9 Helpful Tips for Flattening Your Area Rug

Published by AshleyK on September 10, 2021

Heat

Heat is a very effective tool in removing wrinkles, and the most accessible and plentiful heat source we have is the sun. If you have an outdoor space, place the rug outside and lay it upside down. Leave it out there for a few hours. For rugs that don’t hold shape well, this should be all you need to do to flatten it out.

If you don’t have an outside space at your disposal, you can use a blow dryer. Hold the blow dryer about 6 inches away to avoid burning the rug and move it quickly over the creased areas.

Natural fiber rugs should never have moisture used on them, so these methods are commonly used to flatten them.

Reverse Roll

Another fundamental way to flatten a rug is to reverse roll it. After unrolling a rug, you should turn it backward and then re-roll it the opposite way. Then it would help if you let it sit for a few hours or days, depending on the thickness and malleability of your rug. The most significant danger with this method is that you will still have a wonky rug if you leave it rolled too long. Just now, your problem will be backward.

Also, if your problem is just your corners are curling, you can use reverse rolling. Just bend the corner backward and apply pressure for a few minutes. Sometimes it is the simple fixes that are the most effective.

Weight It Down

If you don’t have a way of heating or don’t want to bend your rug, there is another easy way to flatten the rug. Take your mat over and lay it upside down. Then place a pile of books on the end of each corner. It would be best if you then left it for a few days. You’ll need to be careful not to trip over the books, but soon, you should have a flat rug for your space.

Weight is a very effective tool and can be combined with any of these other methods as an added effort. Even if you can’t flip your rug, placing significant weight on the corner for a while will keep the edges down.

Mattress Trick

The mattress trick is when you take a recently unrolled rug and place it between the mattress and box spring. Once the rug is squished between these two, it will take a few days for the fibers to permanently re-adjust. If some people hide their fortunes beneath their mattresses, why can’t you hide your rug for a week?

This trick will only work if you have a completely flat surface beneath your mattress, like a box spring or wooden board. It won’t work if you have planks or a cot because each support will create a different crease.

Tape

If the rug you are laying down isn’t going on hardwood, you can use carpet tape. You can find double-sided carpet tape at any hardwood store. While it’s mainly for custom-made carpets, it is also very effective at holding down rugs. It will not only keep the rug flat now, but the rug won’t shift or move as long as the tape stays adhered to the floor.

So, if you have a durable rug in a high-traffic area, carpet tape could be the right solution for you. However, as previously mentioned, you should never use carpet tape on hardwoods because it can permanently damage and discolor it.

Ice Cube Method

The ice cube method is used for removing dents in the fabric. You place an ice cube on the dented area and then let it sit overnight. It’s done like this so the water slowly drips into the fibers. That way, the fibers swell back into the spot. So, don’t try to speed up the process by just dumping water on the dent. However, some people will use a water spray bottle and slowly spray the area.

The following day, once the area is damp, take a spoon and slowly wreck the fibers until they are all back into position. Don’t use this method if you think the dye might run or for rugs made of natural fiber.

Iron/Steam

While using irons on rugs can be dangerous, it can be very beneficial in getting out a lingering crease. First, place the iron on the lowest setting. Then, iron the back of the rug. An iron shouldn’t be used too much, though, because of its liability to burn the carpet. Also, be wary of synthetic fibers like nylon because they can melt under high heat.

If your iron has a steam setting, you can steam iron the back. This method works by placing a wet towel between the rug and the iron. Obviously, place the iron on the steam setting. Then you iron the towel in quick spurts, steaming the carpet beneath. You’ll need to be careful not to leave the iron down too long, or else you’ll burn the towel.

If you have a clothes steamer with an upholstery attachment, you can also use one of those. Again, though, it should only get applied to the back. Stay away from the high settings because you don’t want too much moisture to seep into the fibers, leading to discoloration.

Wrinkle Remover Spray

Some people will swear by clothes wrinkle remover sprays to get rid of any creases in a rug. As with the steam, it should only ever get sprayed on the back. Also, it should be left upside down for a few hours after spraying so moisture doesn’t get trapped beneath the rug where mildew could grow.

Non-Curl Corners

If you are having problems with your corners, you can get non-curl corners. These products will attach to your rugs like inviable picture frames to keep the corners flat on the ground.

If your room doesn’t look the way you want because of a wayward rug, get it in line with these nine helpful tips for flattening your area rug. And, next time you are looking for a showstopping rug to transform a room, come explore Koeckritz Rugs’ collections that are all made in the USA.