Carpet cleaning processes involve water, and although we leave your carpets as dry as possible, there will still be some remaining moisture that needs to evaporate from your carpet. In order to ensure your carpet stays clean and fresh after professional cleaning, it is crucial to dry carpets as quickly as possible. Evaporation can only occur when the air surrounding your carpet is dry. Sometimes humid weather can slow the drying process, because the air has more moisture than the carpet. Here are some tips to speed drying time in humid conditions.

Air Conditioning

Running your air conditioner several hours before we arrive to clean your carpets will lower the relative humidity of the indoor air, helping with the evaporation process. Keep the air conditioner going while your carpet is being cleaned and for a day or two after we leave. The core function of an air conditioner is to cool the air, but it will also passively dehumidify air and can help speed up drying time.

Dehumidification

Dehumidifiers actively remove the moisture from the air. Running a dehumidifier is the most efficient way to speed the carpet drying process. Ventilation fans and dehumidifiers can keep the air surrounding your carpet dry by redirecting humid air. Many homes are equipped with ventilation fans in the bathroom, over the stove, and in other moisture-producing areas. In addition to running ventilation fans, place a portable dehumidifier in any area where moisture enters the air to help eliminate moisture before it is recirculated to the air surrounding your carpet.

No Air Conditioning or Dehumidifier?

If you lack air conditioning or a dehumidifier, open the windows of your home (weather permitting) and run ceiling fans and/or stationary fans.

You may also want to consider having your carpets professionally cleaned more often. It may seem counterproductive to increase the frequency of moisture on your carpets, but dirtier carpets require more water to clean. The cleaner your carpets are, the less water we will need to use.

Our goal is for your carpet to stay clean and fresh for as long as possible between professional cleanings, so we recommend these extra steps to speed the carpet drying process.

This is one of a series of articles written and published  on behalf of surpHaces Partners.