Take a Carpet Nap: How to Unflatten Carpet and Clean Beyond the Surface

Carpet remains one of the most popular types of flooring out there. In fact, putting carpet in the living room and bedrooms is still a major trend.

But it’s no secret that carpet can start to look flat and deflated over time.

With the right know-how, you can keep your carpet full and fluffy. We’ve put together this guide to help you learn how to unflatten carpet that’s seen better days.

So let’s get started!

Start By Vacuuming

You should always start the unflattening process with a quick vacuum. This will do a few things for you.

First of all, it will remove any debris from the surface of your carpet, like dirt or pet hair. This debris can get in the way of your treatment or, at the very least, will make the job a lot messier.

Vacuuming will also fluff up the carpet. This will give you a better idea of which areas are matted and need more attention.

How to Unflatten Furniture Marks

All furniture makes indentations in your carpet if it stays in one place long enough. These indentations can be deep, especially if you have thick, fluffy carpet.

But they aren’t hard to get rid of. All you need are a few ice cubes.

Here’s what to do next.

• Fill the carpet indentations with ice cubes, keeping them at least two inches apart
• Let the ice melt completely (this might take a few hours)
• Use your fingers (or a stiff brush) to fluff the carpet fibers back up
• Repeat the process if needed

If you don’t want to wait around for the ice to melt on its own, you can also use a hairdryer to speed up the process. But keep it at a low heat so you don’t damage your carpet.

It’s also a good idea to vacuum over the unflattened section after it dries. The vacuum will help fluff the carpet fibers again.

How to Unflatten Areas with Heavy Foot Traffic

If you’re dealing with a carpet that gets heavy foot traffic, you’ll need more than a few ice cubes to unflatten the fibers.

Start by warming up your iron and getting a damp cloth (or towel). Then follow these steps:

• Lay the damp cloth over the affected carpet
• Iron over the cloth for several seconds
• Move the cloth to a new area and repeat

The mix of water and heat will make the carpet fibers stand back up again. But the cloth has to be damp. If you use a dry towel, you’ll spend a lot of time on your hands and knees without making a difference.

And make sure you don’t let the iron touch the carpet—not even for a few seconds. Without the damp cloth, the iron might burn your carpet.

How to Lift (And Clean) the Entire Carpet

The iron and damp cloth method is effective, but it’s not practical to iron your entire living room.

Baking soda and vinegar can refresh and re-fluff your whole carpet. And on top of that, it gives you a way to clean your carpet below the surface. Baking soda kills bacteria hidden in your carpet and removes bad smells.

There are two steps involved in this process, and it’s important you don’t rush through them and do them at the same time.

Here’s how to apply the baking soda.

• Spread an even layer of baking soda over your carpet
• Use a stiff brush to work it into the fibers
• Let the baking soda sit overnight
• Then vacuum the baking soda up the next day

Once you’ve cleaned the baking soda, fill a spray bottle with equal parts vinegar and water. Here’s what to do next:

• Spray the water and vinegar mixture over the carpet
• Use enough to make the carpet damp
• Work it into the fibers with your stiff brush

After a few hours, the vinegar smell will go away. Then your entire carpet will look fluffy and new again.

Don’t spray the vinegar onto your carpet until after you vacuum the baking soda. Otherwise, you’ll create a white, pasty mess that you’ll have a hard time cleaning up.

Flat Carpet Prevention

All carpet will flatten and wear out over time. But there are a few things you can do to help it last longer.

Move Your Furniture

If you have any furniture on your carpet, such as chairs or tables, start moving them every day.

You don’t have to move them much. Just scoot them an inch to the left one day and an inch to the right the next day. This will prevent the pressure from building up in one spot.

Put Rugs in High-Traffic Areas

Laying area rugs down in high-traffic areas will help absorb the wear from all those footsteps. It will also keep the carpet underneath in good condition.

Try putting rugs by the doors, in the walkways, and in common gathering areas, like in front of the couch.

Buy High-Quality Carpet

Low-quality carpet won’t last as long as high-quality carpet. So the next time you go carpet shopping, make sure you look for something that is strong and dense. This will keep the flattening to a minimum.

How to Unflatten Carpet (The Right Way)

Learning how to unflatten carpet takes a bit of work, but it isn’t hard. And you probably have everything you need in your house already.

But spending that time on the ground scrubbing and ironing can difficult and uncomfortable.

That’s why you should let us take care of that part for you.

Make sure you click here to learn how we can help you clean your carpet.