provides a supreme carpet cleaning service and the fastest drying time.

Feel free to book your service online and access all the exclusive deals we offer!

FAQ

What is the normal dry time after the carpets are cleaned?

The usual time for drying after a professional deep clean is 2-4 hours. Depending on weather conditions it may take a bit longer on rainy, cold days. Sometimes, a carpet might need up to 24 hours to dry, especially if it has been deep cleaned.

How can I make my carpet dry faster after cleaning?

The 3 critical factors when it comes to drying anything, including your carpet, are temperature, airflow, and humidity. Make use of all three to get your carpets to dry faster.

Can carpets be dry-cleaned?

Carpets can be dry-cleaned but the process involves certain chemicals that leave a residue on the fibers. That can trigger allergic reactions, so if you have kids that spend a lot of time on the carpet, it is better to avoid dry-cleaning.

Should you open windows after carpet cleaning?

It is definitely recommended to do this. After all, you need as much air circulation as possible, so open the windows to increase the airflow and encourage the carpet to dry faster.

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