So you’ve just got your carpet cleaned and you’re wondering how long before you can walk on it. While there are plenty of benefits to a professionally cleaned carpet, drying times are often a major concern. This is especially true for homeowners who are expecting guests or are just trying to keep the kids away while the carpet dries. During these instances, patience is of utmost virtue and along with careful planning, will help you cope with the long drying times of a newly cleaned carpet. Read this guide to ensure your carpet is completely dry before walking on it.

How long does it take for a carpet to dry after cleaning?

How long a carpet dries will usually depend on the cleaning technique used. The two most common methods of carpet cleaning are dry cleaning and steam cleaning. Contrary to popular belief, dry cleaning isn’t exactly “dry”. Instead, it uses dry cleaning compounds along with minimal liquid to break down dirt, stains, and the like. Steam cleaning, on the other hand, uses hot water vapour and pressurizes it into the carpet to loosen up contaminants and vacuum them up.

Dry cleaning uses significantly less moisture compared to other types of carpet cleaning which means there’s little to no drying time. The tricky part is when steam cleaning is used. Although 95% of the water used gets extracted when steam cleaning, the carpet remains slightly wet afterwards. When left to dry on its own, steam cleaned carpets will usually take 3-6 hours before it completely dries. Of course, this drying period can be reduced or extended depending on a variety of factors which we’ll discuss down below.

Factors that can affect carpet drying times

• Carpet materials – Some carpet materials dry out pretty quickly while others can take a little bit longer. For example, wool carpets are very absorbent and will require more drying time than nylon or polyester. Carpets made out of 100% wool can take up to 24 hours to dry and even longer if the weather is cooler. Synthetic carpets are perfect for steam cleaning since they don’t trap as much moisture hench the shorter drying times.

• Humidity – Humidity plays an important role in drying a newly cleaned carpet. The lower the humidity, the faster the carpet will dry. This is because dry air allows moisture to evaporate easier and facilitate the drying process. We recommend getting some fresh air inside to replace the accumulated humid air out of your home for more efficient carpet drying.

• Temperature – The indoor temperature in your home can also affect how fast or slow the carpet dries. Ideally, the temperature should be around 20-30 degrees Celsius so the moisture can evaporate quickly. It would be best to have your carpet steam cleaned when the weather is warm and sunny for faster drying times.

How to make your carpet dry faster

Waiting for the carpet to dry can sometimes be inconvenient. If you’re looking to dry your carpets faster, there are a couple of ways you can do to help facilitate the drying process. Here are some tips worth considering.

• Open your doors and windows – Ventilation is crucial when drying a carpet. For this reason, you want to keep your doors and windows open to allow fresh air to circulate. Do this as soon as the professional carpet cleaners leave and leave them open for 2 hours or more.
  

• Use a dehumidifier – If you live in a relatively humid area, then using a dehumidifier is a good idea. This keeps moisture levels down to a minimum and helps the carpet dry faster. If you didn’t know, a wet carpet can potentially turn into a breeding ground for mould or mildew if it doesn’t dry completely.

• Make use of standing fans – Standing fans are great for speeding up the drying process by blowing air inside the room. Use the largest fan you have and set it up near the door for better air circulation. You can also rent carpet blowers which are more effective at eliminating moisture from both the surface and underneath carpets.

• Wet vacuum cleaner – A wet vacuum cleaner is specially designed to soak up liquids and moisture from a surface. This is particularly useful when the carpet is a bit moist after steam cleaning. Make sure to vacuum all four corners of the room to ensure all of the moisture has been sucked up.

• Move furniture – When drying a carpet, it’s a good idea to move sofas, chairs, and other furniture away from the room to allow for better air circulation. Do not return furniture to their original positions until the carpet is completely dry or else you’ll run into mould or mildew issues.

Having your carpet professionally cleaned is an important part of home maintenance. It keeps your home hygienic and it preserves the condition of your precious carpet. That said, you need to ensure that the carpet is completely dry before you can walk on it. Follow these tips to make drying times more manageable than it usually is. Speaking with a professional carpet cleaning company is always advisable should you require any additional information.