If you’ve ever lived in a house that has been occupied by a smoker, you’ve probably seen small burn marks on your carpet. While larger cigarette burns will require patching the carpet with a piece of the remainder carpet, small burn marks can easily be fixed without needing extra carpet.
This fix works best with non-looped carpets such as random shear carpets, cut-loop carpets, Saxony carpets, plush or velvet carpets, or frieze carpets styles. Also, keep in mind that the longer the fibers in the carpet, the easier this fix will be.
Step 1: Remove damaged fibers.
Using a sharp pair of scissors, trim away any burned fibers until they are flush with the base of the carpet.
Step 2: Remove any remaining burn marks.
Trimming burn marks should remove most of the discolored carpet, but some small patches may still remain. Use a carpet cleaner to remove marks and scrub with steel wool if necessary for stubborn areas. Allow the carpet to dry completely before proceeding.
Step 3: Find replacement carpet fibers.
Look for some replacement fibers to cover the burned areas. Trim one single fiber from areas that will not be noticed, such as the carpeting in a closet or along the edge of a room. Continue trimming fibers until you have enough to cover the burned areas, making sure to retain the length of the fiber as much as possible.
Step 4: Glue the carpet fibers into place.
Place a dot of superglue on the burned carpeting where you intend to place fiber. Grasp the fiber with a pair of tweezers and place a small dot of glue at the end of the fiber. Stand the fiber on end, so the two superglued portions meet.
Step 5: Cover all of the burned areas.
Repeat this process until the burned carpeting is replaced with single carpet fibers. Try to add the same amount of carpet fibers as the ones you had to remove. Allow the area to dry completely.
Step 6: Trim the ends of replacement fibers.
Fluff all of the carpet fibers with your hands, so they are standing on end. Use a pair of scissors to trim the fibers, so they are flush with the surrounding carpet.
There are many things that can happen at home that can burn the carpet. Burns from cigarettes, hot irons, and hair straighteners are some of the most common. Burns can also happen on carpets that are in front of open fires. No matter what caused the burn or where it is, you don’t have to try to hide it with a big piece of furniture. If you’re not sure if you should fix the carpet burn yourself, leave a comment below. We’ll be happy to give you advice and a price estimate for a professional repair.
