Wet carpet :(

[LionsandBears]

I left a tap in the laundry going and went and made a cake (don't ask, some days I am so vague I can't believe I can breathe without a note). Anyway, the water poured into a bucket. The spout of the bucket was touching the bench, so rather than overflowing into the laundry trough, it poured over the bench, onto the tiled floor, out into the hallway, through or under the skirting board and into the bedroom, which is carpeted.

The edges of 2 walls of the bedroom are now damp/wet. I have thrown towels down to absorb the moisture but I've run out of dry towels. What can I do to keep the carpet from going mouldy and smelly?

I feel like a total idiot but I'm hoping it's not an expensive mistake.

[Floweryfields]

Can you loan a wet vac or carpet cleaner from someone?

[LionsandBears]

Can you loan a wet vac or carpet cleaner from someone?

Dunno - didnt know such a thing existed.

[nothing2lose]

I might be wrong but I would put bicarb soda on it. Then vacuum it up later (obviously)

Also, use tea towels, even sheets as de facto dry towels.

[Glamoreyez]

You can hire steam cleaners from supermarkets in Victoria - no idea where you are or if it differs state to state...
You can use that to suck up the water.

Can you tell this has happened to me MANY times???

[nothing2lose]

You can get one from a Woolworths not far from you L&B.

[LionsandBears]

Thanks. So far the damage seems to be 2-3 metres by 5-10 cm and one area in the corner that may be 20x20cm. I have the central fan going and a small stand alone fan. Do you think it could wait until tomorrow to hire the steam cleaner or should I do it now?

My main concern is about the underlay being wet and turning mouldy. And if I rip up the corner of the carpet, how do I stick it down again? Luckily a bed is along both those walls, but still.

[LionsandBears]

Ok - just talked to a kid at the local Woolies. She said that as they are steam cleaners, they dont suck up water. Is that right? Excuse my complet3e ignorance. The last time I did something like this, the property agent organised one of those industrial blower things. Now we dont have a landlord, I cant handball this stuff.

[Sopdet]

towels and cool air are what mum used to swear by

do you have a dryer for the towels you've used? Or even put them through the spin cycle on the machine to get most of the dampness out of them.

[LionsandBears]

I'm doing a quick wash on them all and then I'll throw them in the dryer. I've put down more tea towels and dishcloths on the carpet.

[Glamoreyez]

Steam cleaners suck up what they put down. When doing your own steam cleaning, you spray a mix of hot soapy water onto the carpet and then suck it back up...
To just suck up water, don't spray it first...