Carpets are designed to be soft, plush, and comfortable to walk on. With a lack of cleaning or through the exposure of certain items, carpets can lose their fluff and softness. This makes me wonder: What’s the point of installing carpet on the floor only for it to be hard, uncomfortable, and flat? Thankfully,they can be restored and revived using the tips discussed below. Here’s everything you need to know about how to make carpet soft again.
Using any of these solutions, you can soften carpets:
- Shampoo and wash
- Brush and fluff
- Vacuum regularly
- Steam clean
- Add carpet padding
- Inhibit sun exposure
- Mitigate excessive pressure from furniture
By utilizing these tips, you should be able to restore the integrity of the carpet while preventing the loss of softness for a longer period of time.
It’s important to remember that materials degrade over time and normal wear and tear from usage is unavoidable. So, you may be able to restore some of the softness and cushiony texture of the carpet but some damage will be irreversible depending on age and condition.
In any regard, you should still attempt the tips in this article on how to make carpet soft again because they’re affordable and effective to whatever degree is possible in each case.
You could end up saving money by restoring the softness and appearance of the carpet in your home without needing to invest in a new one.
7 Tips For Making Carpets Soft
1. Shampoo and wash
Generally speaking, it is advisable for most carpets to be shampooed and washed at least once per year or more, depending on the amount of foot traffic in your home.
There are ample shampoos and fabric softeners on the market that are formulated to clean and disinfect carpet while softening the fibers for improved comfort and softness.
Stains, debris, and dried liquids or chemicals may harden carpet significantly if left unaddressed or cleaned improperly.
Clean water may not be effective at breaking down these stains and chemicals, which is why you should attempt to soap the carpet with a shampoo or carpet cleaner.
The mild chemicals in the cleaner are effective enough to break down a lot of stubborn stains and debris without discoloring or damaging the fibers.
2. Brush and fluff
To prevent debris from causing the carpet fibers to clump together or to avoid disfigurement caused by the weight of furniture or foot traffic, brushing and fluffing the carpet is a helpful solution.
Using a brush or carpet fluffer, gently brush and fluff the carpet in the opposite direction of the pile.
3. Vacuum regularly
You can keep carpets soft and blemish-free by preventing damage and discoloration through regular cleaning.
Sweeping or dusting carpets is not enough to remove stubborn dirt, dust, and debris stuck within the carpet fibers.
Vacuum once per week using a brush or beater bar attachment to lift deeply ingrained dirt while fluffing the carpet fibers to make them soft again.
4. Steam clean
The most effective way to deep clean carpets requires steam cleaning.
The heat, pressure, and moisture from steam can effectively break down and dislodge dried stains and debris from the carpet fibers.
Rugs and small carpets can be taken to a steam cleaning service for a professional job or you can use an at-home steamer to clean and restore floors that have been carpeted from wall to wall.
Combining steam cleaning with shampooing can provide some of the best results at home.
5. Add Carpet Padding
If the carpet fibers can’t be restored but the overall appearance of the carpet remains beautiful, you could supplement the softness by adding carpet padding underneath the carpet.
While also improving softness, it adds an extra layer of shock absorption that can extend the lifespan of the carpet.
6. Inhibit sun exposure
As much as sunlight is wonderful for natural lighting and warmth as it passes through the windows, excessive exposure to UV rays can cause discoloration and brittleness of carpet fibers.
It would be advisable to add shutters or blinds to reduce the amount of sunlight that enters your home during the hot summer months.
7. Mitigate excessive pressure from furniture
Granted, you may have no choice but to place furniture on carpet but it will result in damage due to excessive weight.
To slow down or prevent this type of carpet damage, you could use coasters or padding under the furniture legs.
Alternatively, switch around and rearrange the furniture periodically to distribute the weight across the carpet and prevent excessive damage to any specific area. This tip may not make your carpet soft again but it can prevent the loss of softness and comfort.
Final Thoughts
That brings us to the end of this article on how to make carpet soft again. As always, it boils down to cleaning and maintaining the carpet with proper products and tools on a regular basis.
If all else fails, you could seek out a professional cleaning company to examine and treat your carpet using high-pressure cleaners, specially formulated soaps, and other methods to restore it to its former pristine condition.
With that being said, I hope you found this article to be helpful. Before you go, be sure to check out some of our other carpeting and cleaning articles that are linked below.
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