Wet Oriental Rug? ….Here’s what you can do!

If your rug is wet from a flood, plumbing issues, or as a result from a roof leak or anything else, you must do everything you can to manage the wet area rug. Even though the water and rug are dirty, your priority is to get the rug dry:

1. If the floor is saturated, however removing the area rug completely is the best idea to let the floor beneath the rug to dry. Never allow an area rug to sit in water for a long period of time because it can cause damage to the rug fibers and the flooring underneath.
2. If at all possible get the wet rug to a wooden deck, a concrete patio or a sidewalk. If you have a long handle squeegee, use it to squeegee out the water, pushing in the direction of the pile. In a pinch, you can use the back of a heavy garden rack as a squeegee. Get as much water out of the rug as you possibly can.

If you cannot get your rug to a flat surface, outdoors, you should vacuum with a Shop Vac or other wet to dry type vacuum, pulling as much water as you possibly can out of the rug.

3. At this point, the rug is still damp, but no longer sopping wet. Finish drying it any way you can. If it is nice weather, you can dry it in the sun. if you must dry it inside, dry it in a warm room, elevating it if necessary, to let air circle around it. A fan aimed at the rug will help.
4. After squeegeeing or vacuuming the rug, you may now roll the rug without folding it and stand it on its end. At your earliest convenience, you should have the rug cleaned by a professional rug cleaning company.
5. If steps 1-4 are not possible because the area rug is too large and you have experienced a more extensive water damage situation, seek the services of a professional cleaning company like the Oriental Rug Cleaning Plant and rely on their expert advice to properly care for your rug.