Home-maintenance expert Darcy Westlind drops by
TIPical Mary Ellen to explain how to repair a hole in carpeting.
- For areas where a cigarette burn or tough stain have left minimal damage, try using a nail clipper or small manicure scissors to trim away the damaged fibers (see photo). Be careful, though, to only remove a few fibers at a time. The trimmed fibers will easily blend in with the rest of the carpet.
- To remove dents in carpet that was caused by furniture, brush the area with your fingertips to loosen up the tufts of carpeting. If there are still depression marks in the carpet, simply spray the area with warm water and gently dry with a hair dryer, lifting the tufts of carpet with your fingers as it's drying.
- If the damage is too deep or if the carpet is torn, it may be necessary to replace a small area of the carpet. This will require a framing square, utility knife, double-sided tape and a small piece of matching carpet. Here are the steps:
- Using the framing square as a guide, cut out a small square around the damaged area. If a framing square isn't available, use a ceramic tile as a guide.
- Using the damaged carpet as a guide, cut out a piece of scrap carpet to match the hole in the carpet.
- Attach double-sided tape on the back of the replacement piece to hold it in place.
