How to remove burnt marks from carpet

Accidents can happen all the time but probably the most awful ones are the accidents linked to fire. If you are lucky enough to not have severe damages to the overall condition and structure of your home, you may find out that your carpet was indeed the one to get burned. Our advice is to book a carpet repair service in Sydney rather than trying to find which DIY solution will work for your carpet. But if you really want to take things one step further, we also advise you to read about the other common carpet problems in order to plan their prevention.

Pro tip: when dealing with different carpet stains and burn marks the most important thing is to always scrub the treated surfaces from the outside towards the center of the stain/mark. This assures that the stain or the dark burns will not spread their unwanted effects on the area surrounding them.

Scorch marks vs Sandpaper and scissors

Although ugly, scorch marks on the surface of the carpet can be easily removed. Use a 220-grit sandpaper and sand the affected areas. If you don’t have sandpaper by your side - use scissors. By gently trimming the top of the burned fibers you should be able to reduce the scorch. After this is done, vacuum the treated area and proceed to clean the spot with a solution of mild detergent and water.

Small burns

Just because there are some minor burns it doesn’t mean that all hope is lost. You can call the carpet repair technicians to get them fixed and to some extent - perform a DIY treatment by yourself. Pull out some fibers from a place on the carpet that is rarely visible. Cut the burned fiber as much as possible reaching the base of the carpet. Use super glue and fill the trimmed area with the fresh fibers you pulled out from the rarely visible corner.

Large burns

Unfortunately, large burns on the carpet need to receive a lot more attention and care in order to be treated. On top of this, DIY treatment can obtain some results but if you observe your carpet carefully you will always see that there is a difference. But since not all people have access to a reputable carpet repair company, sometimes even DIY is an option. These are the following steps to properly execute such a treatment:

• Measure the size of the burned area

• Cut around the damaged spot

• Use a sharp knife and cut a new piece of the carpet

Consider cutting from a place of the rug that is rarely visual or from a carpet remnant. The piece that you cut should be slightly larger than the burned area.

• Cover the floor under the burned are with double-sided tape

• Put your replacement piece over the opening

• Close the seams with a rolling pin

Cut off stray fibers and bend the edges of the piece with the nearby carpet fibers using your fingers.

When cutting is not an option

Sometimes cutting is not possible, but what should you do in such situations? You can rearrange your furniture. Simply moving a sofa over the damaged area should be enough to cover the burn mark. However, if the mark is in the middle of the room such a rearrangement is not possible. You can successfully cover the burned area and spicy up your interior with a chic coffee table or an ottoman. If the burned areas are near corners you can place some vases with flowers and plants on the problem spots.

The following ideas will surely help your carpet look better than simply leaving the burn marks untreated. However, we highly advise you to consider the services of a professional carpet repair company. Even the most diligent carpet-owner won’t be able to match the execution of the carpet repairs done by a technician with years of experience behind his back. So don’t waste your time on DIY activities and book yourself a service that will get the job done better and faster than your most diligent efforts.

Natalie Barrett is a carpet repair specialist in Sydney, part of Nifty Carpet Repair.