How to Raise Nap in Carpeting Where Furniture Has Been

Raise nap in carpeting where furniture was

When you decide to rearrange your furniture, you may have an irritating reminder of your previous furniture arrangement. Often the heavy weight of furniture on carpeting for an extended period will create dents in the carpeting. If you find these dents in your carpeting after you move furniture, raise the nap in carpeting again using warm steam from an iron. Use care with this technique, however, to avoid damaging the carpet fibers.

Things You'll Need

• Wet hand towel
• Steam iron
• Large metal spoon

Instructions

1. Saturate the hand towel with water and wring it out well.

2. Set the iron to a powerful steam setting that will enable you to direct steam down onto the carpeting.

3. Cover the carpet indentations with the wet towel.

4. Direct the iron down onto the indentations, keeping the iron approximately 4 inches away from the carpeting. Push the steam button on the iron to emit a blast of steam down onto the carpeting. Continue to steam the carpeting until the carpeting is moist and warm.

5. Set the iron aside and remove the towel. Use the side of the metal spoon to scrape at the carpet fibers to encourage them to stand erect again. Continue working at the carpet fibers with the spoon while the carpet is still warm and moist.

6. Repeat Steps 3 through 5 to remove all of the indented areas from the carpet. You may have to repeat the same steaming technique over an indented area more than once to completely remove the dent.

Tips & Warnings

• While this technique will repair most carpeting, some carpeting dents may be permanent. Nylon carpeting is the easiest carpet to fix with steam and heat.

• Do not apply the iron directly to the carpeting or you risk melting the carpet fibers.

References

• Certified Cleaners: FAQs