Since time immemorial, carpets have played a vital role in the aesthetics of every home. The right carpet can significantly contribute to the tone and overall ambiance of your space.
Sadly, over time, carpets can begin to mat, especially if they see a lot of foot traffic.
When a carpet is matted, the fibers take on a worn and weathered appearance that can be truly off-putting for some people. While a good carpet will light up your home, a matted carpet can make your space look rough and even undignified.
Having to use a matted carpet can be a bit frustrating because, apart from its appearance, the matted area begins to feel very tough underfoot. If you’re someone that greatly values their comfort, that’s a sensation you won’t find very pleasant.
Luckily, you don’t have to throw your favorite carpet out just yet!
There are a lot of strategies you can easily employ that’ll restore the matted area to its original glory and luster.
But before we delve into the various ways you can fix a matted carpet, let’s take a quick moment to identify what causes this condition in the first place!
What Causes Carpet Matting?
A carpet is said to be matted when its fibers appear to be crushed, compressed, or flattened out.
Down this road, the first thing you need to know is that matting will happen at one time or the other during the life cycle of the carpet. So, you can’t use this as a direct indication of the quality of your carpet.
While matting occurs as a result of several factors, we’ve found that carpets exposed to certain variables tend to suffer this condition more.
For example, if you put a lot of heavy furniture on your carpet, you’re essentially increasing the risk of matting. This is more so the case if you leave the furniture in the exact same position for an extended period.
The longer they apply pressure on your carpet, the more matted it gets.
Another major determinant of matting risk is the material your carpet is made of. Certain carpet materials are more predisposed to matting than others. As an example, a polyester carpet will almost always mat faster than a wool carpet.
This is more so the case when there’s a high amount of traffic on the carpet.
Yet another factor that may cause your carpet to mat is the presence of dirt and debris. If you don’t stop these particles from accumulating, they can often trigger faster matting.
5 Easy Ways to Fix Your Carpet Matting
Now that you know the potential causes of matting, let’s look at some of the most efficient ways to fix that. Some things you can do include;
Method 1 – Vacuum Clean the Matted Carpet
Vacuum cleaning your matted carpet is an efficient way to not just restore a matted carpet but also ensure that the fiber of the carpet remains loose and fluffy.
Using a vacuum to thoroughly clean your carpet once or twice a week removes all the dirt and debris that can contribute to matting. It also ensures that no strange particles stick to your carpet.
While you can use any type of vacuum cleaner for this, you tend to get the best results when you use vacuums specially designed for heavy-duty cleaning. As these have more power, they’ll have a stronger impact on the matted surfaces of the carpet and restore it faster.
Method 2 – Use Moisture Application
This method of restoring a matted carpet is a little labor-intensive but it does get the job done quite efficiently. It essentially involves applying just enough moisture to the matted surface and then scrubbing gently, yet firmly with a brush to bring the fibers back to life.
However, if you’re dealing with a large area of matted carpet, to make the job easier, you’ll need to apply a slightly different approach.
In this case, you should get some lukewarm water in a container you can spray with. Then, spray lightly on the large area till it is wet but not damp. You must be careful while doing this as you could damage the carpet or even your floor otherwise.
Once you have the large matted spot wet enough, you can then start the scrubbing process.
As we said, this takes a little work but by the time you’re done, you’ll have your carpet looking good as new!
Method 3 – Use Pressing Iron to Rejuvenate the Matted Carpet
If you like things easy and simple, then you might want to consider using this method of approach. Considered the oldest way of treating matted carpets, you can use a pressing iron to rejuvenate your carpet following these 5 simple steps.
Step 1
Get a lint-free piece of cloth, wet it, and wring it dry of any excess water.
Step 2
Plug your pressing iron in and set it to medium-hot.
Step 3
Place the wet cloth flat over the matted carpet surface.
Step 4
Apply the pressing iron on the cloth, just like you’re ironing.
Step 5
If the matted surface doesn’t come completely loose, you can help it along by stroking it with a nylon brush.
And with that, your carpet is restored!
While it works with most carpets, regardless of how they got matted, it’s especially efficient for treating carpet that was crushed as a result of foot traffic.
Method 4 – Fluff-up the Matted Carpet
The penultimate option available to you when treating a matted carpet is to fluff it up with a carpet rake.
As was earlier mentioned, one of the more notorious culprits of matted carpets is dirt and debris. Applying a rake to your carpet can help shake those dirt particles loose and revive your carpet fibers.
All you have to do is clear the entire carpet area of all furniture and rake repeatedly from end to end. This method of approach is known to be highly effective as it helps you pick up dirt particles that even your vacuum cleaner might’ve missed.
However, to get the best results, it’s often better to combine this method with the vacuum cleaner method. First, go over the carpet with your vacuum cleaner, then, fluff up your carpet with the rake before applying the vacuum cleaner one last time.
Method 5 – Apply a Vinegar and Baking Soda Mixture
This method also requires you to do a bit of a combo-move as well. You also need to prepare a little home remedy to get the best results with your matted carpet.
Here’s how it works in 3 simple steps.
Step 1
Apply baking powder liberally across the entire matted area of your carpet. During this process, be sure to gently crush the matted areas of the rug with the powder. The purpose of this is to prepare those spots for thorough fluffing.
Step 2
Wait till the next day and vacuum the entire area.
Step 3
Once you’re done with vacuuming, mix equal portions of water and vinegar. Pour this in a spray bottle and then apply it on the matted sections of your carpet. This will help the crushed fibers in the carpet slowly come back to life.
And with that, you’re done!
Regular Maintenance of Carpet
As the old saying goes, prevention is better than cure. And, if possible, wouldn’t you like to completely avoid killing the fibers of your carpet in the first place?
Sure you would!
To that end, here are a few things you could do to reduce the risk of getting matted carpets as much as possible.
Don’t Keep Your Furniture Transfixed on One Spot
Changing the position of the furniture in your space from time to time is arguably the best care you can give your carpet!
Doing this allows your carpet fibers to rest and prevents them from getting completely crushed under the heavy pressure of your sofa or shelf.
Doing this has another advantage; it helps you control the direction of foot traffic, further distributing that weight more evenly.
Use a Professional Cleaner at Regular Intervals
Whether you like it or not, your carpet needs a professional touch from time to time. Depending on how light or heavy foot traffic is, you can enlist the aid of a pro to clean your carpet once or twice a year.
This ensures it stays fresh, clean and ultimately serves you for longer.
Final Word
Now that you know all that goes into fixing a matted carpet in high traffic areas, you’re in a better position to take proper care of your precious carpet!
Granted, caring for your carpet like this might seem like a bit of a hassle, but long-term, you’ll be glad you did because the beautiful condition of the carpet will always turn heads and get you compliments. With that said, remember that a lot goes into maintaining your carpet and you’ve only just scratched the surface.