(Newswire.net — October 28, 2019) — One of the most common questions homeowners ask themselves is: how long to let carpet dry after cleaning? The simple answer to this question is that it depends on several factors. You don’t want to start using your carpet before it’s completely dry because that could lead to more problems.
How Long to Let Carpet Dry After Cleaning
This post gives insights on the length of time you should let your carpet dry after cleaning. It highlights the reasons your carpet may take longer or shorter to dry.
Carpet Cleaning Method
First off, the single biggest factor affecting carpet drying time is the method of professional cleaning you select. Hot water extraction or steam cleaning, for example, is the method used by most professional carpet cleaners. This cleaning method involves using water heated and put under pressure to loosen and break down soil from your carpet if it is really dirty. It goes without saying that when you’re using water to get soil out of your carpet, you’re going to be using a fair amount of water. And although professional carpet cleaners have powerful vacuum systems that can remove most of the water, the chances are your carpet will be left sufficiently damp.
As such, your carpet will likely need 6-12 hours to dry. However, you can shorten the drying time by increasing air flow with a ceiling fan or leaving the doors ajar. Dry cleaning systems, on the other hand, provide much shorter drying times, typically ranging between 2 and 4 hours.
Experience of The Carpet Cleaning Technician
Another critical factor affecting how long your carpet will take to dry is the experience and dedication of the technician. Although carpet cleaning is not rocket science, it does require a set of skills acquired through experience and training — especially if you’re trying to remove tough stains such as dog pee or anything else. A reputable technician will know to use the right amount of water to ensure our carpet is clean and spend the right amount of time vacuuming your carpet to get rid of excess water to not make your carpet smelly after cleaning.
Humidity
The third factor that affects how long your carpet will take to dry is humidity. While you can’t really control the atmospheric humidity levels, it can make a significant difference in your carpets drying time. it’s important to note that both the humidity outside as well as inside your home will affect carpet drying time.
Carpets dry by the function of evaporation. The moisture in your carpet fibers has to evaporate into the air for your carpet to dry. And this will only happen if the surrounding air is dryer than the carpet. If you’re in a humid area, therefore, the surrounding air can’t absorb a lot of moisture, which means your carpet will take longer to dry. Opening some windows can help to replace more humid air with drier air and speed up drying times.
Bottom Line
So how long to let carpet dry after cleaning? That depends on the factors mentioned above. However, you can speed up carpet drying times. Turning on your air conditioner, for example, works well if opening windows is not a good option. It also helps to schedule regular professional cleanings as that will prevent your carpet from accumulating too much soil and dirt that will require more water and effort to get clean and make soft again.