Can SERVPRO Stop Color Bleeding On Rugs During Water Removal?

9/14/2020 (Permalink)

Thomson Homeowners Do Not Want To Replace Rugs After Water Removal.

A rug is an excellent accessory in any Thomson home. From traditional-style rugs, like Grandma might have to fun and colorful rag rugs, a floor covering can make a difference to your home's atmosphere.

Unfortunately, rugs are among the items that can get damaged during a water incident. Whether the water is from inclement weather or an indoor leak, it is disheartening to see your possessions soaked. People who need water removal in Thomson want to know that the remediation team will take good care of their belongings.

Will I have to replace my rug after water removal?

Every water removal situation is individual. However, SERVPRO of August South / Burke & Wilkes Counties emphasizes restoration over replacement. We understand that you don't want to trash your prized possessions, nor do you want to spend more money than necessary.

There are cases where it is impossible to save rugs, such as floods, where raw sewage is present. However, we can clean, dry, and restore your favorite floor coverings in many cases, leaving them, "Like it never even happened."

When should I call SERVPRO?

Call us as soon as you find a leak or flood in your home. No job is too big or too small for our teams, and it is better to call sooner rather than later. The longer you leave water standing, the greater the risk of fungal growth, and the less chance we have to save your belongings. We are available 24/7, so do not wait.

 Is there anything I can do while I wait for SERVPRO?

If it is safe for you to do so, we recommend:

• Removing books, magazines, or any other colored objects from wet rugs as these can cause staining
• Placing wooden blocks or squares of aluminum foil under wooden furniture legs to protect against rust stains
• Moving the rug away from the wet carpet beneath

You can also mop or blot up excess water from the rug or carpet's surface, but please do not attempt to use a household vacuum or any other electronic device. Only carry out these tasks if the room is safe for you to enter with no sagging ceilings or other visible risks.

How does SERVPRO extract the water?

The first step in saving your rug is to extract water from the rug and the carpet or floor beneath it. Our technicians use a range of extraction tools, including:

• Free-standing pumps which are portable and can be used throughout your home providing there is a source of electricity
• Truck-mounted pumps which are suitable for larger volumes of water or where there is not a source of electricity (because they run off the truck's fuel)
• Light wands which are ideal for removing water from the surface of glued-down carpet
• Self-propelled and stationary extraction tools to pull water out of the carpet

What can you do to stop color bleeding?

We make sure your rug is clear of any colored items that could spread pigment onto it, and we keep it away from furniture that could stain it. We removed water consistently and evenly, to protect the rug and leave the pile undamaged. 

We train our technicians to the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC) standards, so you can rest assured they are up to date on the latest industry techniques for water removal and remediation.

What about cleaning my rugs?

Our teams can certainly help you with cleaning. Before we clean, we carry out a series of tests to determine: 

• The type of fibers
• The colorfastness of the rug
• The type and level of soiling
• Any pre-existing stains or damage and how they might affect cleaning

We test for color bleeding on multi-colored rugs. We try an inconspicuous area and watch for bleeding, including color running at the end of drying, as some color does not run until the fiber is nearly dry. We test every color in the rug before commencing the next stage.

If the rug is one color, we test for color loss before we clean.

Can you help with drying too?

Yes, once the rug is clean, we dry it. We have air movers, portable heaters, and dehumidifiers on hand to hasten drying. We can also hang the carpet to let air circulate and encourage it to dry faster. If you are concerned about lingering damp smells, we can apply deodorizing products to the rug, and we can also use air scrubbers to clean the air in the room.

If you are concerned about your rugs getting water damaged, call SERVPRO of Augusta South / Burke & Wilkes Counties at (706) 843-1990.