How To Flatten A Rug In Under An Hour

How to Flatten a Rug

Whether you have a brand new area rug with curled corners and edges, or an old rug with furniture dents, here are a few methods to flatten a rug.

Flip It Over

Rolled rugs just need a little bit of time to air and flatten out. Try flipping your area rug over for a few hours to days to see if that releases some of the curled edges. Place a few heavy objects on the corners to weigh them down.

Try Reverse Rolling

Since most area rugs come rolled, the first step begins by reverse rolling the rug. Reverse roll your rug and place a heavy object at each corner for a few hours. if the curling is especially bad, leave it like this for a few days.

Use a Hair Dryer

If the reverse roll didn’t work, then you can try using a hair dryer on the back of the rug to remove dents or curling. As stated before, always hold heating tools at least 6 inches away from the area rug for the safety of both you and the rug.

Use a Clothes Iron

You can try to iron the backside flat. Use craft paper to create a safe barrier between the area rug and iron. Pay close attention to the material and keep the iron moving to prevent burning.

Steam It

If you need to steam your rug, then first test a small spot. If it looks like your area rug can endure a steam, then begin with a low steam setting on a handheld carpet steamer. If your rug is delicate or expensive, then the steaming process may be too harsh. Contact a professional to clean and flatten your rug.

Before You Start: Clean the Rug Thoroughly

As heat and moisture work wonders on dented, bumpy rugs, it always helps to begin by cleaning your area rug thoroughly. This step isn’t necessary, but will help you on your quest to keep your rug flat in a pretty impactful way.

What you’ll need:

• Rug shampoo (or natural dish soap)
• Bucket
• Soft-bristle brush or sponge
• Water
• Wet-dry vacuum (Optional)

Step 1: Remove Debris

Remove debris with either a vacuum or by shaking vigorously outside. Make sure that every crumb and dust particle is gone from your area rug before moving onto step two. If you have pets, then be sure to remove all pet hair.

Step 2: Prepare Your Cleaning Solution

Whatever rug shampoo you choose (and if you go with the wet-dry vacuum), follow the instructions for both. I also like to use natural dish soap, like Dr. Bronner’s, to wash my area rugs by hand.

PRO TIPS:

• Test an area of your rug first before washing the entire rug at once.
• Never use hot water as it might shrink the rug’s fibers and/or cause discoloration.

Step 3: Work The Soap Into A Lather 

Using the soft-bristled brush, begin to gently work the shampoo into a lather, moving in a sweeping motion. Let the sudsy soap sit for five complete minutes. This will allow any grime or stains to lift and for the rug’s fibers to soften. This process will naturally fluff the carpet fibers and straighten any bent fibers.

NOTE: Not all rugs should be washed this way. Look up specific cleaning instructions for these types of area rugs:

• Braided Rugs
• Handmade rugs
• Natural Fiber
• Fur/Wool rugs

Step 4: Rinse The Area Rug

With a garden hose, pressure washer, or shower head, rinse the rug until it is completely clean. Make sure that you remove as much excess water as possible. This is where the wet-dry vacuum would come in handy.

Step 5: Dry The Area Rug

Let the area rug lie flat with the rug upside to let the top dry, flipping the rug upside down periodically to let the underside dry. It’s important to have it lay flat during the drying process so that it can find its new shape. Do not return the rug to its “place” until it is completely dry.

Step 6: Apply Heat To Flatten Rug 

If at this point your area rug still is not flat, then move onto one of the methods to remove creases and dents below.

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