Carpet Care: How to Repair Burn Marks

New carpets are lovely and can completely change the look of a room, but in time they can become stained and worn, even with proper care. Carpets can also become burned and permanently marked and damaged, but the damage is not irreparable. It is possible to repair burn marks on carpets, and when carefully completed, the repair will be virtually invisible. Finding burn marks on carpets is truly a nightmare, but with the following easy instructions it is possible to repair the damage.

Small burn marks can be cut away with sharp scissors, and depending upon the type of carpet, the repair might not be noticeable. Simply cut away the burn marks one carpet strand at a time, and if the carpet is sculptured or already has fibers of varying lengths, the repair will probably be invisible. Any black marks will be gone, and the fibers can be brushed back into place. In any case, trimmed fibers are far less noticeable than ugly burn marks and blackened fibers. Severe burn marks can be repaired using the following inexpensive supplies and easy instructions.

Necessary Supplies for Severe Burn Marks

To repair severe burn marks on carpets you will require a sharp utility knife or a circular carpet cutting tool used specifically for removing small areas of damage. You will also require double-sided carpet tape, seam adhesive, heavy-duty scissors, a fine-tip black marker, and a remnant for patching the area. If you do not have a remnant, consider using a portion of carpet from inside a storage closet or another inconspicuous area.

Procedure

Begin by using a circular carpet cutting tool or a sharp utility knife to cut away the burned area down to the padding. Use caution not to cut into the padding. Before using the burned piece as a stencil to cut out a new section from a remnant, pay careful attention to the nap of the carpet. The nap of the patch should lie in the same direction as the carpet on the floor. Otherwise, the repair will be noticeable even if it is cut to fit the opening perfectly.

Next, apply a small amount of seam adhesive to the area that was cut away. This will keep the fibers from unraveling. Use the piece that was cut away to make a patch that fits the hole like a puzzle piece. With the nap in the right direction it will not be noticeable after the repair is complete.

The next step is to apply double-sided carpet tape to the back of the patch. Peel away the backing, and apply a small amount of seam adhesive to the edges of the patch. Move away the carpet fibers around the hole, and press the patch firmly into place. Allow the seam adhesive to dry completely before walking over or vacuuming the repair. Once it is dry, use your hand to brush the fibers and blend them in with the rest of the carpet. The repair should be invisible, and more than likely no one will notice, even if they were aware of the unsightly burn marks.