These accidents happen in an instant, and you may feel you have to get a new carpet or professional help. Unlike other stains, standard carpet cleaning isn't enough to clean the burn stains on a carpet.
However, you can apply a few key strategies to repair your carpet, especially if the burns are smaller in less noticeable spots. With just a couple of household items and the knowledge of how to get burn stains out of your carpet, you can restore your carpet in no time.
Surface Scorches
- 1
Gently buff the affected area with 220-grit sandpaper. Work from the outer edge of the burn marks into the centre to prevent discolouration of the surrounding area. If you don't have sandpaper handy, you may use manicure scissors to trim the tips of the scorched carpet.
- 2
Vacuum the area.
- 3
Remove the remaining stains with a solution of Omo detergent and water and spray with water to rinse.
- 4
Pat it dry with a clean towel. Avoid walking on the carpet until the entire area is dry.
Minor Carpet Burns
- 1
Loosen up the carpet's fibres using a pair of tweezers. This will help ensure that the fibres stand up as straight as they can, making it easier to target the burnt pieces.
- 2
Carefully trim the burnt top layer with a pair of scissors. Ensure you only cut the brown or black burnt layer, leaving the relatively unaffected bottom layer.
- 3
Brush the burnt pieces to the side and vacuum the area.
- 4
Spray Omo detergent on the affected area. Check the bottle for instructions on how to apply it correctly. Carefully scrub in the spray using a clean rag. Leave the spray in for a sufficient amount of time.
- 5
If the stain is still noticeable, snip away some carpet fibres from an inconspicuous area of the same carpet or an identical one placed near a wall or inside a closet. Ensure the length of the new fibres is the same as the burnt pieces you trimmed off.
- 6
Apply super glue to the base of the burned spot and glue the new fibres onto the carpet.
- 7
Apply weight on the area. You may use a heavy pot or book. Allow the glue to dry completely before removing the weight. If the new fibres are longer than those in the surrounding area, trim them appropriately.
Large Carpet Burns
- 1
Cut out the burned part of the carpet using a sharp utility knife. Try to cut in a square or rectangular shape, which will be easy to replicate. While cutting, avoid the padding beneath.
- 2
Using the cut piece as a template, cut out a new piece from an inconspicuous area. You may have loose carpet samples from when you put the carpet in, and you can get the replacement piece you need from this. When cutting, ensure that the replacement is a bit bigger than the original piece to ensure a snug fit. Also, ensure that the colour matches and the fibres run in the same direction.
- 3
Vacuum the area you removed the piece from.
- 4
Place the replacement piece over the affected area and carefully press it into place. If it needs to be trimmed at the edges to fit in, do so carefully.
- 5
Remove the piece and use glue or double-sided tape at the bottom of the opening. Position the replacement piece over the area and press it into place.
- 6
Place a heavy object on the area and allow it to dry for several hours. Avoid walking on the affected area until it's completely dry.
- 7
Remove the heavy object once the area is dry.
- 8
Use a star wheel carpet seam roller to blend the fibres along the seam. Alternatively, gently comb the fibres to blend the new carpet piece with the rest. You may also use your fingers to blend the fibres.
Helpful Carpet Repair Tips
Fix a burn stain on your carpet as soon as possible. The sooner you repair it, the better your chance of removing it.
Don't try sanding or trimming the ends when dealing with looped pile carpets. Sanding or cutting the loops will cause a bigger problem.
While blending the fibres, be careful not to pull any fibres from the carpet edges as you work.
If you have extensive damage on your hands, with your burn stain larger than two-hand widths, or if it's in a conspicuous place, you may want to call a professional carpet cleaner.
There are so many benefits to carpeting which is why we need to repair our carpets when there's a burn stain on them. Fixing a carpet with a burn stain is surprisingly easy, and all you need is a few tools you have in your house. We've outlined the steps to take when dealing with different degrees of burn stains. Follow these easy steps, and your carpet can look as good as new in no time.
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