How do I absorb overflowed toilet water from a carpet? Please HELP!!?

Question

Our toilet overflowed and crap water continued to flow without our knowledge... it went under the wall and saturated my sons bedroom carpet. We have used the Shop Vac for hours but it is still wet and smells horrible. I thought maybe Baking Soda but not sure. Please Help!!

Answer 1

pull the carpet up and dry from underneath. Use a dehumidifier and an Air mover. When its dry it can be put back down and professionally cleaned.

Answer 2

Toilet Carpet

Answer 3

The longer you leave the damp carpet there, the more likely you will cause the floor underneath to rot. Remove it NOW. Put down something absorbent like clean catbox litter or sawdust. After 2 hours or so, sweep it ALL up. If you use a vacuum, make sure it's a SHOP VAC (which can handle water), not an ordinary vacuum. Then put the fans on again. Drying may take days. If you never get the floor really dry you will have to replace the floor boards. Good luck. If you can't afford the tile right away, and you can dry out the floor boards, consider linoleum-type carpet.

Answer 4

Overflowed Toilet

Answer 5

Sorry to hear about the crap part. We had a water leak at the toilet and just plain water made and unbelievable problem. We ripped up the carpet and padding, put fans to the waferboard flooring which had molded. Once it was dry we pour the bleach to it, scrubbed, then dried again. You must make sure this subfloor is perfectly dry before you reinstall any kind of floor covering. We opted for linoleum tiles for sanitary and future clean-up reasons. The carpet was not an option for us ever again after this mess! Good luck!

Answer 6

This is a health hazard you need to call a professional or just rip up that carpet and the pad and let the flooring dry for a couple of days. I would call your house/renters insurance company and get them to check on this you can get pros do to do the job correctly without hazard to your son and get the carpet replaced.
My clean toilet water overflowed down through the ceiling below, I had to get the tile replaced, the ceiling redone and the bathroom downstairs had to be re wallpapered it was a long job but its done right!

Answer 7

You're not going to like this answer...
Pull the carpet. You've got a great breeding ground for bacteria and mold, and unless you want to cause him breathing problems or other health problems, you can't take the chance. You may be able to dry out the carpet, but you'll still need to sanitize it, which may discolor it.

You'll also need to address the floor where the water stood, and scrub it with a bleach solution.

Homeowners or renters insurance may cover this. Either way, pull that carpet.

Good Luck,

Answer 8

Don't use baking soda until it is dry or you will have a cakey mess.
Get a carpet cleaner from your local Kroger (or other store) and use it to suck up the water. You may need a dehumidifier running in that room also. You need to get it dry soon before mildew sets in. You can always pull the carpet away from the wall and to help get it dry. Use carpet cleaner that are designed for animals when you have it almost dry.

Answer 9

I'd take the carpet up and throw it away. If that's not an option, rent a carpet shampooer and I'd get the pet stain shampoo. Call a water repair company like serve-pro and have them shampoo it. Call you insurance company and file a claim, get the place cleaned up and new carpet. You'd have to pay the deductible, of course. Could be that you don't have that kind of coverage, though. I had to sign up for it. Good luck. White vinegar mix with water is very good. It kills germs and odors.

Answer 10

Pull the carpet up by the edge. Fold it back as far as you need to. Continue to use the shop vac and bring in EVERY fan you have. In addition to needing the carpet dry - you have to get the pad dry too.