Carpet Cleaning: What is the Standard Drying Time When Carpet is Cleaned?

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Just-cleaned carpet should dry within six to eight hours or less, and should never stay damp more than 24 hours, or microbial growth and odor may occur.

Slow-drying carpet may have had too much cleaning solution applied and not enough removed or extracted; or it may simply be a matter of humid-air conditions in the area cleaned. [Note: Ad links featured on this page are not affiliated with IICRC and should not be considered a recommendation or endorsement by IICRC.]

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Carpet cleaning machines - and operators - vary in their ability to control wetting, to properly extract solution and soil, and to implement drying procedures both during and after cleaning. The Carpet and Rug Institute evaluates equipment to determine how well it cleans and removes moisture (see www.carpet-rug.org). IICRC-Certified Firms provide technicians with on-going education and training in effective carpet cleaning and drying, which leads to certification for technicians.

High velocity blowers or fans speed drying by promoting rapid evaporation. Operating ceiling or vent fans, and setting the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system on moderate temperatures (typically 72-75°F), also helps dry carpet relatively quickly.

About IICRC

The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC) is a non-profit certifying body for the floor and carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning and disaster restoration industry. Organized in 1972, the IICRC currently represents more than 5200 Certified Firms and more than 42,000 Certified Technicians in 33 countries. The IICRC sets consensus standards for inspection, cleaning and disaster restoration. Locate IICRC-Certified Firms at www.certifiedcleaners.org.