How to Make Carpet Look Fluffy and New in 10 Steps

When it comes time to put your home on the market, make your property stand out by removing clutter, making necessary repairs, and cleaning your residence from top to bottom. One of the first things buyers may notice when entering a home is the condition of the carpeting, so make that a main focus of your cleaning efforts. A thorough shampooing, vacuuming and grooming will erase years of wear and tear and make your carpet look fluffy and new.

1 Remove the clutter from the carpeted rooms you'll be cleaning. Store the items in another part of the house or arrange to use a storage facility. You can temporarily move large furniture pieces, like a bed or a dresser, if you wish to clean under them.

2 Get on your hands and knees and examine your carpet closely. Crawl around the room, and cut any threads that are sticking up with a pair of sharp scissors. Do not pull up the thread when cutting it; lay the scissors perpendicular to the carpeting and cut to even the surface.

3 Spray hardened stains with a stain remover formulated for carpeting, we have a great selection here at The Floor Store. Leave the cleaning agent in place for the amount of time specified on the instructions. Blot with a rag to absorb the cleaner and the stain.

4 Place an ice cube onto dented areas of the carpet that were underneath furniture. Allow the ice cube to melt completely, unless of course you have a SmartStrand product and the pile should just brush back up.

5 Blot the wet area gently with a paper towel until no more moisture can be absorbed. Avoid pressing the towel into the carpeting, which will reinforce the dent. Run the edge of a spoon against the direction of the dented carpet to fluff it up.

6 Wet a hand towel and wring out the excess liquid. Lay the towel over the dented carpet. Heat an iron to the cotton setting, and gently iron the towel for one minute, concentrating on the area above the dent. Leave the towel in place until it dries. Remove the towel, and fluff the area with your hand. You can try this method as an alternative to using ice cubes.

7 Vacuum the carpeting to suck up all the dust and dirt using a “beater head” on your Vacuum, choosing a suitable vacuum is just another option available at The Floor Store. Pay attention to high-traffic areas, as well as corners and spaces where the carpet meets the wall. Use an attachment, if necessary, to get suction into spots the vacuum can't adequately cover.

8 Use a professional service to “Power Clean” your carpets, we don’t recommend hiring a machine, as they usually leave more liquid in your carpets, than they suck up and are not recommended by any carpet manufacturer we have spoken to. We recommend the professionals, either JAE or Chem-Dry.

9 Sprinkle an unscented or scented carpet deodorizer over the entire floor. Leave the powder on the carpet for the amount of time specified on the instructions.

10 Vacuum the carpeting one last time to suck up the deodorizing powder and any other cleaning residue and dirt.

There you go 10 easy steps to freshen up the look of your carpet.

Or the easiest “1 step” would be to invest in a new flooring option, in a modern colour to freshen and excite that new potential buyer. Give us a call at The Floor Store and we will happily discuss some investment options with you.

Disclaimer: This column is offered as advice only. All care has been taken to ensure that information is correct at time of publishing.