You just got your carpets professionally cleaned, and now you’re wondering how long will it take your carpets to fully dry? Why is it important to allow your carpets to dry completely before you walk on them? There are several key reasons for this!

The dirtier a carpet is, or the more it is being cleaned, the length of ample drying time is extremely significant. Wet carpets can significantly impact the amount of moisture in the air. Not only is it a health issue to allow carpets to completely and fully dry, but also crucial for keeping the longevity of your carpet.

Any carpet fibers that are still wet after 24 hours can cause microbial growth, which you do not want! If the carpet stays wet it can create mold and mildew, which in turn damages the carpet fibers and backing. Also, when you walk on wet carpet it can contribute to the wear and carpet life expectancy. If there is foot traffic on wet carpet before it’s dry, you run into the problem of your carpet becoming dirtier at a much faster rate.

Carpet drying times are affected by your climate, or the area you live in. Obviously, regions with more humidity and moisture in the air will have a longer and more difficult time drying compared to an area with an arid, dry climate. In humid areas you will need to use air movers, dehumidifiers, or fans to ensure that the carpet is dry within a 12 hour window. Moisture in the carpet fibers can create a swamp like effect that needs to be disturbed by fans, or it can greatly hinder the drying time process. The fans and air movers prevent stagnant air from delaying the drying process.

Drying time also differs between the various carpet cleaning methods. There is host cleaning, steam cleaning, encapsulation cleaning, and dry cleaning.

Host carpet cleaning uses an absorbent compound to pull soil from the surface of the carpet, then a wet absorbent is applied to the carpet and it’s buffed and agitated by a machine. With this type of carpet cleaning, carpet is dry almost immediately. This carpet cleaning method uses a similar stance as the dry cleaning method.

Steam cleaning or hot water extraction, is the suggested cleaning method by majority of carpet manufacturer’s. First the carpet is pre-treated with a cleaning solution that helps break down all the dirt and debris. The soil and solution is injected with a high pressure, hot rinse, and extracted. The normal drying time for steam cleaning is around 6 to 8 hours. This is the most sure fire way of disinfecting carpets and thoroughly cleaning all carpet layers.

Encapsulation cleaning is mainly used on low pile, commercial grade carpet. First the carpet is pre-treated with the encapsulating cleaning solution. Then a special machine is run over the carpet to agitate it. As the cleaning solution dries, it forms crystals which are supposed to “encapsulate” soil deposits, which are then removed by vacuuming. This type of carpet cleaning has relatively fast drying time, but it’s only recommended for low pile carpets.

Dry cleaning is also known as bonnet cleaning. Contrary to the name, this type of carpet cleaning is not dry. First a liquid cleaner is sprayed onto the surface of the carpet fibers. The cleaning solution breaks down the soil deposits then a buffing machine is run over the carpet. The buffing machine has a removable, absorbent pad (bonnet) on the bottom. This method also has a relatively fast drying time, but it’s cleaning capabilities are questionable.

In the end, if you’re wanting the best possible cleaning capabilities for your carpet, carpet drying time is inevitable. But, there is equipment which carpet cleaning professionals use that help speed up the drying process.