Quck answer
To flatten a wrinkled area rug, follow these steps:
1. Roll the rug in the opposite direction of the wrinkles.
2. Leave it rolled up for a few hours or overnight.
3. Unroll the rug and place heavy objects, like books or weights, on the wrinkled areas.
4. Leave the weights on the rug for at least 24 hours.
5. Remove the weights and check if the wrinkles have flattened.
6. If the wrinkles are still present, repeat steps 1-5 until the rug is flat.
Remember to avoid using heat or steam on the rug, as this can damage the fibers. Patience is key, as it may take several attempts to completely flatten the rug.
Occasionally, all a rug needs to lay flat is gravity and some time. In other cases, you may need to roll the rug in the opposite direction, apply heat, or have it steamed to get rid of wrinkles. Wrinkles and creases are common in rugs that have been rolled or folded and then stored, but even brand-new rugs can have stubborn lumps.
Step 1
Give your rug some time. Lay the rug on the floor and allow it to sit for approximately two days to see if it flattens on its own. If possible, place the rug on a hard floor instead of carpet while it relaxes, even if you plan to use it on carpet once it is wrinkle-free.
Step 2
Try rolling the rug in the opposite direction. Unroll the rug and then roll it again, but this time roll it in the opposite direction. Allow the rolled rug to sit for a day or two, and then unroll it again.
Step 3
Place a piece of furniture or a stack of heavy books on the creases for a few days to flatten them out using weight. If the corners of the rug are curling, curl them backward, flatten them out, and place weights in just the corners of the rug.
Step 4
If your rug still remains wrinkled, apply some heat to it. Lay the rug on a clean concrete or asphalt surface, such as your driveway, on a sunny day. It is best to do this in the afternoon when the surface has had time to absorb the sun’s heat throughout the morning. Usually, one or two hours in the sun is sufficient to remove wrinkles and creases.
If you do not have a large enough sunny area, flip the rug over and use a hair dryer to heat the creases and release them. Always keep the hair dryer 6 to 9 inches away from the rug and use a sweeping motion. Be cautious not to melt the rug fibers, so use a low or medium heat setting and keep the hair dryer moving back and forth at all times.
Step 5
Secure the rug with tape. Double-sided carpet tape can be found at furniture and home improvement stores. Apply this tape to the back of your rug, then remove the paper covering the adhesive and smooth the rug over the floor. Press the tape down firmly, smoothing it as you go. Carpet tape works on hard floors and existing wall-to-wall carpet, holding the rug in place to flatten existing creases and prevent new ones.
Step 6
If your rug was dyed with colorfast dye, you may steam the carpet to remove the creases. Alternatively, you can choose to have the rug professionally steamed. When using this method, it is crucial to test the rug for colorfastness before proceeding.
Step 7
Ask your local carpet dealer to stretch the carpet for you. Sometimes, pulling the carpet taut and gradually stretching it will release any wrinkles or creases. However, this process must be done correctly to avoid damaging the rug. It is best to leave this job to the professionals.
