How long after cleaning can I use my carpets?
Its spring clean time! You have finally decided it’s about time to have your carpets cleaned. The wet weather has passed, Christmas parties took their toll, pets running in and out making a mess only they can.
Here, we will cover how long you need to leave a room to dry and what you can do to speed up the drying process.
Knowing how long after having your carpets cleaned before you use them is important. If you use them too soon or place items back on them, you may cause issues.
It is important to give the carpet enough time to dry before allowing pets or kids back on it, walk on it, or replace the furniture you’ve removed for the clean. Walking on a wet carpet, especially from an adjoining room with a hard floor can track dirt onto the carpet. Moving furniture back before the carpet is completely dry can trap moisture causing mould issues or dent the fibres. Furniture with metal wheels or foot pins can cause rust spots.
When can I use the carpet?
Ideally, you want to keep pets, children, and heavy traffic off the carpet for at least 6-8 hours after having them cleaned. If you must go through the room to get to a different part of the house, try to wear clean socks or ideally shoe covers.
Replacing furniture.
If you have used a professional to clean your carpets, typically they will place protective tabs under furniture to prevent any marks, staining or wood stain transferring onto the carpet. Leave these in place for 48 hours. If you’ve cleaned the carpet yourself, wait 24 hours before replacing your furniture.
How can I speed up the drying of my carpet?
After cleaning your carpets, there are some things you can do to speed up the carpet drying process:
Increase the air circulation:
Open a window in the room and an adjoining room to help air flow through. If it is a nice day and you are able, open your outside doors too. If this is not possible, you can use fans to help move air across the carpet.
Turn up the heat:
If you have the carpets cleaned in the colder months, you can turn on the heating to help dry your carpet.
Use a dehumidifier:
Moisture from the carpet evaporates into the air. A dehumidifier removes moisture from the air to speed up the drying process.
It’s essential to follow any instructions the professional gives regarding drying time and any instructions they may have given you. Failure to do this may result in mould and bacteria forming and may void any guarantee they may have offered.
What happens if my carpets don’t dry soon enough?
Having damp or wet carpets for too long can cause bacteria to form. You will notice a damp, unpleasant smell that will only get worse. The bacteria could possibly cause health issues, especially to medically vulnerable people. Wet carpets can also degrade the carpet structure. In synthetic carpets it can cause de-lamination, causing the carpet to sag. In wool carpets you may cause browning issues. In any eventuality you will need to call a professional to treat the afore mentioned issues.
How often should I clean my carpets?
It is recommended to clean your carpets between 12-18 months, depending on how much use they have, if you have pets etc.
