Rains are good to watch as long as it does not disrupt every day life. If the intensity of the rain fall goes beyond the accepted levels, flood and water damage is expected to follow shortly. It is not just the torrential rain but also leaking tap, faulty washing machine, clogged sink, overflowing bath tub and leaking roof can also water damage. The water flooded in the room poses a threat to the carpet and the wet carpet becomes a target for the molds.
Handling wet carpet after the water damage is an annoying thing and it is actually more difficult than it appears to be. It is a big time trouble to work on the wet carpet, be it in office or at home. The situation gets worse if the carpet is supported by padding. Instead of crying over spoilt wet carpet, act fast and do your best to revive the carpet. The sooner you get on your toes the easier it is to repair the wet carpet. It is a common myth that wet carpet dries on its own and it is observed that people conveniently avoid taking care of damp carpet. They believe that it would dry on its own and move ahead with other chores.
Do not do the mistake or ignoring the wet carpet as this can lead to various health disorders. Mildews and molds get attracted to the damp carpet and spread rampantly on the moist surface. They multiply like crazy and infest the carpet with deadly toxins. The poisonous substances released by the molds cause skin irritation, rashes, patches, eyes irritation, nasal congestion, sinus, asthma, respiratory problems and other allergic reactions.
If you feel that the carpet is spoiled badly and there is no way you can dry the carpet and disinfect the molds, it is better to discard it as soon as possible. Agreed that carpets are expensive and it adds up to the cost. But it is better to spend few bucks on a new carpet rather than spending on medical bill.
The severity of the mold attack depends on various factors. Primarily it is the humidity level and temperature that trigger the growth of molds. Similarly, the dew point also influences the mold reproduction. The molds are commonly found in any place that is devoid of ventilation, light and is exposed to water frequently.
The key point to be noted while restoring the wet carpet damaged by flood water is to extract the water and dehumidify it quickly. This is easier said than done. Due to ignorance some folks try to increase the temperature in a bid to evaporate the water by making the room. Little that they know that warming in fact does not stop the mold attack.
The effective method to prevent growth of mold on wet carpet is to bring down the temperature and humidity level within the premises. Lowering the room temperature essentially does not mean increasing the temperature. Dehumidifiers and commercial fans can be used for this purpose. The air conditioner in the room with the wet carpet must be operated at lowest possible setting. Wet carpet can be treated with chemical Borax and just spread this powder over the damp surface. This would kill the spores.
