| Coping with Wet Rugs Information |
If rug and pad can be taken outside to a flat clean area such as a concrete driveway, this is usually the best procedure. On a sunny day the rug and pad may dry fast enough to prevent damage. Any stain will wick to the back instead of the tips of the face yarns if the rug is placed face down. Drying can be accelerated by using fans to blow air over the rug.
If the rug has been flooded with dirty water, a lot of the wet soil can be flushed out with a garden hose. A carpet cleaning solution can be used to clean the rug to remove more soil. Caution should be used with any type of electrical cleaning equipment on the wet rug as a severe electrical shock may result.
Many of the larger cities have professional rug cleaners who are equipped to clean and dry wet rugs at their plant under controlled conditions. In most instances, this is the best method to assure minimum damage.
Some staining and shrinkage will occur. The amount of shrinkage will depend on the fibers used in the back of the rug and the construction used to make the rug. About 2% shrinkage is average in both the length and width, but may be as high as 10% in the length for certain types of rugs.
This article was written by Anne Field, Extension Specialist, Emeritus, with reference from the USDA Disaster Handbook, and the Carpet and Rug Institute.
MSU 2003
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