Why won’t my new rug lie flat? How to remove bumps and wrinkles

 

How to Remove bumps, ripples and wrinkles from a new rug

It’s a common problem, especially in the winter months, your new rug is delivered, you remove it from the packaging, roll it out and it’s lying wavy on the floor. Why does this happen? In this article we delve into the reasons it happens and solutions to resolve.

When making the rug

The short answer is, to help keep rugs rigid during use in your home, manufacturers of machine-made rugs add an adhesive based stiffener to the backing. Similarly, makers of hand tufted rugs add a secondary backing that is fixed with an adhesive. In both cases the process of applying the adhesive element also helps to obtain better tuft anchorage. But, the very nature of the type of adhesive used, also means the rug can be pliable when warm and rigid when cold. What helps make the rug rigid also causes the the ripples. 

Whether the stiffening or backing is applied inside a high-tech factory or outdoors under the warm sun of India, the stiffener or backing process requires heat to accelerate drying. At this point in its finished stage of production the rug will be perfectly flat. The rug, which is still in a warm subtle state is then rolled tightly for transportation. It is normally during transportation where the rug will acquire its undulations.

Transportation from distant lands

Because rugs are bulky, they are generally shipped by sea or overland in containers. The shipping costs to the United Kingdom from major rug producing countries such as Turkey, India and China can prove very costly. Bear in mind, the unit cost of shipping any goods will reflect on the final selling price. Ultimately, It’s the consumer or end user who actually pays the shipping costs. Whether a shipping container is empty or full, it generally costs the same to ship. So, it makes more sense to fill a container to the brim to ensure lower prices for the consumer. It can make a cheap rug, expensive.

When transported, rugs are normally stored lying down and stacked one on top of the other. This is what tends to make the rug take more of an oval shape. Because of the extra weight exerted upon them, rugs on the bottom of the pile are more likely to be crushed and develop a pronounced oval shape.

Alternative methods of storage and shipping?

Some have suggested storing and transporting the rugs in boxes, but putting a cylindrical shaped object in an oblong box means there is no support on the corners. Causing the boxes to be easily damaged. There have even been experiments with ergonomically shaped triangular, Toblerone shaped boxes. The fact is they take up too much space, the extra cardboard packaging would be too expensive and environmentally it’s really an unnecessary use of additional packaging.

Photo by Frans Van Heerden on Pexels.com

Using cardboard or plastic poles in the centre of the rug is another option, again the poles would need to be very heavy and have a fairly large diameter to prevent crushing. Again, this method would give the rug a far greater circumference, reducing the quantity of rugs in the container. Some suppliers do wrap in narrow cardboard or bamboo poles, but this is more common on extra-large rugs and is to stop them bending when being carried.

When rugs arrive in the UK, bulk storage is normally in pallet racking that use smaller bays, so the picker has easier access. The smaller bays also reduce the risk of further crushing.

Opening your rug from the packaging

When first unrolled a new rug will often retain this oval shape and lay on the floor with a slight rippled or concertina effect. Purely down to pressure, it is likely to be more defined at the end of the rug where it has been first rolled. Normally these undulations will settle once the rug is acclimatised to the room. Sometimes they take a little longer and may take a little encouragement to alleviate these unsightly humps.

How to remove ripples on rugs on hard flooring such as wood or tiles.
There are several methods to remove the undulations in a new rug. The basic principle is usually to provide heat to the backing of the rug so it will soften and revert to its natural shape. Here are 4 easy tips to obtain that.

1: Simply reverse roll the rug with pile out, or if you have space roll it diagonally (corner to corner, rather the end to end) and store it overnight preferably somewhere warm, next to a radiator for example, heat will soften the stiffener used on the back of the rug.

2: Place heavy items such as books, boxes or furniture on the rug to flatten it.

3: Lie the rug in direct sunlight, the heat from the sun will soften the backing and it should lie flat.

4: When we photograph rugs, we don’t want to show the undulations and we don’t have time to let the rugs settle naturally, so we iron them flat. If you adopt this method, you will need to lay the rug face down on the floor. You will be able to clearly see offending areas that need attention. Lay a damp towel or cloth on the back of the rug. On a medium hot heat, iron the damp towel or cloth, the heat of the iron will soften the stiffener. You will be able to feel the rug backing become pliable and you’ll find it very easy to gently tease the backing to its natural shape.

