How Does fluffy carpets Work?

Whether your carpet has long fibers for a shaggy look or the tightly looped fibers of a Berber rug, the fibers will eventually flatten over time. New carpet fibers have a resilience that keeps them elastic and springy so they bounce back underfoot. The loss of that resilience can be caused by excessive wear in high-traffic areas, dirt and grime, or the weight of furniture.

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Here are tips on how to make carpet fluffy again and maintain it for as long as possible.

How to Remove Carpet Dents Caused by Heavy Objects

If heavy furniture has left divots in your carpet, several methods can help restore the fluffiness of the carpet fibers.

1. Give the Fibers a Blowout

   Blow-dry carpet fibers to add volume. Spray plain water on the fibers to dampen the dented area. Hold the blow-dryer about 2 inches from the carpet, using your fingers to separate and fluff the fibers as you move the hot air back and forth. Repeat if needed, and finish by vacuuming the carpet.

   The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

2. Dampen and Heat the Carpet Fibers

   Use an iron to heat the fibers to fluff a large area. Wet a cotton bath towel with water and wring until it is not dripping. Place the towel on the flattened area of the carpet.

   Set a steam iron to medium-high heat. Place the iron on top of the wet towel and move the iron over the towel for about one minute to infuse the carpet fibers with moisture. Remove the towel and fluff the fibers with your fingers or a carpet rake. Repeat if necessary and vacuum the restored area.

   Warning

   Do not allow the hot iron to touch the carpet fibers directly. Synthetic fibers can melt and natural fibers can scorch or burn.

   The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

3. Use an Ice Cube for Small Dents

   Place one or two ice cubes in the carpet divot and allow them to melt. This may take an hour or so. Use your fingers to fluff the fibers when the carpet is fully wet. Repeat if needed and then vacuum.

   The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

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How to Make Carpets Fluffy Again

Cleaning the whole carpet restores flattened fibers, making the entire carpet look brighter and fluffier. Here's how:

1. Do a Quick Clean With Baking Soda and Salt

   Vacuum the carpet and sprinkle it liberally with a one-to-one mixture of baking soda and table salt. Spritz the sprinkled area with plain water from a spray bottle and use a nylon-bristled scrub brush to work the mixture into the fibers.

   Blot away the loosened soil with old towels and let the carpet air dry. Vacuum well to remove any remaining baking soda and salt and to lift the fibers.

   The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

2. Clean With Vinegar and Water

   Mix 1 part of distilled white vinegar and 3 parts of cold water in a spray bottle. Vacuum the carpet well. Working in a small 3-foot by 3-foot area, spray the vinegar solution onto the carpet until it's very damp.

   Allow the solution to work for five minutes to break down the soil. Use microfiber cloths to blot away the solution and the soil. Rinse the cloths frequently in plain water. Allow the carpet to air-dry and vacuum again to lift the fibers.

   The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

3. Clean With a Steam Cleaner

   Rent or buy a carpet cleaner to remove the soil weighing down the carpet fibers. If renting, carefully follow the manufacturer's directions to steam clean the carpet.

   Alternatively, hire professionals to annually deep clean the carpet.

   The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

Tips to Keep Your Carpet Fluffy

• Frequently rotate furniture and heavy accessories to prevent excessive flattening.
• Use furniture coasters under the legs of heavy items to help distribute the weight.
• Vacuum the carpet routinely, at least weekly.
• Remove shoes inside the home to prevent heavy soiling.
• Add doormats inside and outside entrance doors to reduce dirt brought into the home.
• Deep clean carpets seasonally.
• Choose a powerful vacuum with a beater bar as your best tool for restoring and keeping the carpet fluffy. The beater bar loosens embedded soil and brings it to the surface to be suctioned away.
• Invest in a carpet rake for shag or cut-pile carpet. The tool's flexible plastic teeth lift and separate fibers while bringing soil and dirt to the surface where they can be vacuumed.

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

If it's a new-ish, tightly twisted yarn otherwise in good nick with a nasty felted patch where they've scrubbed it... you aren't going to hide it. However you can assure them that the area will blend in over time as the carpet wears.

On more "worn-in" carpets where the yarn twist isn't so tight you'll improve it better. I carry a dog flea comb in my toolbox which is perfect for lifting up the excess fibre you need to trim away.

Napping shears are fine for small bits:



The half-moon shape allows you to place it on the adjoining carpet and keep the correct level.

Electric hair trimmers are quicker for bigger areas. From my limited experience, the 3mm (grade #1) guard is safer; using it without the guard requires a lot of practice because one twitch and you've got a sculpted carpet.

Never done a huge amount of work with the electric trimmers myself but have had a little bit of a play. A comb of some sort (dog comb again in my case!) is good for standing up the pile before shearing.

Usually either the scrubbing action or the excess amount of water has untwisted the yarn.If it's a new-ish, tightly twisted yarn otherwise in good nick with a nasty felted patch where they've scrubbed it... you aren't going to hide it. However you can assure them that the area will blend in over time as the carpet wears.On more "worn-in" carpets where the yarn twist isn't so tight you'll improve it better. I carry a dog flea comb in my toolbox which is perfect for lifting up the excess fibre you need to trim away.Napping shears are fine for small bits:The half-moon shape allows you to place it on the adjoining carpet and keep the correct level.Electric hair trimmers are quicker for bigger areas. From my limited experience, the 3mm (grade #1) guard is safer; using it without the guard requires a lot of practice because one twitch and you've got a sculpted carpet.Never done a huge amount of work with the electric trimmers myself but have had a little bit of a play. A comb of some sort (dog comb again in my case!) is good for standing up the pile before shearing.

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