Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Smelly wet carpet help pls (no not 'cos of that!)

7 replies

Mandy2003 · 03/01/2013 18:09

This would probably be a conundrum for PigletJohn or any DIY minded FHG'er...I'll start at the beginning and say that the mains stopcock to my flat is in the fitted wardrobe in my bedroom. The (concrete) floor of the wardrobe is (was!) carpeted and the stopcock has been oozing unnoticed for some time.

This is because it is behind a heavy solid wood chest of drawers. Due to the proximity of water pipe and clothing I have checked for signs of mould in the drawers (!) quite frequently and all was well. But unknown to me there has been a leak. Discovered it today when I needed the water turned off for something else, moved the chest and unleashed the dam!!

I've put the chest in a well-ventilated area to dry out empty and thrown away the mingin' carpet that was under it, but where the water has oozed onto the "good" carpet in front it's a bit whiffy. Have lifted the edge of the carpet and got a fan heater on it to dry it but as it's wool carpet this is going to take a long time.

Not sure what I can (should?) do about the underlay which seems to be a kind of rubber sandwich with crispy meshy matting (!) top layer. This is only in the main room area, there are sealed cork tiles in the wardrobe itself that I removed the carpet from.

So what's the best way to take this forward and stop my bedroom smelling like a swamp?! Thanks in advance x

OP posts:
Mandy2003 · 03/01/2013 18:10

Oooh sorry, forgot to check text - have this on another DIY forum too as in need of urgent advice!

OP posts:
homeaway · 03/01/2013 18:16

Borrow or buy a dehumidifier as that will help it dry out faster.

Mandy2003 · 03/01/2013 18:18

Would that just be to dry the carpet or does the cork and concrete need drying too?

OP posts:
PigletJohn · 03/01/2013 19:56

notify your home insurance compaqny that you have had an Escape of Water which appears to have damaged the carpet and underlay, and may also have damaged the flooring, wall plaster, decoration and fitted wardobe.

Get a plumber to fix the leaking stopcock. This will not be covered by insurance.

Mandy2003 · 04/01/2013 19:34

Thanks all. PigletJohn - just checked the insurance and the excess for everything is £50 except escape of water which is £250. I don't think I CBA to claim.

Have pulled the carpet up and propped it as much as I can and am directing a fan heater at it. Not much change after 24 hours to be honest. Then I bought a "mini dehumidifier" this morning (electric) - cost £50 and so far not one drop of water has collected in the reservoir! Think that might be going back on Monday.

Smell has improved however. Just p'd off with having to sleep with 4 drawers on my bed while the cabinet dries elsewhere Sad

OP posts:
PigletJohn · 04/01/2013 19:39

if you end up having to buy a new carpet, new underfelt, new cabinet, new plaster and redecorating, on top of the humidifier, you might wish you'd claimed.

Mandy2003 · 04/01/2013 21:52

Well TBH John the water hasn't got anywhere near any of the walls (will check with a damp meter when I catch up with a surveyor pal). It's only a 1m x 0.5m patch of carpet (over a concrete floor) which I may need to clean (have Vax Rapide already) and I have a very ambivalent relationship with furniture - I have decided as I was only using 1 drawer of the cabinet that I will probably Freecycle it and re-carpet the bottom of the wardrobe and line up my shoes nicely in a girly fashion!

And I figured I'd redecorate when I change ALL the furniture anyway.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread