I'm sure many of you stagers (and others readers) have come across a rug or carpet that has dents from a heavy piece of furniture sitting in place for a long period of time. What do you do when you want to use the rug in another home - or rearrange the furnishings in your own home?
You vacuum over and over and it seems to have no effect except making your back sore! Keep the vacuum out for later, but there is a secret step that will rid the dents once and for all...
That secret is ice!
Take an ice cube and place it directly on the dented area of the carpet. Now you'll need to wait until it melts. Once it has melted you should wait for it to dry. At that point vacuum the area where the dent is and the carpet should raise and look even again. If it is still matted down, you may need to pull up the carpet, but the ice will have loosened the fibers enough to do that.
For larger dents you may try using several pieces of ice, but try not to get the area overly wet so the carpet gets soaked.
We just staged a home with a rug that had had a dining room table on it for some time. We were now using it in the living room, and the coffee table was not large enough to cover the dents. We put ice on the four dents after we unrolled the rug. By the time we had the furnishings arranged in the room, the ice had melted, we vacuumed the spots, and the dents were gone.
Hope this secret works for you too!
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This definitely works. It is my secret weapon when clients have way too much furniture and we have to store it when staging the home for sale.
David -- I've done this for years too. If you don't have a vacuum handy an old toothbrush brings up the carpet nap nicely.
Amazing. I just tried it on my carpet and it worked too! Thanks David....from a newbie in Active Rain and Home Staging!
David, clients are simply amazed at all of the tricks that we have up our sleeves and this is one of them. I carry an old fork to help with the lifting, on cut carpet, after the ice.
I have heard of this and kept it in mind, but never tried it. It's nice to hear from someone with firsthand experience that it works. Thanks.
This is wild. I had always thought we had to spray it with water and then pick at it with a fork until the nap was even with the rest of the carpet. I can't wait to try your ice cube maneouver! Thanks for the post.
David - This is a great reminder. I love homes that have automatic ice machines in the freezer. They come in quite handy.
I've never tried that, but thanks for the tip. I will remember that because I stage so many vacant with that problem.
Michelle and Maureen ~ Thanks for confirming that this great tip works!
Wendy ~ Glad it was helpful for you!
Ginger ~ That's why home owners should always look to professional stagers.
Sharon ~ Your welcome!
Juliet ~ Hope you're able to use the helpful hint soon!
Shelley ~ I never thought of using an automatic ice maker for this - but it makes total sense!
Chrissie ~ Glad I could pass along something that may help you out.
David... this really does work. Ice cubes and a fork to pull it up ... who would have thought? ;)))
Lori ~ Sometimes the easiest solutions actually work!
Great tip. I have heard of this but have not tried it to see if it worked. Good to know it does.
I never in my life would have thought that up! I will remember it though. Great tip!
And I thought ice was just good for removing stuck chewing gum! Great tip, thanks!
Thanks, for the great tip! I usually use an old bristle brush I keep in my kit.