Welcome to this guide on how to flatten a new rolled-up rug that has been folded.
Most people will tell you “let the rug settle”, and it will flatten out on its own with time.
But, how long does it take for a new rug to flatten out?
I would say a week or two is enough time to let the rug settle.
If the rug is still rolled up after that, you will need to consider these tips on;
- How to get bumps, waves, ripples, and creases out of a rug
- How to keep rug corners down
Continue reading this guide to discover other tips on how to flatten a new rolled rug using the 25 strategies below;
How To Flatten A New Rolled-Up Rug That Has Been Folded In 25 Ways
#1- Steaming Or Ironing The Rug
You shall need the following before you get started;
One: Make sure the rug is lying flat
Two: Vacuum, sweep or shake off dirt and dust particles from the rug.
Three: Take the towel or cloth then wet it (remove excess water by squeezing gently)
Four: Put the wet cloth on the surface where the fold is visible.
Five: Press the iron or steam on the cloth gently with short, quick, and smooth bursts.
Tips To Remember:
Steam or iron the back of the rug first to see if any damage will occur or if the method is responsive.
Always turn on the “steam setting” when using this method.
Do not oversoak the rug with water to avoid causing moisture problems like Mildew and rug moths.
Make sure the heat is not too high when using this method on synthetic fibers like Nylon or polypyrene to avoid melting them down.
#2- Using a Hairdryer On The Rug
You don’t have an iron box or steam cleaner? No worries because you can use your hairdryer.
A) Let the rug lay flat so that you can see where the folds are.
B) Move the hairdryer back and forwards on the fold. You must keep moving to make sure the heat is not concentrated in one area. Again, you must use the low heat setting to avoid burning or melting down the fibers.
C) Leave the rug to cool down before placing anything on it or walking over it.
D) If the folds are not gone completely, repeat the process or reshape the fibers with a gentle brush or comb. Alternatively, you can fold the rug in the opposite direction of the fold.
#3- The Use Of Natural Heat
This is as simple as taking the rug outside and then placing it on a sunny spot on any outdoor space like the wood deck.
You can also hang it on the clotheslines or the fence.
Make sure to leave the rug under the sun for several hours as long as the sun is not too hot.
#4- The Cooling Method
Instead of increasing the temperature, you can lower it by the use of ice cubes.
Place ice cubes in a microfiber towel then lay them on the folded areas on the rug.
Leave them overnight.
You can spot-clean the area the next day then make sure the rug dries completely to keep away mildew and other moisture problems.
#5- Practicing Proper Cleaning
Sometimes washing a rug properly according to the manufacturer’s instructions can help to remove existing folds or help to prevent new ones from forming.
Below are quick tips on how to clean different types of rugs.
Fur/Wool Rugs
Vacuum or shake the rug outside to remove dust and other dirt particles.
Use a gentle detergent like Woolite to spot-clean the rug.
Make sure you dry the rug completely to keep away pungent smells.
One advantage of wool rugs is that they are resistant to stains and dust mites.
In that case, the process of cleaning such rugs is not complicated.
Regular vacuuming with the right high-quality vacuum will always do the cleaning job perfectly.
Natural fiber
Start by shaking off excess dust and dirt outside. If the rug is large such that shaking becomes hard, hang the rug on a clothesline or railing then use a stick to beat the dirt out.
Natural fiber rugs must be vacuumed regularly because they attract dirt so easily.
Make sure you disable the beater bar when vacuuming loose weave or shag rugs to avoid damaging the fibers.
If stains are present, use the right stain removal to spot-clean the rug.
Finally, make sure you dry the rug completely using sunlight, a dryer, or a fan based on what is allowed according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Braided Rugs
Most rugs with small braids are machine washable. However, make sure you read the manufacturer’s instructions to confirm that.
When machine-washing small braids rugs, place them in a mesh zipper laundry bag then throw them in the machine on a gentle cycle. Then make sure you Tumble dry it on low setting.
For long braid rugs, you can spot-clean them with cleaning foam or vacuum them with the right high-quality vacuum.
Handmade Rugs
These rugs are very delicate and huge investments because you can only get one at a very high price.
The best choice would be to take such a rug to rug cleaners for professional cleaning once in a while.
If you choose to clean such a rug yourself, make sure you place a nylon screen on top of the rug and then vacuum over the screen.
Important Note:
If you are cleaning the rug over delicate floors like hardwood floors, vinyl floors or laminate floors, it’s advisable you place a plastic sheet beneath the rug. That sheet will protect your floors from being damaged by excess moisture or the detergent solutions you use.
Always remember that most rugs are not machine washable. This is the reason it’s so important to read the manufacturer’s instructions before cleaning any rug to know what is allowed and what is not. in other words, never guess how to wash your rug.
#6- By Practicing Proper Storage
Folding a rug can result in many types of creases, folds, or kicks. That is the reason you must practice proper folding of your rugs if you decide to store them when it’s not in use.
When rolling a rug, the pile which is the top side of a rug must face inward.
To keep the rug straight during rolling, you can place a rod inside the rug during rolling to keep its place.
