Carpets are vulnerable; wine and food spills or uncontrollable animals are just a few of the reasons behind carpet damage. Read our guide to find out how you can deal with these five common carpet damages. Visit our website to browse our extensive collection of carpet cleaners or hire one! http://www.hss.com/c/9000071/Carpet-Cleaners.html

1. 5 Common Carpet Damages and How to Fix Them
You walk into your living room to
find your kids have spilled paint on
the carpet, your dog has torn a
section or your carpet is coming
loose. Your first instinct may be to
panic, but that is last thing you
should do. Luckily, most carpet
damage can be repaired and it’s
even possible to replace a section
of your carpet if it is extremely
damaged.
Image Courtesy of DecorandStyle
Before you try any of these tips, it’s a good idea to contact the manufacturer of your carpet
or your carpet supplier to find out if there are any special considerations for the type of
carpet you have that you should keep in mind as you make repairs.
Remove a Stain
The way you tackle a stain will depend on what caused the stain. If the stain is still wet, use
a dry cloth to blot up the liquid, but never rub or scrub the area.
For many food and drink stains, you
can dip a cloth in vinegar and then use
it to blot and absorb the stain. Then,
use a clean cloth dipped in warm
water to rinse the area. Again, never
scrub a stain.
To remove dirt or mud stains, it’s
actually best to let the area dry before
attempting to clean it. When the mud
has dried, sweep up the loose pieces
and run a vacuum over the spot to
remove as much dirt as possible.
Then, use a carpet cleaning solution to
work out the stain.
Professional Carpet Cleaner / Image Courtesy of HSS Hire

2. You can also hire a powerful carpet cleaner to remove stubborn stains.
While a carpet cleaner may not be able to remove all stains, it will be able to clean deep
down between the fibres in a way you can’t otherwise do.
To hire a carpet cleaner with just a few clicks, please, visit HSS Hire’s carpet cleaning
solutions page: www.hss.com/c/9000071/Carpet-Cleaners.html
Repair Torn Carpet
If your pet decided to attack the carpet or you
accidentally tore a spot when moving the
furniture, don’t worry; it is possible to repair
torn carpet. To do this, you will need a utility
knife, seam iron and heat-activated carpet tape.
First, use the knife to lift the edges of the carpet
around the tear and then reach underneath to
remove the old carpet tape. Replace the old
tape with a new section that is the same size
and make sure it is tucked completely under the
tear.
Insert the seam iron into the tear so it can make
full contact with the tape, turn it on, and hold it
for 30 seconds, then slide the iron up to heat
the next section of the tape. While you are
heating this portion, push the carpet behind the
iron down onto the warm tape. Continue doing
this until you have sealed the entire tear.
Image Courtesy of Dogington Post
Save Wet Carpet
If you happen to catch carpet getting soaked, you might be able to save it! First, dry the
carpet as best as you can with dry towels. Then, detach the carpet from the edge of the
floor and pull it back. Set up a fan to dry the floor and the carpet thoroughly.
Examine the carpet pad to see if it has become soaked; if it has, you will need to replace it.
Use a utility knife to remove the pad and then cut a new section of pad, that is the same
thickness, and fit it into the space. When the carpet is completely dry, you can lay it back in
place and reattach it to the tack strip.
The trick with dealing with water damage is to act fast. Dry it as quickly as you can to avoid
stains, mould and other damage. If your carpet does become stained, you may need to
replace the damaged areas.

3. Reattach Loose Carpet
Carpet can come loose near thresholds that connect the carpet to other flooring types. This
is a very simple problem to fix, and can actually save your carpet from further damage and
even prevent someone from tripping over the loose carpet.
First, remove the metal threshold with a screwdriver, being careful not to damage the
carpet. You will be replacing the threshold, so it is okay if it gets bent while you remove it.
Then, use pliers to detach the carpet from the threshold. There are sharp teeth underneath
the threshold, so do this carefully.
Now, attach the new threshold to the floor, and then use a knee kicker to stretch the carpet
towards the threshold and use a putty knife to attach it to the threshold teeth. Continue this
process until you have attached the entire length of carpet. When all the carpet is tucked
under the threshold, finish installing the threshold with a rubber mallet.
Patch a Damaged Section
In extreme cases, you will need to replace a section of damaged carpet. For this reason, it is
wise to keep some carpet remnants when you get new carpet so you won’t have to try to
find an exact match should you need to patch a section. If you aren’t able to find a match,
and the patch is small, you can cut a piece of carpet from inside a closet.
First, cut the damaged portion of the carpet out and remove the tape underneath. Leave
the carpet pad intact and leave about a 2 centimetre space between the cuts you make and
the damage. When you cut a patch from the new carpet, make sure you match the size and
shape of the removed carpet exactly and that the fibre is going in the same direction as the
rest of the carpet.
Cut strips of heat-activated carpet tape that are twice the size of the hole. Cover the hole
with the tape, tucking half of the length under the existing carpet. Heat the tape with the
carpet iron, place the patch in place and then use a rolling pin to make sure the piece is
completely flat and to work the edges down and blend them with the rest of the carpet.
Place a heavy book on top of the patch and let it set for 24 hours.
Carpet damage is unsightly, and your first reaction when you tear, stain or otherwise
damage your carpet may be to panic. But, these tips will help you make your carpet look like
new.
For pro tips on how to deep clean your carpets, read this blog post we published a while
ago! www.hss.com/blog/12-tips-on-carpet-cleaning/