Buckets, pots and pans only go so far when trying to catch water leaking into your home. Sometimes all you can do is wait for the water to stop running and assess the damage.

Watch: Professional cleaner reveals the one product you need to clean everything

If you've found yourself in a bit of a bind and your carpet is saturated, it's essential to dry it as quickly as possible.

Letting the water sit can cause mould to grow, not to mention it stinks! Mould usually grows after 48 to 72 hours, so you must act fast. 

If you plan on claiming the damage on your insurance, it's a good idea to call them first to see what documentation they need and take plenty of photos. 

The first thing you need to do is to stop the water source. Once the water has stopped leaking, clear the room and ensure nothing is on the carpet so it can dry properly.

Leaving heavy objects on your carpet while drying, can damage it. 

If the water leak is from a burst pipe or a source of clean water, the easiest way to remove extra moisture is to hire a wet-dry vacuum. Make sure you read the instructions carefully. 

Once you've extracted as much water as possible with the vacuum, you can use an absorbent towel to soak up the last of it. 

As we all know, bi-carb soda has many uses and helping to soak up excess water from your carpet is one of them! It will also help with the smell. Sprinkling a generous amount over your carpet to get the last ounces of moisture out. Leave it until dry and vacuum up.

Once the water cleanup is finished, it's time to help your carpet dry. The time it takes to dry will depend on your conditions and airflow. So grab your fans and a dehumidifier (here are some DIY dehumidifier options if you don't have one), and set them up to dry the carpet. Make sure you move them every few hours to ensure the whole carpet dries. 

Open the windows and encourage as much air circulation as possible in the room. 

Unfortunately, drying the carpet might not be enough. The padding underneath your carpet might need to be replaced depending on how much water there was.

For water that has come into your home from a leaking sewer pipe or significant flooding, it may have brought with it things like silt, bacteria and other kinds of unhealthy slush, which can be harmful to your health and need to be removed. 

Plus, your chance to win

Plus, your chance to win

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%