How to Revive and Refresh Carpet: 7 Tips for a Crisp, Clean Look
Go beyond routine carpet cleaning to keep your carpets looking brand-new
If your carpet looks dull and matted, you’re likely wondering how to revive your carpet to its former glory. Fear not: There are plenty of ways to clean your carpet and refresh it with the help of a few household items. Follow these tips and tricks to revive your rug or carpet today.
1. Try Ice Cubes and a Stiff Brush
Even great-looking carpet shows wear and tear after a homeowner moves tables, chairs, or couches into new positions, leaving behind unsightly carpet divots. Dealing with these furniture indentations is simple: Get an ice cube from the freezer and place it on the divot.
Let it melt naturally, or use a hairdryer to hasten the process, but make sure not to use a high heat setting, or risk damaging the carpet. Once the ice is melted and the divot fully saturated, use a stiff brush to gently scrub the pile up and back into place.
2. Use a Damp Cloth and an Iron
If your carpet pile has been trampled after years of use, try revamping it with a damp cloth and a steam iron. Start by wetting a microfiber cloth and placing it over the affected carpet area, and then place a hot iron on top of the cloth for several seconds. This step will lift the fibers back up again.
There are several caveats when using this technique, including never letting the iron touch your carpet directly. Even if the contact lasts only for a few seconds, it may leave burn marks. Also, keep the cloth damp when using this method on multiple spots. It's the combination of water and heat that helps straighten the pile. If either is missing, the technique won't work.
3. Clean With Baking Soda and Vinegar
True or False: Will Baking Soda Deodorize Your Carpet?
Similar to the methods above, using homemade carpet cleaner made of vinegar or baking soda can help refresh your carpet pile, with the added benefit of spot cleaning.
Start by applying baking soda to the carpet and working it into the fibers with a stiff brush. Baking soda acts as a natural carpet cleaner.
Rub it in more than one direction and use a fair amount of pressure to saturate the carpet.
Allow the baking soda to sit overnight.
The following day, vacuum it up.
Next, mix equal parts of vinegar and water in a spray bottle and coat the area.
Use your brush to raise the pile, and let dry.
The smell of vinegar will dissipate after a few hours, and you'll have a clean, new-looking patch of carpet.
Just a note that while baking soda and vinegar are good for a quick refresh, if your carpet has been consistently smelly, they may not do much. You’ll need to tackle the source of the odor for a long-lasting change, so be sure to clean up any messes first or consider opting for a deep clean instead.
4. Use Shaving Cream
Another way you can make your carpet look much cleaner is by applying shaving cream. Place a layer of shaving cream on the area you want to treat and let it sit for 15 minutes.
After it dissolves into the carpet, use a damp sponge to blot the area and pick up the shaving cream residue. You’ll repeat this step until there isn’t any residue left on your carpet. Then, use a dry cloth to extract any water in your carpet and let it air dry.
5. Trim the Carpet
Is your carpet filled with tiny snags caused by pet claws and wear and tear? The easiest way to refresh these damaged carpet areas is to trim them carefully to start anew. Use sharp scissors to trim the top edge of carpet snags, which will quickly restore the spot. Be careful not to pull on the thread, which will make the problem worse.
6. Use a Carpet Rake
When vacuuming your carpet isn’t producing the same, fluffed-up results, it’s time to switch tactics. And for some homeowners, a carpet rake is their go-to solution to take their carpet from drab to fab. To revive your carpet and lift your pile, purchase a carpet rake from a hardware or online store, and then use it to rake the carpet in different directions until it's fluffy again.
7. Blow Dry Your Carpet
Hair dryers aren’t only handy for hair. You can use your hair dryer to revive matted or worn carpet quickly.
Spray warm water on damaged carpet sections, and then apply low, constant heat with a hair dryer. While using the hair dryer, use your fingers or a utensil to fluff the fibers back up. Be sure to let the area sit and dry for a few minutes before walking on it again.
How to Protect Your Carpet Pile
Reviving carpet pile is simple, cost-effective, and quick. However, you can prevent damage to your carpet by taking the following preventative measures.
Regularly move or slightly shift your furniture to minimize carpet divot damage.
Use area rugs in high-traffic areas to take the brunt of foot traffic.
Install high-quality carpet with a dense pile, as it will resist divots and wear over time.
Consider hiring a local carpet installer to minimize the risk of future carpet issues caused by improper installation.
Frequently Asked Questions
If your carpet has a ton of stains, obvious damage, severe rippling, or is coming apart from the tack strips, it may be time to replace the carpet. You can repair carpet that has minor stains and refresh carpet that’s just a little matted. A professional carpet cleaning will go a long way, too. The average life span of carpet is five to 15 years, so start planning for replacement once your carpet reaches the 10-year mark.
Yes, you can revive flattened carpet using household items like an ice cube and stiff brush, a damp cloth and an iron, baking soda and vinegar, and shaving cream. If you want to go all-out, visit a local home improvement store and buy a carpet rake, too. Depending on the state of your carpet, you may need to use more than one of these methods to see results. Keep in mind that you might need to repeat a reviving method more than once.
Use baking soda and vinegar or shaving cream to fix your carpet stains. But if you prefer a quicker solution, rent a carpet shampooer and use an enzyme-based cleaner to treat and resolve your discolored carpet issue.