First Aid for Carpets

Published on 08/23/04
By Lewis J. Corcoran - Realtor-Associate - Weichert, Realtors

First Aid for Carpets

The condition of your home's carpets can make a big difference in your lifestyle and comfort. Moreover, when you decide to sell your home the carpet can make a lasting impression on potential buyers--especially if your home is vacant at the time of showing. Whether you have wall-to-wall carpeting in every room or just a few throw rugs over your hardwood floors, these suggestions can help restore some life to your carpeting.

* If sopping up your last spill with a clean cloth and water didn't do the trick, you may need tougher cleaning agents now. Stain removers designed to work especially on carpet fibers are available in your supermarket.

* Consider contacting a professional carpet cleaner who has access to chemicals that can remove even the most stubborn spots.

* Burns from cigarettes or fireplace embers cause carpet fibers to melt and discolor, so cleaning won't fix them. Instead you'll need to cut out the burn and patch with a new piece of carpet.

* Patching will only work if you have remnants of the original carpet. If you don't have remnants available, consider removing a piece of the carpet from a closet and then replacing the closet carpet with another floor covering.

Hopefully these tips will help you increase the appeal of your home while avoiding the time-consuming and expensive process of completely replacing your carpets.

Owner's Tip:

Complicated carpet patching and repairs are typically best left to an experienced carpet installer.

Owner's Tip:

If you want to repair your carpets yourself the materials you need are available from most carpet stores. They will also rent you a "cookie cutter" (a special round cutting tool) and heat-seaming irons.