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Why Does Your Shaggy Rug Look Matted?
We all love a good plush shag rug. Each long carpet fiber gives your home a great cozy look. But inevitably, despite our best efforts, our shaggy area rug always flattens out and turns into another matted carpet.
Shag carpet loses its fluffiness over time because of dirt, high foot traffic, and furniture placed on the carpet. Dirt weighs the long fibers down, while furniture and lots of bodies on the carpet flatten it.
So, can you make a shaggy rug fluffy again?
How Do You Make a Shaggy Rug Fluffy Again?
There are a few different ways for how to make a shaggy rug fluffy again.
Method 1: Begin with Vacuuming
Since the number one culprit is dirt, you should first try vacuuming your shag carpet. Easier said than done, right? Depending on the level of suction power, the long fibers can get stuck in the roller.
One tip is to vacuum with a lower suction first, and then, once you’ve gone over the whole area, re-vacuum again at a higher suction level. This step alone should restore some of the rug’s fluffiness.
Method 2: Using Steam
Steam cleaning is the next step to making your rug fluffy again. If you happen to own your own machine, you can steam clean on your own synthetic shag rug, especially if you have a handheld steamer.
You can usually rent a steam cleaner from your local home improvement stores, such as Home Depot, or the local grocery store. You can also have your rug professionally steam cleaned.
If none of these options work for you, see Method 6: Ironing.
Method 3: Spot Cleaning
Sometimes, all you need to do is get out a stain on your shag carpet. There are many different carpet cleaners on the market, such as dry carpet shampoo or mild detergents. Read and follow the product directions when using these; otherwise, you risk damaging your carpet.
If you want to take matters into your own hands, you can use a cleaning solution of vinegar and hot water. Try using a gentle solution of ½ cup vinegar to 1 gallon of water. Pour a small amount of the solution on the stain. Blot the spot gently using paper towels, and let air dry.
Method 4: Raking It for Fluffiness
You can also use a carpet rake to try and fluff your rug up again. If you don’t happen to have one, you can also use a fork, although this will get pretty tedious, depending on the size of the rug.
Method 5: Removing Furniture Footprints
If you’ve tried all or a combination of the above methods and you’re still seeing furniture footprints in your carpet, try this. Lightly spray the area with water and fluff up with a fork. Or, alternatively, you can place an ice cube onto the footprints and let it melt into the carpet. After blotting gently, fluff up with a fork.
Method 6: Ironing
If you don’t have a steam cleaner and borrowing one isn’t an option, you can try this trick.
Run a towel through the dryer till it’s nice and warm. In the meantime, take a clothes iron and heat it up on the “Cotton” setting. Once both the towel and the iron are ready, take the towel out of the dryer. Lay the towel over the flattened area, and iron the towel. The combination of heat and humidity should work to restore your rug’s fluffiness.
Can You Put a Shaggy Rug in the Washing Machine or Dryer?
Now that you know how to make a shaggy rug fluffy again, let’s look at some other ways to care for your carpet.
Smaller synthetic rugs can usually be washed and dried. Keep in mind, though, that you’ll want to follow manufacturer instructions (if there are any).
Avoid washing rugs that have a rubber underside. Machine wash rugs on cold using a gentle cycle.
You can also tumble dry rugs, but be sure to use a low-temperature setting.
How Do You Brighten a Dingy Rug?
You can try using a vinegar solution to brighten the carpet fabric. If you want, you can make a stronger cleaning solution using salt, vinegar, and hot water.
And while it doesn’t address the color issue, you can also try baking soda to remove odors and infuse some new life into your rug. Simply sprinkle some baking soda on your shag carpet, let it sit overnight, and vacuum it up in the morning.
The baking soda will help absorb the odors for a fresh scent.
