You probably already heard it a hundred times, but we will say it one more time – Faster drying time is better for your carpet and your health as well. Drying time varies by type of carpet, thickness of pad, cleaning method, air flow in the room and so on. It is also affected by the area you live in. Regions with more humidity and moisture in the air will have a longer and more difficult time drying compared to an area with an arid, dry climate. On average, however, just-cleaned carpet should dry within six to eight hours or less, and should never stay damp more than 24 hours.
But, why is it so important for your carpet to be dried as fast as possible? Here are some of the reasons:
- Any carpet still wet after 24 hours can cause microbial growth. Mold and mildew can seriously damage your carpet fibers. Moreover, it can cause a variety of symptoms and can affect your overall health and well-being. Health problems associated with high levels of mold spores are headache, anxiety, depression, memory loss, shortness of breath, visual disturbances, etc.
- You have to allow your carpet to dry fully before walking on it. If there is a foot traffic on wet carpet before it is dry, it can become dirty again at a much faster rate. Walking on a wet carpet can also contribute to wear, shortening the carpet’s life expectancy.
- Faster carpet drying time reduces carpet wicking. Carpet wicking is a process where spots re-appear on carpets and rugs because of too much moisture left behind from the cleaning. Wicking spots can easily be removed with another cleaning done properly.
- Too much moisture can cause carpet to buckle. Carpet buckling occurs when the underside of carpets becomes detached from the adhesive, causing wrinkles, bubbles or ripples that ruin the form and function of your rug.
- If you happen to notice that an area of your carpet doesn’t smell pleasant, this may be a sign that mildew could be lurking above or below the surface. Excessive moisture can create a musty odor over time. Carpet must be re-cleaned to remove or reduce odor.
- In some extreme situations, excess moisture can create browning in large areas and when something like this happens there is a high probability that the carpet can no longer be saved.
If you want the best possible cleaning capabilities for your carpet, fast carpet drying time is a must. Let your professional carpet cleaner recommend you an adequate cleaning method for your carpet and don’t hesitate to ask about the equipment he uses. High quality equipment should extract the water back out of the carpets as he cleans the carpet, making your carpet drying time much faster and therefore safer and healthier.
