How to Get Burns out of Carpet: 10 Simple Steps

You can get burn marks into your carpet from dropping a match, an iron or even leaving your hair straightener on. But how exactly do you get these stains out?

There’s no need to start saving up for a new carpet just yet. Because with our help,you can learn how to get burns out of carpet in a few simple steps.

How to Get Small Burns out of Carpet

For smaller burns, like those from a cigarette, follow these steps.

What You Need

• Scissors.
• Carpet cleaner.
• Sandpaper.
• Cleaning solution (one part hydrogen peroxide, 10 parts water).
• Vacuum.
• Spray bottle with water.
• Tweezers.
• Paper.
• Heavy book.
• Wide tooth comb.
• Carpet cement.

Step by Step Instructions

1. Sand away the burn mark with the sandpaper.
2. Vacuum over it, removing any debris.
3. Cut away the remaining burnt fibers using your scissors.
4. If there is still a burn mark, soak a cloth with your cleaning solution. Blot the stain. Start at the outside and work your way into the middle.
5. Spray with water and blot dry.
6. Leave to dry completely. You might be able to stop here if the small burn mark is now unnoticable. However, if you need to patch up the hole, continue reading.
7. Use the tweezers to pull up some fibers from a different spot in the carpet. We recommend under a couch, bed or table where you won’t see the carpet. Pull up enough fuzz to fill in the hole from your small burn.
8. Roll the carpet fuzz into the shape of the hole.
9. Get a good carpet cement and apply it to the hole. Push the carpet fuzz into the cement.
10. Cover with paper and lay a heavy book on top.
11. Leave this to dry for a few hours.
12. Remove the paper and book. Gently brush with your wide tooth comb to blend the carpet fuzz into the existing area.

How to Get Large Burns out of Carpet

If you have a larger burn, like that from a dropped coal, you will need to replace the burnt bit of the carpet.

What You Need

• Matching carpet scrap (you could get this from your carpet retailer).
• Scissors.
• Utility knife.
• Carpet adhesive.
• Vacuum.
• Paper.
• Heavy book.
• Wide tooth comb.

Step by Step Instruction

1. Start by vacuuming any debris away so the area is clean. Use your handheld function on your vacuum for this.
2. Use the utility knife to cut away the burnt section of the carpet. Cut through to the carpet backing but be careful not to disrupt the padding underneath.
3. Now match up your carpet scrap. Cut it to fit the removed piece and be sure to check that the texture is in the same direction so it doesn’t look obvious.
4. Use the removed piece to trace the pattern on the carpet scrap. Cut around it. You want two pieces that are the exact same shape and size.
5. Vacuum the hole in the floor, removing any fibers, fuzz or dirt.
6. Place the carpet scrap into the hole to check it fits well. Use scissors to make any adjustments necessary.
7. Apply your carpet adhesive to the padding in the hole.
8. Align the carpet scrap correctly and press it into place.
9. Cover with paper and a heavy book for a few hours while the adhesive dries.
10. Remove the paper and book. Use your wide tooth comb to brush over the new carpet scrap to blend it in with the existing carpet.

How to Get Rid of Scorch Marks

Your iron and hair straightener can leave ugly scorch marks in your carpet. Before you consider replacing the whole carpet, try out this method.

What You Need

• Cleaning solution (one part hydrogen peroxide, 10 parts water).
• Soft clothes or sponges.
• Water.
• Spray bottle with water.

Step by Step Instructions

1. Soak a soft cloth in your cleaning solution. Blot the stain from the outside into the middle.
2. Repeat until the stain is removed.
3. Spray with clean water to rinse the stain.
4. Blot with a soft cloth or sponge and leave to dry completely.

How Much Does It Cost to Repair Burnt Carpet?

Carpet repair is no cheap thing. That’s why we always recommend being careful when using hot tools near your carpet. Carpet repairs cost about $200 to $300 on average ⁽¹⁾.

Carpet patches cost between $100 and $200 per piece. This is perhaps what will be recommended if you have a large carpet burn. Repairing damaged carpet can cost between $100 and $250 per area.

You may find that a severe burn requires carpet replacement, rather than cleaning. Therefore, our tips might not work for that issue.

Additional Tips and Advice

Are you already hard at work to remove some stubborn carpet burns? Then, these tips may help.

• If you’re unsure or uncomfortable carrying out this taks yourself, you can always contact a carpet professional who will carry out the repairs.
• When using hydrogen peroxide in your solution, use a 3 percent version. This is the suggested percentage for household use. Any higher and you could end up bleaching the carpet.
• If there is still a mark after cutting away the singed section with scissors, you can try a carpet stain remover spray.
• You can definitely try fabric paint over the scorched carpet if you don’t want to cut it up and replace the carpet.

FAQs

Do Carpet Burn Marks Go Away?

Carpet burn marks don’t go away. The only method you can use to disguise the marks is to snip away the most scorched strands, and remove fibers from a concealed area to be glued in place.

Can You Replace Just a Patch of Carpet?

You can replace a patch of carpet as long as the fibers run the same way as the original piece. Also, remember to blend the seams using a carpet seam iron, like this TruePower model. You can also use seam adhesive to bond the strands to conceal the patch.

How Long Do I Leave Hydrogen Peroxide In My Carpet?

You should only leave hydrogen peroxide on your carpet for a maximum of 10 to 15 minutes. Mix it waith water and apply it with a spray bottle. Then, dab the stain away rather than rubbing it to protect the fiber color pigments.

Can Carpet Be Restretched?

Carpet can be restretched, provided that you use the correct tools and techniques. You can rent carpet stretching tools for the best results.

Expectation vs Reality

It’s important to remember that if it’s a truly severe carpet burn, it might not come out with these tips. Unfortunately, burn marks can cause permanent damage to carpets.

Nonetheless, definitely try these tips before investing in a whole new carpet. They work for a lot of minor incidents around the home! Hopefully, your carpet will be lush again in no time.