How to Make Carpet Fluffy Again

Carpeting has a tendency to get flattened out in highly trafficked places and where bulky furnishings sit for long periods.

Fortunately, there are several ways to revive carpet fibers with a few inexpensive household products that can restore the soft fluff beneath your feet. Here are four ways to treat the entire carpet, along with methods for resolving smaller areas.

Method 1: Refresh and Fluff Carpet with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Older carpet or shag carpet fluffing often requires a full treatment. However, you can fluff and sanitize at the same time using this simple method. Vinegar is a well-known house cleaning wonder, and baking powder is absorbent, deodorizing, and antimicrobial.

Note: Before proceeding with this method, a word of caution. Baking soda can potentially clog and damage vacuum cleaners, particularly the filters because it is so tiny and sharp. Don’t use cheap bagless vacuums because these machines leak allergens through the exhaust. A better alternative is using a mid-priced stick vacuum or a bagged vacuum with enough power to extract baking soda bits under carpet fibers.

Materials Needed

• Vacuum cleaner
• Several boxes of baking soda
• White vinegar
• Misting spray bottle
• Stiff bristle brush
• Warm water

Steps to take:

1. Remove loose debris by thoroughly vacuuming the carpet.
2. Liberally sprinkle baking soda atop the entire carpet surface.
3. Using the stiff brush, work in several angles to deeply penetrate the carpeting fibers with the baking soda.
4. Allow the baking powder to stay in place at least 12 hours.
5. Vacuum the baking soda up thoroughly.
6. Add vinegar and water (1:1 ratio) in a spray mister, and spritz the carpet liberally.
7. Straighten the fibers with the bristle brush in straight strokes initially and then in circular or back and forth directions.
8. Make sure the carpet is dry before allowing anyone to enter.

Method 2: Make Carpets Fluffy Again with Heat

The best part of using the heat method to make carpets fluffy again is that heat will loosen the fibers.  This method makes them more flexible and better able to stand up during the fluffing process.

Typically, people use iron as a heat source. However, a hairdryer could be substituted using high heat.  We will stick with the iron method for this instructional.

Note: This method will work best in small areas such as marks under furniture legs.

Materials Needed

• Iron
• Damp towel
• Carpet comb, carpet rake, stiff bristle brush or fork
• Vacuum cleaner

Steps to take:

1. Vacuum the carpet thoroughly.
2. While the iron heats up to medium to low heat, dampen a cloth or towel.
3. Place the dampened towel on top of the carpet’s flattened or matted areas.
4. Press the hot iron directly on the towel for a few seconds, eventually covering the entire area that needs fluffing.
5. Use your comb, brush, rake, or fork to gently manipulate the fibers back and forth until they are separated and fluffed.
6. Allow the carpet to dry thoroughly. Repeat these steps until you achieve the fluffiness you like.
7. Vacuum after the carpet is dry to achieve a better fiber lift.

Note: Carpet rakes and combs work great for high pile carpet such as shag. For mid to low pile carpeting, a bristle brush or standard kitchen fork often work best.

Method 3. Use Melting Ice to Restore Fluff to Small Carpet Impressions

It might sound a bit crazy to use melting ice on the carpet. Yet, it’s an easy way to deal with smaller areas that have been dented by furniture. It wouldn’t be wise to do the entire floor with this method unless you have a shampooer to draw the water out. That being said, let’s get carpet fluffing with ice.

Materials Needed

• Vacuum cleaner
• Several ice cubes
• Clean white towel
• Carpet comb or fork
• Soft bristle brush

Steps to take:

• After vacuuming the areas to be treated, place ice directly in the carpet dents. Use 1 or 2 cubes for small marks and about 3 for those wider than 2 inches.
• Let the ice cubes sit in each dent until it melts completely. Waiting might take 20 minutes to an hour, depending on indoor temperatures.
• Using a clean white towel, blot up the water. Press gently to avoid pressing the dent back in. Use a white towel as colored ones can soak dye into your carpet.
• Use your fingers to rub the carpet to encourage standing. Follow up with the fork or carpet comb to achieve extra fluffy results.
• Finish the job by rubbing a soft brush in a circular motion to even the fibers up after fluffing.

Method 4: Rake Carpet Back to Fluffy Softness

Rakes aren’t just for yard work these days. There is a special kind of rake specifically for carpets that are suitable for most fiber heights.

Highly effective and easy to use, it’s the ideal tool for those who want a deep clean along with a good fluffing without having to spend all day on their hands and knees.

Materials Needed

• Vacuum Cleaner
• Carpet Rake
• Bristled Brush

Steps to take:

• Vacuum well before raking the carpet.
• Use the carpet rake, pulling the tool in one direction for the first round. Be careful not to stab too deeply, as this could tear the carpet or loosen loops. Allow it to glide easily across the surface.
• For the second raking, use a pull and push motion that will further restore the carpet’s fluff. This step also opens the fibers up, which makes the final vacuuming more effective.
• Vacuum once again to maximize your raking efforts.
• Some individuals prefer to use the rake a third time before grooming if they have high fibers, but it isn’t typically necessary.
• Use the bristled brush to groom the carpet. Use your brush or comb device in one direction first, before switching to back and forth directions that offer greater volume and fluff.