WARNING: NEVER IRON THE RUG DIRECTLY IT WILL DAMAGE YOUR RUG AND YOUR IRON.

The lady in the following video would have had a better result if she turned the rug face down and and used the same method on the back of the rug.

If your rug is on a carpet.

The methods for flattening a rug on a carpet are the same as a hard flooring. However, rugs will often show undulations when laid on top of a carpet because they are creeping. This is not the fault of the rug, it will simply move with the nap or pile direction of carpet causing bumps.

If your rug is moving on your carpet please click here to refer an article on why rugs creep on carpet.

To prevent a rug moving on a carpet we recommend Cybergold Anti-Skid / Creep spray. It’s affordable easy to apply and it works.

 

Your room before and after

Black and Red scroll rug

It can be truly astonishing what little effort it can take to completely transform a room. Even the rearranging of some furniture can give a completely different effect. One of the easiest and practical ways to update and change a look of a room is to invest in an area rug. Choose your rug depending on the style of your room or area, or choose your decor depending on the style of your rug!

There are many different types of rugs available in many different shapes and styles, but finding one to suit your home can sometime prove quite difficult. Do you go for the modern, contemporary rug, the elegant and sophisticated one, or the vintage looking one? This all completely depends on the style of your room of choice. If you already have the decor and furniture you want in that room then it is wise to work around this when choosing your pattern and colour of rug.

If you furniture is all one colour with no pattern then it will be a lot easier to decide on colour and pattern when choosing your rug. Luckily, the variety and selection of rugs is huge so if your furniture and decor is heavily patterned then you should not have too much a problem finding something you like. Try and research into some different shaped rugs, for example round rugs can make a room appear larger and they can give a great, unique look to a room.

The colour and pattern of your rug should try to harmonise and blend with the decor you already have in place rather than compete and clash with it. If you have neutral tones then a brightly coloured block rug should really set off the mood and style of the room. A brightly coloured room can benefit from a patterned rug in a neutral tone to bring the style of the room together.

Rugs are well known for giving a room extra warmth and insulation, and with the increase of people having laminate and wooden flooring rugs are one of the most common decorating items used today. Always ensure your rug is of high quality as it will have to endure wear and tear, it is a good idea to consider foot traffic and pets so you have an idea as to what level of quality rug you should purchase.

Decorate around your rugs

Rugs can often be the main focal point in a room, especially if it has a great colour and design and is placed centrally. Sometimes it is hard to decide quite how to design your room around your rug, and where to place your decor. If you have a bold rug make sure you know what will compliment the colours and pattern when it comes to deciding your decor.

Firstly, before even choosing your rug, note the colour of the room and the style of the flooring. It might be quite hard to choose a daring rug if you have a brightly coloured room with a dark floor and the temptation might be to go with a neutral colour. But it’s all about complimenting what you already have. Choosing a rug that is the same colour as the wallpaper, or even part of the wallpaper can work wonders. Neutral rugs can still be bold, and hold a great pattern which will draw the eye. If your walls are a very bright colour then a heavily patterned, neutral coloured rug can really bring the room together.

The next step is deciding on what decor to use around your rug. If you are lucky enough to be starting out with an empty room, then buy the rug first and use your judgement to decorate around it, ensuring it is the main focal point of the room. If you go for a bold rug, then use the colours in the rug for your decorations. For example, if you rug is a mixture of orange and red, then buy orange decorations to really set off the look. Your decorations can be paintings, ornaments and even furniture to create a great, stylish and contemporary room. Keeping your furniture a neutral colour can make a striking impression.

If opting for a bold neutral rug, then go bold with the colour of your furniture. You can get neutral cushions to go with a boldly coloured sofa, for example. Remember, you are trying to achieve a great looking, modern room where you and your guests can feel at their most relaxed. Heavy patterns can still accomplish this without being too overpowering on the eyes. Rugs can make a room look unique and remarkable, whilst adding warmth and life to any room. Choosing the right rug can make a dramatic impact on the overall look of your room.