How to Fix Matted Carpet and Prevent Future Flattening

You’ve decided to rearrange the living room furniture, only to find the sofa that’s been resting in the same spot for over a year has left some serious indentations in the carpet. Thankfully, you’re not cursed to keep your couch where it is for eternity, nor do you need to find a plant to hide the matted carpet spots. Arm yourself with some common household items like ice cubes or a clothing iron and learn how to fix matted carpet in minutes.

What Is Matted Carpet?

If your carpet feels a little stiff or looks flat, it might be matted. Matting happens naturally over time, just as the fabric on your sofa might start pilling after years of movie nights and TV marathons. Matted carpet can make a room look dated and worn out, and it probably doesn’t feel soft and plush when you walk across it barefoot.

What Causes Carpets to Go Flat?

There are many reasons for carpet matting. Carpets in high-traffic areas, like living rooms and bedrooms, will tend to go flat from general wear and tear. If kids or pets run into the house with muddy shoes and paws, the mud and dirt from outside can also cause the fibers to become dense and compacted. 

Extended pressure from heavy items, like a sofa or solid-wood dresser, can also compress the carpet fibers and cause matting. 

If you have a habit of neglecting to clean your carpeted floors, the buildup of dust and other debris can cause matting. But even mistakenly using padding that is too thin or thick beneath the carpet can contribute to this problem.

How to Fix Matted Carpet

Just as there are many reasons for carpet to become matted, there are also several ways to unflatten it. Stimulating the fibers with a brush or vacuum can help loosen things up and clear away dirt that weighs down the fibers, while heat or moisture can get the carpet fibers to stand upright once more.

Vacuum

If you’re just starting to notice some matting in your carpet, you may just need to give it a good vacuuming to refresh the fibers. Be sure to run the vacuum in all different directions rather than moving just back and forth.

Ice Cube

Matting can happen when the carpet fibers become stuck together, but moisture can often help detach them from one another. You can place an ice cube in spots where the carpet has matted, like where furniture legs have been resting, and let the ice melt. Then, use a small coin, spoon, or fork to brush up the fibers gently.

Hair Dryer

Heat is another powerful element to consider when you want to fix carpet matting. Use a hairdryer to blow hot air on spots of carpet matting, then gently run a fork, comb, or another small tool across the area to perk up the fibers.

Steamer 

A garment steamer can rejuvenate carpet fibers, but be careful, especially if your carpet is made from natural fibers, which absorb more moisture than synthetic materials. Hold the steamer a few inches above the matted surface and use it on a low-heat setting for less than a minute. Then, gently brush the fibers with a wide-toothed comb. Work in small areas at a time and avoid oversaturating the surface, which could cause mold growth if it cannot dry quickly enough.

Iron

If moisture and heat work on carpet matting individually, imagine how effective it could be to combine them. You can use a steam cleaner to fix matted carpet, but if you don’t have one available, your iron will also work. Place a damp towel over the carpet and run the iron, set on low, over the towel.

Carpet Brush

You can use a carpet brush or rake to revive flattened carpet fibers. For high-pile carpets, use a carpet rake. Opt for a carpet brush for low-pile carpets. Carpet rakes cost about $15 to $50, and carpet brushes cost about $5 to $30.

You’ll run one of these tools across the carpet to loosen the compressed fibers and any accumulated dust or dirt. For best results, start by brushing or raking the carpet, then follow up by running the vacuum in different directions.

Professional Carpet Cleaning

If you don’t have the patience to brush out your carpets or your efforts have not helped liven up your rug, hire a carpet cleaning service near you. In fact, you’ll want to enlist professional help with an annual cleaning to ensure your carpet looks its best. Plus, regular carpet cleaning services will extend the life of your carpets and, yes, even prevent matting. If you have major matting or damage, you may want to take on the cost of carpet repair to ensure your space looks its best.

What Types of Carpet Tend to Become Matted?

Just about any carpet can become matted, especially carpets in high-traffic areas.  However, some carpets become matted more frequently than others, including those that are:

• Particularly fluffy

• Made from polyester

• Frieze

• High-pile

How to Prevent Carpet Matting

Some carpet matting is natural, but there are ways to help minimize the issue and prolong the life of your carpet.

• Vacuum twice per week

• Pay for professional carpet cleaning once per year

• Maintain a no-shoes-on-in-the-house policy

• Keep doormats by all entrances

• Use a towel to wipe dirty feet and paws coming into your home

• Move furniture a couple of inches every season 

How Much Does Professional Carpet Repair Cost?

Carpet repair typically costs between $135 and $280. However, many factors may affect the price, including:

• The size of the repair

• The material of the carpet

• The type of repair

• The location of the carpet

When a carpet has significant damage, hiring a carpet installation company to replace the entire carpet may be more cost-effective. New carpet installation costs $1,780 on average, but the price will vary based on the size of the installation area and the material.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

You can save up to 70% of the costs by repairing carpet yourself. However, carpet repair can be difficult and take a lot of time. Matted carpet may be worth your time and effort to DIY repair because it is usually straightforward. If the carpet is matted due to exposure to moisture, hire a professional in case mold is trapped underneath the surface.