It takes a few seconds of negligence to get a burn mark on your carpet. A hair straightener left on for too long or accidentally dropping a fireplace ember can quickly leave a mark on your carpet.
Before you fret and start dialing the professional cleaners, take a deep breath, and follow my advice. With a few supplies and patience, you can get rid of the smaller burn marks yourself.
Of course, you’d have to call the professionals for cleaning an iron-sized burn mark, but don’t go spending hundreds of dollars for a small cigarette burn.
Let’s discuss how to get burns out of carpet in a few easy steps.
Part 1: Trim the Burnt Carpet
Don’t be alarmed yet. You don’t need to have your eyebrow trimming expertise to work the tweezers. Instead, the method simply involves straightening the carpet fibers using them.
What You’ll Need
- Tweezers
- A pair of scissors
- Carpet stain remover
- Toothpick/small screwdriver
- Waterproof fabric glue
- Waterproof fabric paint
Step by Step Instructions
Gather your supplies and get to work.
Step 1: Loosen the Fibers
Use your tweezers to pluck the carpet fibers and make them stand as tall as possible. Doing this will help you spot the burnt pieces.
Step 2: Cut Off Burnt Pieces
Now that all carpet fibers are straight and well apart from each other, take scissors to cut the burnt fibers. Make sure only to cut the affected area and not mess with the lower layer.
You may want to be patient in this step, or you’ll end up giving your carpet a bigger trim than needed.
If the fibers are tight or flat at some point, pluck them with a tweezer and cut the burnt ones. After cutting, brush the burnt fibers aside and vacuum them later.
Step 3: Apply Carpet Stain Remover
Apply the recommended amount of carpet cleaning solution and let it sit for the specified time. Always follow the recommendations on the cleaner’s packaging.
If the stain is too dark, use a clean rag to scrub the area.
Step 4: Cut More Fibers
Cut some fibers from a hidden area of the carpet, such as the part under the furniture. Make sure to cut the same amount and length as you did earlier.
Then, apply some waterproof fabric glue to these fibers. Glue them to the burned area, covering the whole section properly.
Let dry for 24 hours. After drying, trim and flatten the new fibers to meet the level of the surrounding fibers.
Step 5: Paint the Stain
If you don’t want to cut carpet fibers from another area, use fabric paint to hide the stain. Get a paint color as close to your carpet’s color as possible and apply it to the affected area using a thin brush.
Let it dry for 24 hours or as specified on the paint bottle.
Read Next: The 8 Best Carpet Cleaners of 2021
Part 2: Remove the Affected Area
This method is a bit more complicated than the previous one, but it’s nothing that you can’t do with a little help from your spouse or friend.
What You’ll Need
- A razor
- A pair of scissors
- Glue
- Woven backing
- Wide-tooth comb
Step by Step Instructions
After gathering your supplies, follow the given steps. Keep a heavy object like a pebble or an encyclopedia nearby. You’ll need it in the later stages of this method.
Step 1: Cut the Burned Area
Use a sharp razor to cut the affected area out of the carpet. Make sure to cut through the carpet till the adhesive base comes off easily.
It’s better to cut in a regular shape, such as a square or a rectangle, as they’re easier to replace.
Step 2: Cut Another Section of Carpet
To hide the burnt section, cut another part of the carpet from an inconspicuous area. Use the carpet you cut in Step 1 as a template to cut the exact size of the unaffected part.
Alternatively, if you have a piece of the fabric sample you received when buying the carpet, you can cut out a swatch from that too.
Step 3: Glue the Piece
Cut a piece of woven backing, the same size as the new carpet piece, and apply permanent glue on its back. Also, apply glue to the burnt area’s edges and the new section you cut in Step 2.
Allow the glue to dry for some time.
Step 4: Replace the Patch
Place the woven backing where you cut the carpet in Step 1. Lift the surrounding area to fit the backing securely. Put the new patch on top of this and use your hands to press it.
Step 5: Comb the Area
While the glue does its wonders, use a pair of scissors to snip off loose carpet fibers. Using a wide-toothed comb, adjust this newly-glued patch in place until it matches the surrounding carpet.
Step 6: Let Dry
Your job is now done. Now, it’s up to the glue to do the rest. Put a heavy book on the glued area and let it sit for about 24 hours.
Tips and Warnings
- While one of these methods can help you remove a small burn, they won’t be effective against bigger stains. If the stain is larger than two-hands width, call a professional for carpet cleaning.
- To prevent burn marks, don’t smoke in the room. Keep the ironing board away from the carpet.
- Use ten parts water and one part hydrogen peroxide as a homemade cleaning solution for burns.
- Instead of a razor, you can also use a utility knife in the second method. However, make sure not to cut the padding.
Related : Best Ways to Clean a Carpet
Final Words
Getting burn marks out of the carpet isn’t a child’s play, especially if the mark is slightly bigger than a small cigarette burn. However, it doesn’t mean your first response should be to throw away all your savings for the month at professional carpet cleaners.
Instead, you can use one of the methods I’ve mentioned to clean the carpet burn. Tried and tested, both methods are effective against small burns.
Now, it’s time for you to tell me:
- Did you learn new things in this guide?
- Did I explain the methods well?
- Have you ever burnt your carpet?
Tell me funny – or horror – stories about the times you burnt your carpet. Plus, leave your feedback in the comments below.
