How to Clean a Flooded Car Carpet

Have you just got home from a trip? I hope, elements haven’t damaged your car. Thunderstorms and heavy rains are common in spring. They might soak the footwell in your car. When that happens, you ask yourself how to clean a flooded car carpet? This task is not easy. But it’s manageable if you use the right tool. Using a powerful, heavy-duty machine, you can get rid of debris, moisture and smell. Which device should you select? How do you deal with the consequences of storms? In this article, you will find several simple tips that I hope will help you to do the job with ease.

Reasons for Water Leaks in Your Car

Fortunately, the weather in California is warm and pleasant already. Here, in the Golden State, we enjoy sunny, hot days. Temperatures reach the 90s at the end of April. Wildfires are more likely than thunderstorms. But after a long trip, you might find water under the carpet in your car.

Multiple regions in the US are prone to heavy rains. The Atlantic hurricane season starts in June. Whereas the Pacific Coast suffers from tropical cyclones from May through November. Risk of getting caught by thunderstorms increases. Most tornadoes happen in April, May and June. The greatest threat is in the Plains-Midwest region. Is the damage repairable?

The best hot water extractor for car detailing can lift up to 230 inches of water. But, does it help? If the level of water was too high, it could cause serious damage. Try to avoid ocean storm areas. Saltwater pouring from the exhaust might turn it to scrap metal. National Insurance Crime Bureau warns customers against invisible damage risk. It recommends avoiding buying used vehicles without a detailed inspection.

Why is My Car Carpet Wet after Rain?

The bottom of your vehicle is virtually leak-proof. The doors feature rubber gaskets. They seal the car, providing perfect heat and sound insulation. However, subtle leaks might happen. If your car wasn’t in a flooded area and the level of water inside is not too high, you will be able to fix this.

Did you find a puddle on the car’s floorboard? That will require urgent attention. Dry out as soon as possible. Otherwise, mold and odors might build up. Using one of these machines is heavy-duty and efficient. It suits car detailing applications.

The carpet will dry up in only 24-48 hours. Drying time after steaming is shorter. But it works only if the upholstery/textile fiber was already dry.

The leak might appear due to:

• sunroof drains clogging;
• loose A/C hose;
• poor windshield installation;
• unsealed body seams;
• leaky drain plug.

First of all, make sure that the liquid on your carpet is water. I know it sounds silly but it may be antifreeze, oil or a fuel leakage and they could be dangerous. So much so, that in some states, like for example California, inspection for fuel leaks is a part of the official Smog Check. If it turns out it is just A/C condensation or rainwater, it should be safe to proceed as water is harmless. Anyway, check the engine, gas tank, oil dipstick, and filter. Make sure that your car is in good repair at all times and stop any leaks to avoid those puddles in the future.

How Do I Dry Out the Inside of My Car?

At his point, you have solved all car repair and maintenance issues. Fixed all leaks. Now you can remove the remaining water on the floorboard? You can use:

• a carpet cleaner or hot water extractor;
• paper or fabric towels;
• moisture absorber;
• airflow.

Remove rubber floor mats and clean them. Do it in your garage, parking lot, in your yard or at a gas station. Vacuum them, shake the dirt out. Wash the mats with a garden hose. Scrub them with a brush, if necessary.

Now, proceed with the car interior. Check the water level. Is it high? Remove the drain plug to run the water off. Use towels to sop it up from leather seats and cloths to dry up the upholstery. If there is about 1 inch of standing water, any wet/dry vac does the job. It picks up and holds 1-3 gallons of dirty liquid. 

How Can I Dry My Car Carpet Faster?

A powerful hot water extractor is more efficient. It heats water and uses high pressure to lift it. Together with a soap detergent, this technology touches the spot. This way, you clean deeply soiled areas and remove stubborn stains. And the carpets dry a bit faster than after conventional wet vacuuming.

Carpets, upholstery and floorboard remain damp to the touch.

How to dry car seats after valet? Heat and airflow eliminate lingering moisture. If you live in a sunny place, all it takes is leaving the car outdoors with the doors open. Hot, sunny weather does the job. Otherwise, apply:

• car A/C or climate control system;
• a dehumidifier;
• a portable fan;
• a hairdryer;
• your garage heater.

Get rid of wetness within a couple of hours. It’s important to prevent mold development. Otherwise, it covers the surfaces and results in an unpleasant musky odor.

How Do You Get Rid of the Smell of a Flooded Car?

Traces of mildew might be invisible in hidden places. Use a spray like air freshener, deodorizer or odor neutralizer. It kills bacteria and reduces odors. If some spots on your seat covers or carpets are moldy, the stains will be difficult to remove.

Try to kill the mold, using a mixture, based on:

• white vinegar;
• baking soda;
• Borax powder;
• special agent.

Don’t forget to wear protective gloves and a face mask before cleaning. Apply the liquid on the spots, wait for 10-20 minutes. Rinse the textile off, using an extractor or vacuum. Check all areas under the seats and the gaps between them. Clean the trunk. Washing parts under the hood is even more difficult. They are vulnerable. So, cover the engine to protect it.

Final Words

So, how to clean a flooded car carpet? Moisture should not remain inside your car. It could damage the carpets and surfaces. Mold development is destructive. Try to prevent it. Leave windows or doors open at midday. Use your climate control heating. Pour some soda or moisture absorbent behind the seats. Let your car interior be always dry and odor-free. It prolongs its lifespan, making your trips enjoyable.

How to Use a Carpet Extractor?

