What Happens Car Carpet Left Wet

Mold is incredibly toxic to humans and pets.

What happens car carpet left wet.

Ditch the air freshener and target areas that might still feel wet with a blow dryer. You can t dry out wet car carpet until you first dry out the padding. Water damage is a problem anywhere but can be especially bad in cars. Cold damp weather can make it even harder to get your car dry.

As a result even a little bit of water on the carpet can lead to mildew and other problems if left alone. Removing water from the carpet is not that hard but the pad will remain wet and can get mold damaged. They re enclosed spaces without much ventilation when the engine isn t running. If your car has airbags disconnect the negative battery cable before you proceed.

The most common source of water inside the car is a clogged hvac drain tube. A clogged drain tube might allow this water to pool or even leak into the vehicle soaking the carpets. Drying both can be a trick. You ll have mold and mildew growing within a few days and your car will stink.

This tube provides drainage for water condensing on the ac evaporator and any water that enters the hvac system during rain storms. After all cars are designed to keep water out. It s important to act quickly in removing moisture from the. When you leave moisture sitting in a warm dark place these toxins will invade your home and once moisture and mold permeate a carpet pad it s impossible to eradicate.

Cars are enclosed spaces with poor air circulation when the car is not running. If the tube is clogged with dirt and debris the water drips from the heat vents onto the floor instead of dripping onto the road. If you do not have a professional dry out your wet carpet then you should at least remove the wet pad. Trust me if you think you can vacuum out all the water with a wet vac you re just kidding yourself.

Remove the seat s and peel back the carpet. Storm damage flood damage and even diy carpet cleaning can lead to wet carpet. Fortunately a little heat and air circulation will do the trick. Unattended wet carpet is prone to mold and mildew.

Remove the plastic drain plugs from the bottom of the car if present stuff newspaper under the carpet and replace frequently. Next get some moisture absorbent products such as baking soda that you can leave inside the car behind each of the seats. Wet carpet can be a perfect breeding ground for mold especially if the air is humid and the water remains in place longer than 48 hours. This will work over time to dry out your car s cabin and reduce the chance of funky odors taking root.

Water damage can flood your carpet causing the carpet and pad to get soaked.