How to Repair Worn Carpet
Accidents happen. Dogs can't wait to get outside, cigarettes and candles get dropped and somehow, no matter how careful you are, bleach spots magically appear. Damaged carpet is inevitable, but not impossible to repair. Even the worst burns, stains and snags can be restored using items you likely already have in your home. Be patient; carpet repair is not to be rushed. Clean thoroughly beforehand and smooth the pile following repair to make the patch, dye or loose fibers disappear. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Vacuum
- Carpet dye
- Rag
- Sharpie or other colored permanent marker
- Razor blade
- Utility knife
- Carpet remnant
- Double sided carpet tape
- Sharp scissors
- Carpet glue
- Heavy book
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Instructions
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Thoroughly vacuum the area. Having the whole carpet professionally cleaned is also a good choice to eliminate debris and stains. This also brings the carpet close to its original color, which is important if you need to create a patch to replace a worn piece.
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Try carpet dye on faded high traffic carpet. Match color by bringing a remnant piece to a carpet distributor. Pour a few drops of the dye on a rag and dab, not rub, the dye into the pile. Work in stages and re-coat if necessary. Try a similar colored Sharpie permanent marker for small bleach spots.
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Give dull carpet new life by shaving the worn area. Using a new blade on your razor, gently shave the carpet. This removes the faded or worn spots while keeping the integrity of the color or design. Discard the blade after use.
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Replace a ragged, stained or burnt piece. Cut the affected area away with a utility knife down to the carpet padding. Size a remnant color match to fit; there should be several from the carpet installation. Remove the section and place double sided carpet tape in the resulting hole or on the patch. Note pile or pattern direction on the carpet already laid and the replacement piece. Set the new piece into place and muss the pile to blend the area. This technique works best with uniformly shaped cutouts.
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Cut runs or snags from your tightly weaved berber carpet with sharp scissors. Use a carpet glue and a heavy book to weigh down resulting fiber edges. Large pieces can be replaced using the patch method. A professional can reweave damaged areas as well.
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Talk to your insurance agent. Badly damaged carpets or blemishes due to fire or flooding may be covered under your homeowner's policy.
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Tips & Warnings
Allow adhesives and dyes to dry completely before walking over or vacuuming the affect area of carpet. Smooth the pile with your hand or a comb following patch repair to blend the new piece into the existing carpet.
Never use cleaners containing bleach on your carpet.
References
Resources
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