One of the frequently used flooring types in modern homes today is the carpet. It is known for its aesthetic and its not-too-hard to maintain style; hence the high demands for it in the market.
However, here comes a question asked by numerous carpet users; how long does it take carpet to dry after cleaning? Approximately, it takes only 6 to 12 hours to dry in a favorable environment. But some factors might extend the period it takes to dry and they are; the type of carpet, how dirty the carpet is, and finally, the humidity level.
Read on as we journey more on this.
Related: How to dry a carpet after cleaning
Factors That Affect How Long it Takes Carpet to Dry
Table of Contents
Many factors influence how long it takes for the carpet to dry. And these factors need to be considered so one can set their priorities right.
Read on as we give you a detailed guide on these factors.
1. The Type of Carpet
The type of carpeting it is, more Importantly, its texture type and composition of the carpet affects how long it takes for the carpet to dry. Heavy carpet wool would take longer to dry compared to a light nylon carpet.
2. How Dirty the Carpet is
If your carpet is very dirty and stained, you would need to apply more moisture, than a less dirty carpet. And this would influence how long it takes to dry.
3. Humidity Level
If the temperature in your home is humid, it would take time for it to dry. The drier the air is, the quicker the carpet would dry. Dry air makes evaporation of moisture easy from the carpet.
Read: Nylon or Polyester Carpet, which is better?
How to Dry Carpets Faster
1. Make Use of Fans
You can turn on the ceiling fan in your room to help dry the carpet at a fast pace. If there is no ceiling fan in your room, any other fan would also serve this purpose. Oscillating fans are particularly recommended for this.
2. You Can Open the Windows
Another way of ensuring that carpets dry at a fast rate is by opening the windows. But do not open the window when it is cold or misty outside, it would only give the opposite result. Rather, on warm, dry, and sunny days an open window would go a long way in drying a carpet.
3. Make Use of Dehumidifiers
Making use of a dehumidifier in your room is another way of making the carpet dry at a fast rate. They suck off moisture from the carpet and store it in a storage tank or channel it towards a trench.
If you are making use of a storage tank, be sure to check on it every hour and empty its content.
Related: Should humidifiers be on the floor?
4. Make Use of Air Conditioners
Putting on the air conditioner would also hasten up the drying process of the carpet. Though they reduce the temperature in the room to its barest, they also get rid of moisture in the air. A dehumidifier is more preferred, but an air conditioner can also serve such a purpose.
5. Clean the Carpet more Often
It is pertinent to clean the carpet more often, because, the dirtier the carpet
is, the more water is needed to wipe it clean. Regular cleaning and vacuuming would keep the carpet neat and reduce the water needed to clean it. Hence, making the floor dry at a fast rate.
How Long Until I Can Walk Across the Carpet?
It would be great if you would wait for the room to dry fully before you can walk across it. In a case of an emergency where you need to get or fix something important, remove your shoe and walk across the periphery of the carpet.
A moist carpet has a high tendency of accumulating dirt. Walking on it before it is dried up might leave trails of dirty footprints in its wake. Hence, making it go back to how it was before cleaning, so you need to be careful.
Read: How to dry wet carpet padding
Conclusion
How long does it take carpet to dry after cleaning? This is one of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to carpet maintenance.
In a normal setting, it takes 6 to 12 hours for a carpet to dry after cleaning. But, some factors influence how long it takes the carpet to dry. Not to worry we gave a detailed explanation on how to make the carpet dry at a fast rate.