Furniture, heavy objects, and everyday use can flatten the pile of some carpet types. Seeing a dent in your carpet can be frustrating, but don’t worry, it can be fixed with a little bit of effort. You can use an iron, ice cube, or a blow dryer to raise the flattened carpet. If none of these methods work, it’s best to consult a professional.
Steps
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Place a damp cloth over the flattened area. You can use an old cloth or towel, though a towel might be better because it is usually thicker than a cloth. Wet the cloth and wring it out so that it is damp. [1] X Research source Then, place the cloth directly over the dent. [2] X Expert Source Abraham Schwartz
Handyman Expert Interview. 28 August 2020. -
Turn the iron to medium heat. You can turn the iron to medium heat or a steam setting. The iron won’t remove the dent if it is too cool, but it could damage the towel and carpet if it is turned to the highest setting. [3] X Research sourceAdvertisement
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Move the iron over the cloth for 30 to 60 seconds. Move the iron over the cloth for thirty seconds to one minute. Make sure to keep the iron moving and do not let it directly touch the carpet. Keeping the iron in one spot for too long or letting it touch the carpet could leave a burn mark. [4] X Research source
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Fluff the carpet fibers with your hands. At this point, you can remove the cloth and turn off the iron. Then, fluff up the carpet with your hands to make it uniform with the rest of the carpet. [5] X Expert Source Abraham Schwartz
Handyman Expert Interview. 28 August 2020.- The dent may be gone when you remove the cloth, but still lightly fluff the carpet so it will be fluffy as it dries.
- You can also gently comb or brush the carpet if it's a high pile. [6]
X
Expert Source
Abraham Schwartz
Handyman Expert Interview. 28 August 2020.
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Place an ice cube on the flattened carpet. Take an ice cube or cubes out of the refrigerator. You can use one large ice cube or several small cubes. Then, immediately place the ice cube over the dent in the carpet. Place it directly on the carpet without anything coming between the ice and the carpet. [7] X Research source
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Wait for the ice to melt. Let the ice melt on its own. Wait for a few hours or 12 hours for a very deep dent. If you’re pressed for time, you can use a blow dryer to speed up the process. [8] X Research source
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Fluff the carpet with a toothbrush. If the carpet is quite damp, you can sponge up the excess water. Then, use a toothbrush to fluff up the carpet fibers. You can also use stiff brush to scrub the pile into place. [9] X Research source
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Pat the area with a cloth. After fluffing up the carpet, use a cloth to gently rub the area. This should make the newly raised carpet appear uniform with the rest of the carpet. The carpet should be good as new again at this point. [10] X Research source
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Spritz the dent with water. Fill a spray bottle with water. The water shouldn’t be very cold or very warm. Then, saturate the flattened area with water. [11] X Research source
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Blow-dry the carpet on a high setting. After you’ve sprayed the dent with water, hold a blow dryer over it. Turn the blow dryer to a high setting. You may need an extension cord if the area is not close to a socket. Blow dry the area until it begins to dry. [12] X Research source
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Fluff up the carpet with your fingers. As you are blow drying, you can begin to fluff up the carpet. Continue to fluff the up the carpet even after you turn the blow dryer off. At this point, you should be finished. If the carpet is not as raised you’d like, you can repeat the process or call in a professional. [13] X Research source
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow do you fix a flattened carpet?Abraham Schwartz is a handyman and the owner of Fixin’ To Do, a home improvement service in Austin, Texas. Abraham specializes in both small to medium residential and commercial sized jobs, ranging from TV mounting to furniture assembly to home automation setup. Prior to starting Fixin’ To Do, Abraham worked for over 10 years as a handyman for third party services and had a lifetime of learning how to improve houses. He holds both his TSBPE Plumbing Examiners and Electrical Apprentice (TX) Licenses. In 2018 and 2019, Fixin’ To do was rated as a Top Pro by Thumbtack.Depending on the type of carpet, the easiest way to do that is to vacuum it, then tuft the carpet by hand. If that doesn't work, place a damp towel over the carpet, then run an iron over it to gently steam it. Then, fluffy the carpet by hand or gently comb or brush it.
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Tips
- If there's only a small area of carpet that's been flattened, vacuum it, then tuft it by hand. [14] X Expert Source Abraham Schwartz
Handyman Expert Interview. 28 August 2020.Thanks - Put a rug over areas of carpet that are walked over a lot. This can protect the carpet. [15] X Research sourceThanks
- Regularly moving furniture around a little can help avoid flattening pile too deeply. [16] X Research sourceThanks
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Warnings
- Do not let the iron have direct contact with your carpet. Direct contact could cause burn marks. [19] X Research sourceThanks
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Things You'll Need
- Iron
- Cloth
- Ice
- Spray bottle
- Blow dryer
References
- ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/15/fix-carpet-dents_n_3275207.html
- ↑ Abraham Schwartz. Handyman. Expert Interview. 28 August 2020.
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-get-dents-out-of-carpet/#.WXm9n4plM0o
- ↑ https://www.angieslist.com/articles/4-tips-clean-and-revive-carpet-pile.htm
- ↑ Abraham Schwartz. Handyman. Expert Interview. 28 August 2020.
- ↑ Abraham Schwartz. Handyman. Expert Interview. 28 August 2020.
- ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/15/fix-carpet-dents_n_3275207.html
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-get-dents-out-of-carpet/#.WXm9n4plM0o
- ↑ https://www.angieslist.com/articles/4-tips-clean-and-revive-carpet-pile.htm
- ↑ https://www.angieslist.com/articles/4-tips-clean-and-revive-carpet-pile.htm
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-get-dents-out-of-carpet/#.WXm9n4plM0o
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-get-dents-out-of-carpet/#.WXm9n4plM0o
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-get-dents-out-of-carpet/#.WXm9n4plM0o
- ↑ Abraham Schwartz. Handyman. Expert Interview. 28 August 2020.
- ↑ https://www.angieslist.com/articles/4-tips-clean-and-revive-carpet-pile.htm
- ↑ https://www.angieslist.com/articles/4-tips-clean-and-revive-carpet-pile.htm
- ↑ Abraham Schwartz. Handyman. Expert Interview. 28 August 2020.
- ↑ https://www.angieslist.com/articles/4-tips-clean-and-revive-carpet-pile.htm
- ↑ https://www.angieslist.com/articles/4-tips-clean-and-revive-carpet-pile.htm
About This Article
Article Summary
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To raise flattened pile carpet, you can try using an iron to get rid of the dents. First, place a damp cloth over the flattened carpet to protect it from the heat of the iron. Then, adjust the iron setting to medium heat and steadily iron over the cloth for 30 to 60 seconds. After you’ve ironed the carpet, remove the cloth and use your fingers to the fluff the fibers. You can also try using ice to raise flattened pile carpet. First, place several ice cubes on the carpet and let them melt. Once the ice cubes have completely melted, use a toothbrush to fluff up the carpet fibers. Then, dry the area by patting it with a cloth. For more tips on raising flattened pile carpet, like how to use a blow dryer to remove the dents, read on!
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