You've had a rug stuck in your closet for a while, but you haven't forgotten about it. You've been eagerly awaiting the day when you can take it out of the closet and place it on the floor again. You were just waiting for the right time of year and trying to decorate the rest of the room to match your rug. Or maybe you’ve bought a brand new rug.
However, when you take the rug out of the closet or unfold the strings it had while you were buying it, there's a problem. Unfortunately, it has some severe fold marks on it. The rug is not flattening perfectly and is showing major creases.
If this is the case, don't worry! It's totally possible to get rid of fold marks so that your rug can lie flat on the floor.
Yes, crimp area rugs are a common problem as they have spent most of their life wrapped in one form or another. Good news is that a few things can be done to remedy this situation that you can perform at home.
Lay Your Rug Out Under the Sun
You should open your rug outdoors for more exposure as long as the day is sunny and the temperature is between 21-29°C (70 to 85°F). If this is not possible, you should choose an area within the house that has adequate floor space and receives direct sunlight. However, it would be best to ensure that the room temperature is not below 21°C or above 29°C (70 to 85°F). Let the carpet sit for at least four hours (or better, as long as daylight lasts). Absorption of light and heat helps reduce pressure on the carpet, making other methods more effective. But, don't use this method on rugs with sun-sensitive dyes and never leave the rug outside overnight.
Steam the Edges That Point Up
First, try taking a steam cleaner or a wet sponge and dampening the areas where curling is worst. The water allows the fibers to loosen and lay flat. Some improvement should be made after the water has dried. If not, see the methods below.
Iron the Rug to Get Rid of Creases
Take a wet towel and wet the areas where the vintage rug is curled. Next, take an iron and set it on medium heat. The towel still needs to cover the curved rug area and then hold the iron and press it. It should flatten those areas. Do not hold the steam in place for more than 30 to 45 seconds. Prolonged exposure to steam can darken the yarn of the carpet. But, be careful; the heat from the iron can damage the carpet fibers. Hence, do not heat the iron too high as it may leave burn marks on the rug. To be more careful, you might consider starting at a low heat and working as you need to. If this method fails, you can try something else.
Place a Heavy Furniture on the Rug
Take the rug and place it where you want to lay it. Next, take usable pieces of furniture and place them in the corners. This is usually where the curl is worst. It may not be the best look for a room, but it's only temporary, and you should fix the problem within a week. After time passes, remove the furniture to reveal a smoothed area rug hopefully.
Method 5 - Using Books
In some houses, it is harder to use other furniture since the space is limited. In that case, get the oversized, heavy books you have; dictionaries, encyclopedias, telephone directories, etc., and place them on those curly areas. Leave the books in place for a week or two. Then, after some time, remove it again, and the carpet should be flat.
Method 6 - Try to Place it Under Your Mattress.
There is another solution to try for really curly and stubborn rug areas. Remove the rug from the floor and place it between your mattress and bedstead. Make sure it stands completely straight and leave it for at least a week before checking the result. This method should work for carpets that curl extremely in the corners. However, it is best for this method when the carpet has the same size of the mattress or it can be smaller for better solutions.
Method 7 – Reverse Placing
Simply pick up the rug and laying it upside down will also help stop curling. It may seem odd for a while, and in the meantime, maybe try not to invite guests, but in about a week or so, you should have a flattened rug.
Roll the Rug on the Opposite Side
This process is known as "rollback." You should wrap the carpet after it lays under the sun for a few hours. Only then can you roll it so that the side that was initially facing out (the bottom of the rug) is now inside the roll. When performing this procedure, you should act very slow. Try to hear any cracking sounds as you roll the carpet. If you hear any noise, you should stop immediately, as this indicates structural damage to the carpet. After rolling back and folding it, do not over-tighten the rug. You would want to keep the carpet fairly loose as you wrap it. This procedure will help reduce the possibility of cracking and the formation of new folds and loops. If you noticed any cracking on the first try, you should try again with a much looser roller.