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How to Dry a Wet Carpet Faster | 5 Different Methods

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A wet carpet is a legitimate reason for you to worry, and for good reason. Mold can grow in as little as 24 hours, and it is very dangerous for your health. It can cause respiratory conditions, not to speak of the foul odor it gives off.


This is why we are going to show you 5 easy ways to dry your carpet quickly. Whether it is a little patch of wet carpet or from a recent cleaning, it is possible to get your carpet dry in no time.

Video Explainer

How Can I Get My Carpet to Dry Faster

What You Will Need

  1. A clean cloth
  2. A bucket
  3. A wet/dry vacuum cleaner

1. Remove excess water.

Using the cloth, quickly soak up as much water as you can and squeeze it into the bucket. Do this repeatedly until the carpet no longer feels saggy or until the rug cannot absorb any more moisture.


2. Use a vacuum cleaner.

Use the wet/dry vacuum to dry the rest of the moisture. It can soak up fluid particles just like dust.


3. Use fans to remove the remaining moisture.

When the carpet feels relatively dry to the touch, run some warm air through it using a fan or a dryer to make sure it is completely dry.


Pro Tip

You can use some carpet cleaner just before vacuuming so that you end up with a dry clean carpet.


How to Dry Carpets Quickly


When you have a wet carpet, time is of the essence if you are to dry it in time.

What You Will Need

  1. Thick cloth
  2. Wet/dry vacuum cleaner
  3. Fans
  4. Dryers

The fi Using the Following Steps You Can Have Your Carpet Dry in As Little As 15 Minutes

1. First step is to soak up as much excess water as possible.

Use a thick absorbent cloth for this, or paper towels if the area is not too big.

2. Suck up moisture from the carpet.

If it is a small area, use paper towels to absorb most of the water from the carpet. Use a wet/dry vacuum to remove remaining traces of moisture.


3. Run some hot air through the carpet using a dryer or a fan.

This makes sure that the carpet is dry down to the padding.


Pro Tip

If it is a large area, you can spread some baking soda on it to soak up excess water then vacuum it off.


Best Way to Dry Out Carpet


When your carpet is wet and you want it to dry quickly, and simply putting it out to dry might take too long, perhaps long enough for mildew to develop.


To Help Your Carpet Dry Out Faster, You Can Follow These Steps

1. Remove the wet carpet from the room and dry up the floor.

The water might have soaked through to the floor. Best to make sure of this, by first removing the carpet.


2. Let it drip.

If the carpet is soggy, you can hang it up on a low wall for the water to drip off.

3. Use a thick cloth to help remove excess water by soaking.

Using a thick rag, press it firmly into the carpet to soak up excess water. Repeat until no more water can be soaked from the carpet.


4. Set up fans around it to increase circulation.

Make sure this is done in a well-ventilated place.


5. You can also use the sun.

If it is hot and sunny outside, take it outside and hang it on a low elevated surface.


Pro Tip

When drying, two things are of the essence; heat for evaporation and wind to carry the moisture away. Increasing one or both of these is what helps your carpet to dry faster.


Vacuuming a Wet Carpet


There are vacuum cleaners that are made specifically to soak up moisture. Do not use a dry vacuum cleaner on a wet carpet as this is very dangerous.


What You Will Need


  1. Thick cloth
  2. Wet/dry vacuum cleaner
  3. Fans
  4. Dryers

To Dry a Wet Carpet by Vacuuming, You Can Use the Following Tips

  • The first step is to remove any excess moisture as best as you can. You can use a thick cloth and paper towels to do this.
  • Increase air circulation in the carpet vicinity. You can do this using fans or dryers and by opening windows.
  • Using a dry/wet vacuum, run over the carpet repeatedly and keep an eye on the tank to make sure it does not overflow.
  • Repeat until the carpet is dry. Be sure to check under the carpet to make sure that the floor is not wet too because once the water soaks into the base or padding of the carpet it very hard to get out by just vacuuming.

