How Long Does It Take for a New Rug to Flatten Out?

October 17, 2023

A new rug can instantly transform the look and feel of a room. However, it’s common for new rugs to have creases, wrinkles, or ripples, especially if they’ve been rolled up for a long time. The question on many homeowners’ minds is, “how to flatten a new area rug?” Here’s your comprehensive guide.

1. Flattening a New Rug: Tips and Tricks

  • Be Patient: Your rug must have been in the box for maybe several months. Therefore, it is so normal to take more than a day to flatten. The not-so-surprising strategy is foot traffic. Hence, the more you walk on it the better and faster it would be. Most rugs will naturally flatten within a week under regular foot traffic.
  • Reverse Roll: Other than foot traffic, you can gently roll your rug in the opposite direction to counteract the creases.

2. Removing Creases from Your Rug: Easy Methods

  • Sunshine Method: Another method to unwrinkle a rug is using the sunshine. Let the rug sit in the sun for a few hours, which softens the fibers, then lay it where you want.
  • Steam: To get creases out of new rug which was rolled for many months, maybe even sunshine doesn’t work (or perhaps you don’t have sun due to where you live!). For these severe scenarios, use a steamer or iron (on a low setting) to remove the creases but avoid direct contact.
how to flatten a rolled rug
Although it is very small, but can you spot the creases in this Persian rug? Look at the bottom left of the picture! Also, Persian rug is art!

3. Making a New Rug Lay Flat: Simple Techniques

  • Weight It Down: Place heavy furniture or books on problematic areas.
  • Massage the Fibers: Use your hands to massage and adjust the rug fibers gently.

4. Getting Wrinkles Out of Your Rug: Step-by-Step Guide

  • Damp Towel Technique: First and foremost, dampen a towel and place it over the creased area. Then, using a warm iron, press over the towel, and hold the iron for couple of seconds. Repeat this for numerous times.
  • Stretch and Tape: For persistent wrinkles, stretch the rug and use carpet tape to secure it. Let the tape does its thing on the wrinkled fibers for couple of days or weeks. Afterwards, you can remove it, and hopefully, the wrinkles are gone!
how to flatten a rolled rug

5. How to Get Ripples Out of an Area Rug: Expert Advice

Sometimes, your old rug gets wrinkles and you might wonder why? In short, slippage and moisture cause wrinkles to your current rug. How to get creases out of area rug? You should:

  • Rotate Regularly: Shifting the rug’s position can help even out wear and reduce ripples. You can use the heavy weight of your sofa in order to flatten out a rug, or you can utilize the foot traffic. Either way, try the shifting position first.
  • Professional Cleaning: If the first solution doesn’t work, sometimes having the rug professionally cleaned can reset the fibers and reduce waves.
  • Proper Padding: Use a high-quality rug pad beneath your rug. This provides a stable base, prevents slippage, and can help smooth out minor ripples.
  • Moisture Control: Excess moisture can cause rugs to ripple; in some humid countries this case is more likely. So, consider using a dehumidifier in overly humid environments. Ensure the room has the right humidity level.

6. Ensuring Your Area Rug Lays Flat: Proven Methods

Imagine you paid a lot of money and bought a very beautiful and antique Persian rug. Do you want to wrinkle it? Of course not! Thus, your must be careful with your rug; we have two suggestions:

Proper Padding: Many times, specially in the high traffic room, our rug get rolled up. These repeating rolling up scenarios during many years will wrinkle the rug eventually. To prevent it, use a high-quality rug pad beneath your rug. This provides a stable base, prevents slippage, and can help smooth out minor ripples.

Moisture Control: Furthermore, ensure the room has the right humidity level. Excess moisture can cause rugs to ripple, so consider using a dehumidifier in overly humid environments.

how to flatten a rolled rug
Notice the wrinkles and creases in this rug. It is vital to unbox and unroll a rug properly.

7. Unrolling a Rug: Quick and Easy Steps to Unroll a Rug.

If you are reading this, it means you are a responsible human who wants to take care of her belongings. One of the cases that the rug get creases is when we want to unbox it for first time. What you should do is to follow these steps carefully:

  1. Unroll Slowly: Carefully unroll your rug to prevent any new creases from forming.
  2. Smooth as You Go: As you unroll, smooth out any visible creases with your hands.
  3. Let it Breathe: Once unrolled, give the rug some time to adjust to its new environment before placing furniture on it. So don’t place furniture on your rug as soon as you unroll it; instead, give it some time.

8. How to Straighten a Rug: Smoothing Out Your Rug with Effective Solutions

If none of the above solutions didn’t work, then we suggest to use these strategies as your last shot!

  • Hairdryer Method: On a low setting, gently blow warm air on the creased areas, then press down or walk on them to flatten.
  • Cold Method: For certain rug types, applying ice cubes to the wrinkled area, letting them melt, and then vacuuming can help in reshaping the rug.
  • Checking the rug manufacturer’s instructions: If none of the above solution didn’t work, you must consult a professional specially if the rug is delicate or requires specific care. Plus, check out the rug’s box for any instruction that explain how to unwrinkle a rug. This would provide additional guidance for you who may have unique rug materials or designs such as silk Persian rug.
how to flatten a rolled rug

In conclusion, while new rugs often come with their set of wrinkles and creases, there are plenty of methods to ensure they lay flat and look their best in your space. The key is patience combined with a bit of effort. Over time, with the right care and techniques, your rug will settle beautifully onto your floor, enhancing the beauty of your room.