You’ve rearranged your room, feeling good about the new layout – until you look down and spot all the furniture dents you need to get out of your carpet.
The good news is that these indentations aren’t permanent, and with a few simple tricks using things you likely already have at home, you can quickly coax carpet fibers back to life.
From ice cubes to steam, professional cleaners have shared their top carpet cleaning tips for removing furniture dents from carpets.
How to remove furniture dents from carpets
If you did not take steps to prevent furniture marks in carpets and rugs, don’t fret – there are five simple solutions to get furniture dents out of carpet using things you probably already have at home.
1. Steam cleaning
Check your carpet material before subjecting to high temperatures.
Armando Calderon, cleaning expert and owner of Joy’s Cleaning Services, says that steam cleaning carpets is his favorite way for lifting carpet fibers.
He shares, ‘We've always taken care of this in tenant cleanouts of office buildings or apartments by steam cleaning the carpets. You can use a normal carpet upholstery machine, like a Rug Doctor, from Amazon, to get a lot of the matting out.’
For a less commercial option, consider the Bissell Revolution HydroSteam, from Best Buy, which we rated five stars in our review.
If you do not have a steam cleaner, you can use a clothes steamer, such as the affordable Conair Extreme Steam Garment Steamer from Walmart, or the steam function on your iron instead.
To make the carpet fluffy again, Taylor Riley, cleaning expert and partner at GermSmart Commercial Cleaning, says, ‘I start by lightly misting the dented area with water, and a few inches around it. Then I place a damp towel over the spot and set the iron to medium-high heat. I press the iron over the towel for about 15 seconds, making sure it never touches the carpet directly to avoid having to fix a ripped carpet. After that, I use an old toothbrush to gently agitate and lift the carpet fibers.
‘The steam created by this process relaxes the fibers and the backing, allowing them to rise back up. It's important to be careful. Always use a damp towel as a barrier and avoid pressing the iron down for too long. If needed, you can repeat the process, but keep each pass to about 15 seconds to avoid damaging the carpet.’
Be wary of using steam on silk rugs, for instance, authentic Persian rugs, as the delicate fabric may be damaged. Opt for ice instead.
2. The ice cube method
Ice is a simple risk-free way to release carpet fibers.
For a tool-free dent removable method, Cameron Welch, commercial cleaning manager at Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning, suggests, ‘Place a couple of ice cubes directly on the furniture dent, then let them melt at room temperature.
'As the ice melts, the moisture will cause the compressed fibers to slowly swell and regain their loft. After that, use a brush or your fingers to fluff the carpet pile as much as you can.’
It is worth noting that this trick to get dents from furniture out of carpet works best on mild dents from lighter pieces and may struggle with deeper dents left behind after moving heavy furniture or pieces that have been in the same spot for a long time.
Ice cubes also help curled-up corners of rugs lie flat again.
3. Vacuuming
Vacuuming can work for short pile carpet or soft dents.
Another good tip for lighter dents is to simply vacuum the area back and forth. Dan Fauzi, Solved’s home tech editor, explains, ‘Using the right vacuum cleaner attachments can do wonders for removing furniture dents from carpets.
'Using a quality beater brush attachment on the best vacuums for carpets can help to lift and agitate the fibers to restore the look of your carpet. I suggest trying the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Vacuum, available at Amazon for this, as it was rated as our best vacuum for high-pile carpets.
'Alternatively, if you want something more versatile or cordless, the Dyson V15 Detect Cordless Vacuum, available at Amazon, was rated one of our favorite vacuums overall.
‘How often you should vacuum will depend on the severity of the dent. For deep furniture dents, it is wise to pair the vacuuming approach with steam cleaning or the ice method.
4. A carpet rake
Carpet rakes are also perfect for pulling up pet hair.
Carpet rakes, available at Walmart, are fantastic for fluffing up carpets and can be helpful for very dented sections of your carpet ideas.
This cleaning essential for people with pets uses fine bristles to lift and separate carpet fibers, dislodging trapped dirt, hair, and debris, making deep cleaning a carpet a breeze while refreshing your dented flooring ideas.
Using a carpet rake to remove furniture dents from carpets is simple – rake the tool over the depressed area using moderate pressure, repeating the movement until the carpet fibers start to lift. You may find it helpful to dig some of the squashed fibers out using a teaspoon first so that the rake can grip them better.
5. A hair dryer
A hair dryer can be an alternative to steam cleaning for getting rid of dents in natural fiber carpets
You can use a blow dryer to clean a toaster, so it should not be too surprising that it can help get furniture dents out of carpet, too.
Matthew Baratta, VP of operations at Daimer Industries, says, ‘A blow dryer offers a quicker alternative to ice or steam, especially for spot treatments. Lightly misting the dented area and applying warm air helps soften the carpet backing.
'While blow-drying, gently agitate the fibres with a spoon to lift them back into position. This method is ideal for synthetic or low-pile carpets.’
What to shop
Built-in applicator
Treat stains on carpets quickly with this hand cleaning solution with a built-in brush applicator, making stain removal easier and more efficient.
Carpet rakes are often more efficient at pulling embedded hair out of carpet fibres for cleaner floors.
The Hoover PowerDash Pet Compact Carpet Cleaner has a lightweight and compact design, weighing 12.5 lbs, making it easy to use and store.
FAQs
How do you get furniture drag marks out of carpet?
If your furniture has left drag marks when it has been moved across a floor, you can use a carpet vacuum with a beater brush attachment or a rug/carpet rake to help fluff up the fibers again. Try to do this soon after leaving the rag marks for the best results.
Why does furniture leave marks on the carpet?
Heavy furniture leaves a mark on the carpet because the fibers beneath the feet are compressed by the pressure. The longer the item is in place, the heavier the furniture and the smaller the feet, the deeper the indentation will become, and the harder it will be to remove.
Furniture indentations are usually also more noticeable on deeper pile carpets and rugs than low-pile floor coverings, although dents can occur on both.
Meet the experts
Joy's Cleaning Service specializes in commercial, post-renovation, and post-demolition cleaning, with a team of cleaning professionals with a combined period of over ten years.
Cameron has been cleaning carpets, rugs, upholstery, and more for Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning since 2011.
Dan is the home tech editor for Homes & Gardens, covering and testing everything from floorcare and cleaning products to air purifiers, sound, and smart home. They've always been passionate about the latest tech but their writing on homes products started back in 2021 on brands like BBC Science Focus, YourHomeStyle and Gardens Illustrated.
Matthew Baratta is vice president of Operations at Daimer Industries®, a leader in advanced commercial and industrial cleaning equipment. He has extensive knowledge in the cleaning industry and earned a master’s degree in Public Health.
Taylor is a partner at AMR US Commercial Cleaning of Maryland, and co-founded a successful cleaning business, gaining hands-on experience in both residential and commercial cleaning, business management, and digital marketing. He has been featured in publications like Entrepreneur, Forbes, Clean Biz Network, and more.
While you are working on getting furniture dents out of carpet, why not take the time to make rugs smell nice and banish odors, too?
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.