How to Get Rid of Carpet Dents

wall to wall carpeting

When you move heavy furniture in a carpeted room, the new room arrangement might look great, but the dents left in the carpet look terrible. Don't think you have to call a commercial carpet cleaner to solve the problem. You can fluff out those dents yourself.

Things You'll Need

• Brush
• Terry towel
• Hair dryer or iron

Instructions

1. Rub the dented spot of the carpet with your fingers or a brush, trying to fluff up the fibers. This helps loosen the fibers and starts getting them back to their original state.

2. Use your hairdryer if your carpet contains acrylic or modacrylic; steam could melt the fibers, according to the Michigan State University Extension. Blow the hair dryer across the fibers while you fluff them up. If you carpet contains other fibers, continue to Step 3.

3. Dampen the terry towel with water. Spread it over the divot in the carpet, then rub it on the pile to get it a bit damp. Preheat your iron to the cotton setting. Move the iron carefully on top of the terry towel, over the crushed carpet area. Iron lightly and only on the towel's surface -- synthetic carpet can melt if ironed directly.

4. Leave the towel in place until it is dry. The dent in your carpet should be gone.

Tips & Warnings

• Instead of a damp towel, you can use your iron on its steam setting to steam the dent out of your carpet. You must hold the iron two or three inches above the carpet -- don't let it touch the fibers -- and lightly steam the divot. Fluff the fibers with your fingers.

• Place furniture coasters under the legs of heavy furniture to prevent carpet dents. Use coasters that are designed for carpet.

• Do not directly iron your synthetic carpet, as it might melt.

References

• Michigan State University Extension: Carpets -- Dents, Depressions