Rug Mildew and Rot Prevention
When rugs are left wet for an extended period of time, they eventually develop mold and rot due to dry rot. The most well-known cause of dry rot is a potted plant that has been placed on top of a rug. The typical end result is a terribly rotten circular region in the middle of a carpet that is in fine shape everywhere else. Do not even entertain the thought of placing a plant in a pot on a rug. The rug will get wet and will stay wet unbeknownst to you, and it will become a rotten mess in an area about one foot in diameter. This will happen regardless of how clever you are, regardless of whether you use a glazed pot and a glazed saucer, and regardless of whether you put a vapor barrier between the saucer and the rug, but the rug will still get wet.
When carpets are improperly stored, such as in a garage for example, and they become damp without anyone recognizing what has happened to them, this is another common scenario that can occur. Even if dry rot may not be unavoidable in such circumstances, a mildew smell certainly is, and the smell of mildew may in some cases simply be impossible to eliminate. On more than one occasion, I’ve observed rugs on the floor above a house that had mildewed because of moisture that was present under the house.
However, I would ask that you not worry unnecessarily. Even a substantial amount of water left on a rug for an extended period of time will not result in mildew growth on the rug, regardless of how much water is left on it. For instance, the majority of rugs can withstand being stepped on after a shower or bath without being damaged by the water since they have had time to dry out in between uses. Also, if you accidentally spill a glass of water on a rug, you shouldn’t freak out. Simply use towels to dry it as thoroughly as possible.
Unfortunately, not only may water lead to the growth of mildew and dry rot, but it can also cause the dyes in rugs to bleed or flow. In this predicament, the only thing you can do is get the rug dry as quickly as possible and then take it to someone who is an expert at washing rugs. Do what I described above to deal with a rug that has just a tiny bit of moisture on it, such as from a glass of water that was knocked over. If you use a towel or some paper towels to soak up as much water as you can, things should work out just fine. Raise the damp area so that it can dry out at a higher level if you are concerned about the floor below it.
A rug that has been saturated with water is a different story. It will mildew in approximately four or five days, so the objective is to dry it out before that happens. If you have a Shopvac or another type of vacuum that can take up water, remove as much water as you can by sucking it up with the vacuum. If you have access to natural light and a flat surface outside, you should unfold the rug and allow it to completely dry there. Alternately, if you are aware that the rug is dirty in addition to being wet, allow it to dry to the point where it may be taken to a specialist who cleans oriental rugs.
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