How to Smooth Out Lumps in a Rug
- 1). Look under the rug to make sure nothing has fallen beneath it, causing the lump. Remove any small toys or items that may be pushing up the rug fabric.
- 2). Examine the floor to make sure there are no irregularities in the flooring that could be causing the lump in the rug. Older homes may have loosened floorboards or pushed-up tiles; if so, the flooring will need to be repaired before the rug can be laid back down.
- 3). Wash the rug in a washing machine, and either machine- or line-dry it. If it is too large for this process, vacuum the rug and shampoo it; this can usually be done with a steam cleaner or carpet shampooer. If the rug is very large, roll it up and take it to a nearby car wash; you can use the pressure hoses to clean the rug thoroughly, and bring it back home to line-dry outside. If necessary, have the carpet professionally cleaned at your home.
- 4). Mist the area of carpet with water from the spray bottle --- your goal is to dampen the material, but not saturate it. Lay something heavy on the wet carpet, such as a large bowl or a piece of furniture. Allow the heavy item to remain on the carpet overnight. As the rug dries, the weight of the item should press the lump flat.
- 5). Hang a large rug over a deck railing or bed, allowing the lumpy, creased area to hang free. You can spray it with water as well. The weight of the rug should straighten the fabric.
- 6). Iron a persistent lump with a steam iron, using the "wool" setting. Place a towel underneath the rug edge, if necessary, to keep the iron from touching the flooring. Press the carpet in the original direction of its pile for the best results.
- 7). Stretch the rug out tightly, making sure the lump in the carpet fabric has been pulled taut. Position a heavy piece of furniture at either end of the rug to hold it in place for at least 24 hours.
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