Cleaning & Saving Your Homes Flood Soaked Carpets

A flood can happen to any home. Home flooding does not only occur because of natural disasters such as hurricanes. Home flooding can occur because of a broken or leaky pipe or hose. A domestic washing machine uses on average forty gallons of water per load. If the hose that runs to or from your washing machine breaks or becomes dislodged all of this water can pour out all over you house causing untold amounts of water damage. That is what happened to me. Before I knew it I had a flood in my home and flood soaked carpets.

To prevent damage to the sub floor when there is a flood in your home you must take up the flood soaked carpets immediately. In addition to taking up the flood soaked carpets you have to remove the carpet padding (the stuff that makes your floor soft) and any garbage that has magically managed to make its way under your carpet. The good news is your flood soaked carpet can probably be saved but the padding must be discarded. It's cheap to replace anyway.

Take these flood soaked carpets outside and if need be wash them with your garden hose. Then lay them flat if possible or hang them out to dry completely. The sun will be a big help to you but I would also recommend finding as many fans as possible, friends and neighbors can help, and directing them on the flood soaked carpets to help them dry.

Once the flood soaked carpets have dried completely, you are ready for the next step. Take a broom handle or a two by four and beat the carpets like a red headed step child so all the dust and dirt comes out. A bandana makes a good face mask.

Now that the flood soaked carpets have been dried and beaten lay them flat and vacuum slowly. Vacuuming will get up more dust and dirt.

If you don't have a professional type carpet cleaning machine go and rent one now. The flood soaked carpets need to be shampooed, and you guessed it, dried again. Fans, fans, fans. Keep in mind during this lengthy process you are saving your self a lot of money. If there are stains on your carpet from the flood, or maybe from your dog or the lovely children, take the time now and scrub 'em out. I am sure you have heard of the phrase "elbow grease".

If your carpets have not shrunk, some will so check the label, it is now time for your husband and his buddies to drink some beers and reinstall the carpets. Sorry about your flood and "Good luck!"

*If you enjoyed this interesting and informative article, please view my other articles by clicking my name "Tesl Goddess" for more of my expert advice.