After rolling, you can wrap or tie down the rug with a polyurethane rug wrap or muslin. Holding the rug in the same fold position can prevent the formation of folds.
If you do not want to tie down the rug, you can place it on a tight cylinder to keep it away from dust.
Make sure you store the rug in a cool and dry place free from excess moisture or heat which can damage the fibers. You can use dehumidifiers to regulate the temperature in your home if the environmental conditions are unstable.
Make sure you properly clean the rug before you fold it for storage because dirt rugs attract bad odors and pests.
If you do not have the right space and environment to store your rug at home, check out rented storage units near you.
After storage, make sure you reverse-roll the rug in the opposite direction of the original fold to take away any creases that might have formed during storage.
#7- Reverse Rolling
Step One: Let the rug lay flat on an open surface
Step Two: Gentle fold the rug in the opposite direction of the curl, fold, or crease.
Step Three: Leave it in that position for some time. If you hear any cracking noises then let the rug go back to the original position.
Step Four: Watch this video to see a practical guide on how to back-roll a rug correctly.
#8- Stretching
The safest way to stretch a rug is by taking it to professionals who can do it for you without causing any damage.
If you insist on doing it yourself, I recommend you watch this video to see how you can do it with a Knee Kicker or your feet.
Additionally, you can watch this video which will show you how to do stretching with a carpet stretcher and other simple tools.
#9- Using Weights
If the rug is in the living room, place a coffee table on top of it.
The goal is to apply pressure on the wrinkles by placing heavy objects on them like books, or plants.
#10- Rearranging The Furniture
Sometimes the ripples, wrinkles, or curls are caused by changes in the position of the furniture. In such a case, you can eliminate wrinkles by making sure the furniture is positioned properly.
You can also move the furniture around to make sure that the heaviest parts are placed on the wrinkles to apply more pressure.
#11- Preventing Wrinkles
They say that prevention is better than cure.
Eliminate the following mistakes which are likely to cause rug wrinkles.
Make sure your rugs are anti-slip, that is the rugs are kept in place to eliminate rug moving, migration and slipping likely to cause ripples.
Choose the right rug size for different spaces. For example, read this guide on how big should a dining table rug be to understand why a rug size matters.
Make sure that the rug is correctly installed.
Inspect your rugs to make sure that their backing is in perfect condition since delamination can cause rug wrinkles.
Use a humidifier and other air circulation mechanisms because improper ventilation and excess moisture can cause rug wrinkles.
Use furniture pads or sliders when dragging heavy objects over the rug.
#12- Letting It Settle
Give your rug some time to get used to the new environment.
With time it will flatten out as it continues to be used.
If this method does not work for about two weeks, then you can consider other methods discussed in this post.
#13- Back Rolling
Of course, a new rug will come rolled up for easy transportation.
Roll the rug in the opposite direction to remove any folds, creases, or wrinkles caused by the original roll.
#14- Flipping It Over
Turn the rug upside down and leave it in that position for a few hours.
You can even place some weights like plants on the corners to speed up the process.
#15- Dampening It
Apply some water on the corners then leave it to dry overnight.
You can use a spray bottle to spray water on the corners.
Alternatively, you can sponge in some water using a wet cloth like you would do when spot-cleaning a rug.
Additionally, you can place ice cubes on the rug them let them melt down slowly overnight.
CAUTION: Let the rug dry completely to keep away mold, mildew and other pungent smells. If your rug has such smells, read this guide on how to clean rugs and get smells out.
#16- Sticking It Down
Hold the corners down with double-sided tape or paintless tape.
Leave the tape for some time to give the corners enough time to flatten out.
#17- Ironing
Use an iron box in a steam setting to dry the rug.
Read the instructions on how to dry a rug with ironing explained above.
#18- Drying It
Take the rug outside in the sun to dry.
Use your hairdryer or fan to dry the rug.
#19- Get a Rug Pads
A rug pad helps to keep rug in place, and stop them from moving around.
Read this guide to understand how using a rug pad or rug backing can help to keep it in place.
#20- Cork-Backed Ruler
Attach a cork-backed ruler on the rug edges. Remember you shall do this on the back of the rug.
You can use double sided-tape or rug glue to stick them together.
#21- Tape It Down
Take the right double-sided rug tape then stick one side on the back of the rug and the other side on the floor or surface where the rug will be placed.
Leave the tape for some time for all the folds to disappear.
#22- Anchoring It
Place heavy objects like furniture or books on the fold. These will bring down too much pressure on the folded part causing the rug to lay flat.
#23- Clothes Steamer
As long as the use of heat is allowed in the rugs manufacturer’s instructions, you can use a clothes steamer to relax the rug fibers causing them to lay flat.
#24- Tie It Down
Reverse roll the rug backward then tie it down in that folded position for 24 hours.
The folds should have disappeared the following day once you untie the rug.
#25- Lay It Upside Down
Place the rug in the upside-down direction then leave it in that position overnight. You can even place some heavy objects like plants or books.
How To Flatten A New Rolled-Up Rug That Has Been Folded
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