Pro Tip

If you do not own a wet/dry vacuum cleaner, you can easily hire one from the local hardware store for a fraction of the price of buying a new one.


Quick Drying Carpet Cleaning


When you use conventional methods to clean your carpet such as water cleaning and shampooing, the carpet is left soaking wet and can take ages to dry. Fortunately, there are better ways to clean your carpet without giving it a dip.

Steam cleaning is one of the best ways to do this. It works by heating water to an exceptionally high temperature and using the resultant steam to clean the carpet. The steam breaks down the dirt and dry steam is used to remove it.

This way, the carpet is left on slightly wet to the touch after cleaning. From here it can take 8-24 hours to dry completely.

You can also opt for carpet dry cleaning which leaves your carpet ready for walking on almost immediately after cleaning. This method uses industrial-grade chemicals to break down dirt.


Pro Tip

For steam cleaning, specialized equipment is needed which can be hired at a local store. However, if you’re not familiar with how it works, then its best to contact professionals to do it for you.


How to Dry Carpet after Carpet Cleaning


After steam cleaning, the best way to ensure the carpet dries up quickly is by using a box fan over the carpet. Put up the fan over an area, open up the windows for ventilation and give it some time while checking periodically, When it's dry, move the fan to another area and repeat as necessary.

After normal cleaning and shampooing, the carpet is soaking wet and requires tougher measures to dry quickly. See above for tips on how to quickly dry a wet carpet.


Pro Tip

After a normal clean, the carpet is wet down to the fibers of the padding. It is vital to ensure that it dries completely because it can develop mold and mildew very easily.


Fastest Way to Dry a Wet Carpet


There are many ways to clean a carpet, but the fastest way to clean a carpet will involve a few things.


What You Will Need


  1. Dry rags
  2. Paper towels
  3. Baking soda
  4. Dry/wet vacuum cleaner
  5. Fans

The Fastest Way to Dry a Wet Carpet Involves the Following Steps

1. Remove excess moisture by using the dry rags.

After it is relatively dry, use paper towels to spread over the wet parts. Walk over the towels to help them absorb as much water as possible.


2. Spread baking soda over the area.

Use as much powder as is needed to soak up all moisture.


3. Use a wet/dry vacuum cleaner.

A wet vacuum cleaner is your best friend. Use it to vacuum up the remaining moisture and baking powder from the carpet.


4. Set up fans over the carpet to improve air circulation.

Use a hairdryer if you have one to pass hot air over it for the fastest drying.


Pro Tip

Air circulation is vital when drying your carpet. Open all windows, doors and set up as many fans as you have for the fastest drying process.


How to Dry a Wet Rug


A wet rug can be dried using the same methods, with the advantage that a rug is smaller.


What You Will Need


  1. Dry rags
  2. Paper towels
  3. Baking soda
  4. Dry/wet vacuum cleaner
  5. Fans

To Dry a Wet Rug, Follow the Following Steps

1. Squeeze off excess water from the rug.

This can be done with your hands.


2. Use baking soda.

If you need it dry as fast as possible, sprinkle a liberal amount of baking powder on the rug. Then use a normal vacuum cleaner to suck it up.


3. Use a wet/dry vac

Whether you have used the powder or not, you can use a wet/dry vacuum cleaner to dry up the majority of the remaining moisture.


4. Make use of fans

Set the rug near a fan and let it sit until it is completely dry. This can also be done by airing it outside if it is sunny and warm.


Pro Tip

Some rugs can also be dried in the dryer. Check to make sure that it is dryer-friendly for it to maintain its form and shape, and even then use the air only setting on the dryer.

Final Thoughts


It is imperative to dry a wet rug or carpet as soon as possible to prevent the development of hazardous mold and mildew. Left on its own, a wet carpet can take days to dry completely depending on weather conditions.


This time can be broken down to mere minutes or hours simply by following the tips given in this article. However, there are also professional carpet cleaning services that will do your cleaning and drying for you at a fee and save you all the hassle.


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