As summer turns into fall, the weather changes and becomes cooler and more rainy. While there are many things to enjoy about fall, higher humidity in the house is not one of them. People worry that the moisture will damage their carpet. Here we will answer the question of how you get humidity out of carpet so your flooring will not get ruined when the weather turns wet.
Why Does Humidity Damage Carpet?
There are a number of ways dampness will wreak havoc on carpet over time. First, unchecked humidity will cause mold and mildew to grow. They will make the environment smell musty too. These are more damaging to natural fiber carpets and area rugs than they are to nylon carpet which is often water resistant. Moisture in all carpet can attract fleas and dust mites, however. No one wants to deal with a flea problem, and dust mites are terrible for people with allergies.
Humidity also causes carpet fibers to swell. In order for installed carpet to remain flat and neat looking, you need to avoid the conditions that can cause the carpet to pull at its seams. If the environment fluctuates between hot and humid and cool and dry year after year, this can result in pulling and eventually a rippled appearance to your flooring.
How Do You Get Humidity out of Carpet?
To avoid damage to your carpet, controlling humidity is wise. How do you moderate humidity? Here are some tips:
First, if you have more than “garden variety” humidity, such as flooding from heavy rainfall or a burst pipe, you may need to consult a disaster restoration professional to help you dry out and restore your carpet or rugs. If you have a smaller wet spot, using a wet vac is recommended to remove water from carpet. If you don’t own a wet vac, you can easily rent one to use on your carpets.
Fans also can be useful if you have a wet, but not disastrous, water spill. You can position the fan at the wet spot and let it do its magic. If it’s a dry fall day, it’s also helpful to open the windows and allow the breeze to dry the humidity and bring fresh air into the house. Creating good air flow will do a lot to get humidity out of carpet.
Another trick to remove trapped moisture is to sprinkle the carpet or the rug with baking soda. Shake a generous amount of baking soda over the rug and let it sit for a half hour or more. Then you can use a regular vacuum to suck the baking soda and any moisture and musty odors out.
For typical humidity, adding a humidifier to any damp areas of the house should work. Set the humidifier at between 40-50% humidity. As anyone who lives in a cool climate and heats their house all winter knows, taking all the humidity out of the air will make it uncomfortably dry. You will feel that dryness in your skin and in your respiratory system. However, if the humidity is higher than that 50% range, the house will feel damp, and it will allow bacteria and mold, among other things, to grow. Keeping the house at that optimal range will make it comfortable for people but not welcoming to molds and critters.
During the wetter months of the year, it’s important to be vigilant about moisture in your house to limit the damage it can do to your carpets and rugs. By following the above tips, you should be able to get humidity out of carpet and control the moisture in your home better.
