How to flatten a rug

Like a kid opening a present on Christmas morning, you’ve frantically unwrapped and rolled out your brand-new rug, perhaps one you had made using our carpet whipping service, ready to place it in your home and add a lovely decorative touch to your space, but oh no! The rug won’t lie flat, and it may have some kinks in it as well.! There’s no need to panic. There are plenty of solutions to help flatten your rug out in just a few days, even hours, so you can finally get it down in the room it was destined to live.

We’ve come up with some of the ways you can get creases out of rugs and how to flatten a rug that’s been rolled or folded when it was delivered to you. We also take a look at some of the ways you can ensure it stays flat for longer, so you don’t need to worry about curling edges as time goes on.

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How to flatten a rug

Most rugs, no matter what type of carpet style or material they are, will tend to be delivered rolled up, as they’re a lot easier to transport and carry when they’re rolled up. However, this does tend to result in the rug not lying completely flat when you first unroll it. It might need a little help to lie flat, and here are some of the methods you can use to help your rug along the way.

Let your rug settle in its own time

This is the lazy option, but often the one that works best! Your rug will naturally settle back into the position it will lie in over time, so allowing the rug to lie on the floor for a few days, you will begin to see it flattening and any waves or creases fading away as gravity takes hold. It can often help to let your rug settle on a harder floor, like laminate or vinyl, to ensure it doesn’t catch on the carpet and stay wavy.

Use a steamer

The moisture and heat from a steamer can help to flatten a rug of any lumps and bumps and has the added bonus of avoiding two methods that could potentially cause damage to your rug, using an iron or spritzing with water. Your rug may have a plastic backing that would melt from direct heat, and you also don’t want to oversaturate your new rug in case this causes moulding or warping of the material. Check out our carpet cleaning tips to find out the best ways to look after different types of carpets, as well as our guide on how to clean a rug.

Use the natural power of the sun

A little bit of natural heat from the sun can help to undo any kinks and waves that were caused by being rolled up. This is often a better option than trying to use your iron on the carpet, as this can cause damage to both your carpet and your iron if the backing material is made from a plastic blend.

Taking your rug outdoors to lie in the sun for a few hours can really help, especially on a very sunny day, preferably in the afternoon. This allows the ground time to heat up too, so heat is being applied from both sides.

Use the man-made power of a hairdryer

Another way of avoiding direct heat on your carpet is to use the hot hair from a hairdryer. While this will be a bit more time-consuming and you might end up with sore arms, it’s another effective way to apply heat and you can use your fingers to fluff up the fibres as you apply heat, giving them a new lease of life.

Flip your rug over

If your rug has settled pretty well but just the edges are still curling up, you can always flip your rug over to let gravity work its magic and you should see the edges begin to flatten pretty quickly. Alternatively, you can weigh down the corners with heavy objects like a stack of books, a sleeping dog or even a grandfather clock!

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How to get creases out of a rug

You might not necessarily find creases in your rug after it’s delivered, but they can sometimes appear after it’s been washed. Here are some alternative ways to get rid of creases in your rug:

Wait patiently for the rug to completely dry, just to ensure that the wrinkles won’t disappear as it dries
If there are still wrinkles, there may still be cleaning product in the base of the rug – it may be worth cleaning it again or giving it an extra rinse
Washing your rug can also help with any stretched fibres. This can happen a lot with stair runners that take a lot of heavy use. It will help to shrink them back into place, thus getting rid of any wrinkles or bumps

If you’re still experiencing creases, then try taping down the corners or edges of your rug to keep it in place – this will also help with curling edges that can be a tricky trip hazard

How to get waves out of a rug

If your rug is bunching up and creating a wave-like effect, then you might need to look at the furniture placement in your room. It could be that your furniture is moving a lot and causing the rug to bunch up. You can fix this by ensuring that either none of your furniture touches the edges of the carpet or ensure that every corner is weighed down by furniture that doesn’t move often or gets used often, like a sofa or a large table.

If your furniture has left dents on your rug, then you may need to look at our guide on lifting your carpet pile to get your rug looking brand new. You can find lots of helpful DIY and styling advice in our Ideas Hub, as well as lots of different ideas about how you can style your home to suit your taste, including tips on hanging a rug on the wall and how to expertly layer your rugs.

Post author

Jeremy Garrish Buyer Jeremy has 35 years of carpet industry knowledge

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Published: 19-08-2022