Of Leaks, Wet Carpet, And Sewage Damage Cleanup

Your bathroom toilet leaks and soon your entire carpet is drenched in no less than toilet water. Definitely not a pretty sight, but more than that, simply leaving a wet carpet to dry on its own is foolish, not to mention dangerous. Unfortunately, damp or wet carpets have been known to be a hazard to the occupant's health if they are not dealt with properly.

Black mold is one of the most life-threatening effects of improper carpet maintenance. People who have had their carpets drenched and left as they are start developing illnesses such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, learning disabilities, cancer, bleeding lungs, heart problems, multiple sclerosis, lupus, mental deficiencies, and more. It is no coincidence. Yes folks, that nasty wet carpet has something to do with it!

To those who are clueless about this subject, here are some tips for you:

• If your carpet has been damaged by "dirty" water, such as sewage, toilet water, or any contaminated liquid the answer is simple: Salvage it or throw it out.
• Use a cleaning solution (bleach dissolved in water) to rid the contamination and bacteria that may have attached to it.

• Elevate the wet part, remove the padding and let it dry out with the use of big electric fans. You may need to move around some furniture for this. Let it dry for at least 36 hours.
• If, after 12 hours, the carpet is not drier the best thing to do would be to toss it as mold most likely to have started to grow by then.
• While doing all this, make sure you have shut off the water source flow that caused the damage to begin with!

If you are one of the sad few who have resorted to throwing out your carpet, do not worry because there are countless carpet stores in your area who are willing to help you pick sort a new carpet for your home at a reasonable price (that of course depends on how big the carpet area is and what material you want it made of).

An alternative is not to have a carpeted area at all. While a carpeted area is more comfortable to step on, a plain floor is much easier to clean, especially if it gets wet. A carpeted area may be good for families with infants as it prevents them from getting hurt, but a non-carpeted area is easier to change. The choice is yours.

Ultimately, homeowners need to be aware of the possible consequences of wet carpets. Once water damage has occurred it is important to act quickly! Don't think about how expensive the carpet is – once it has been contaminated by unsanitary water, your health is more important.