I am sure, you are proud of your house. Keeping it clean is not easy. You are to wash and vacuum your floor, clean sinks in your bathroom and kitchen… and sometimes it’s not enough. Every room requires deep cleaning once in a while and a carpet extractor often comes handy. So the question is, how to use a carpet extractor? Many tasks would be unsolvable without heavy-duty appliances. They help us to clean windows, countertops and the tile floor in the kitchen. Washing dishes and bedding accessories is intuitive with modern appliances. Carpets and rugs should not be any different. Stubborn stains are difficult to remove. Let me remind you about the ways to do it faster and easier.

What is a Carpet Extractor Used for?

How often do you vacuum carpets in your house? Do it once a week or more often. Carpets are warm and beautiful. They insulate your rooms, making them comfortable and quiet. They cushion your floors, preventing slip-and-fall accidents. But carpets and rugs collect dust. They trap pollutants and small particles of toxic substances.

How to get rid of them? Commonly, vacuuming is enough. Although in specific situations, you should use one of the Best hot water extractor to get the job done. Their applications include:

• car detailing;
• professional cleaning services;
• commercial and industrial facilities;
• large, high-traffic carpeted areas;
• leakages elimination;
• heavy-duty task solving.

Using the best commercial carpet extractor is essential in apartment complexes and offices. These large machines clean carpeted areas in health care and educational institutions. Public facilities might require special sanitizing, cleaning and disinfecting measures. Extractors eliminate debris, dirt and oil-based grime in a matter of minutes. They are powerful and heavy-duty, but a bit bulky. Will you need such a monster of a device at home? Let’s dig deeper into it.

What’s the Difference Between a Carpet Cleaner and a Carpet Extractor?

According to the CDC, pure water with detergent does the job. It cleans all objects and surfaces. Multiple appliances use cleaning solutions. Both carpet cleaner and extractor removes stains, dirt and odors. Any of these devices deep-cleans your carpets. Comparing them, we realize their benefits.

Have you got a comparatively small rug? If it lies in the center of your room, cleaning is much easier. You can lift it, flip outdoors and vacuum from the bottom side. A wet/dry vacuum removes small, fresh stains from textiles. It washes your floors, eliminating the need to mop them.

What equipment do professional carpet cleaners use? You could call these machines portable but not compact. They feature large, heavy-duty casters and wide carrying handles. You can move an extractor by yourself. It’s powerful, durable, but not very compact. An industrial machine could be also a bit noisy, exceeding the 80 dB limit.

What is a Carpet and Tile Extractor? 

A carpet cleaner could be pretty compact and lightweight. Upright, canister and cordless devices exist. Household appliances are handy to solve your daily cleaning tasks. If you’ve got a small house or apartment, your wet/dry vacuum has you covered. A compact device helps you to clean several rugs or carpets easily.

An extractor is:

• large;
• powerful;
• fast;
• versatile;
• efficient at removing stubborn stains.

A hot water extractor is a versatile device. It suits cleaning delicate upholstery, tiles, linoleum and, in general, all types of surfaces. It usually comes with multiple brushes and attachments. An extractor uses water, suction and heat to clean heavily soiled areas. It’s able to revive very old rugs and upholstery, prolonging their lifespans. A machine heats water up to boiling temperatures.

Some manufacturers may call these appliances steamers, although that would be a bit of a misnomer. These machines use hot water, but no steam and that’s one of their core advantages. Using detergents, they extract dirt from the fibers. Hot water kills bacteria and germs. They disinfect, sanitize, and clean your rugs.

How Do You Use a Carpet Extractor with a Heater?

The hot water extraction method is beneficial in many cases. If you use no detergents, it’s completely safe to breathe. No chemical residue remains after the treatment. It’s possible to apply a chemical on the stains. The appliance degreases them and extracts dirty liquid back to the machine.

Although the hot water is safe to use with delicate fabrics, it should not touch your skin. The main four parts of a carpet extractor are:

• motor;
• heating element;
• high-pressure pump;
• two water tanks: for clean and dirty water.

An advanced device may include a third tank that holds the special detergent. It should be safe-to-touch. Anyway, make sure both water tanks are attached and sealed properly. It’s important to enhance your security while the extractor is in operation.

Finally, there are 2 types of heaters: external and onboard. External heating elements are detachable. They make hot water extractors more powerful. On the other hand, on-board devices are much safer. The heater remains inside the case, eliminating scald burn risks.

How Do You Extract a Carpet?

At home, you don’t need an extractor very often. After a flood, water spill or leak, it sucks water in a trace. Stubborn stains in high-traffic areas could require heavy-duty cleaning. You easily solve your daily and weekly tasks with small, lightweight devices. It’s only once or twice a year your house interior requires detailing.

Have you got a rented or your own extractor? If so, get ready to clean your room. Buy a suitable cleaning solution and defoaming agent. Remove chairs and lightweight furniture. How to use a carpet extractor? Read the manual, as every machine is different. Commonly, you need to:

1. Make sure the dirty water (recovery) tank is empty.
2. Fill the tank with warm tap water.
3. Add some detergent.
4. Select and attach the necessary brush.
5. Checks the tanks position and their lids installation.
6. Plug the extractor into the socket.
7. Turn the switches on.
8. Clean your beautiful carpet.

Your extractor might include several switches. One of them turns motor on, the other makes the pump operate. Additionally, you are to press a button to inject clean water. Then turn on extraction function and move backward. As a result, the machine will start collecting dirty liquid.

Final Words

When the recovery tank is full, empty it. Don’t forget to unplug the machine before you do, though. Is the job complete? Allow the textiles to dry. Don’t walk on it. Avoid moving your furniture during 12-24 hours. Hot water extractors still leave carpets pretty damp. But it’s the only downside. These machines are powerful and fast. They lift hidden dirt from the deep carpet areas. Detail your house with an extractor 2-3 times a year. It will keep your environment clean and healthy.