7 Ways To Flatten a Rug

When I moved into my Dallas house, I quickly realized my old furnishings weren’t going to cut it. Unlike my tall, narrow house in Minneapolis, this 1970s ranch-style home was truly Texas-sized. The open floor plan overwhelmed my old furniture, and the living room needed a big area rug, stat.

Not one to spend money on things — aka I’m notoriously cheap — I reluctantly searched the bargain bins at Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn and Dallas’s many outlet stores.

When I found a beautiful, half-priced, 20- by 14-ft. rug buried under a pile of returns and other rejects, I did a little dance. Getting it home is a story for another day. But once I unrolled in my living room? Houston, we had a problem. The edges winged up like it was about to take flight. All that time in the warehouse had clearly taken its toll.

If this sounds familiar, don’t despair. I eventually got my rug under control, and you can too. No matter what kind of area rug you have — natural fiber or synthetic — these proven methods can help. And most of them are free!

Of course, you can always enlist professional rug cleaners, but that will cost at least a few hundred dollars. So try these methods first.

Reverse Roll It

If your rug rolled up along the full width of the edge, start with this reverse-roll method (it’s the one that helped me).

Flip the rug over on a clean floor, and simply roll it up opposite the way it rolled before. You’ll probably need a helper for this one, especially if you’re dealing with a large rug. Apply gentle pressure as you roll.

Once it’s rolled up, leave it for a day or two to allow the fibers to relax and settle into their new groove. If you still have some areas that need help after unrolling, try the methods below.

Weigh It Down

If your rug is only turning up at the corners, or you still have some wings after the reverse-roll method, weigh down the rug with something heavy.

For the corners, fold them under, give them a little push, then flatten them out and place your heavy object on top. Use wide and flat things like books or weight, rather than chair legs and thin items that can make indentations in the rug fibers.

Heat It Up

Applying heat to your rug, whether through steam or ironing, also relaxes the fibers and gets them to lay flat. Be careful with this method if your rug is made from synthetic materials like nylon or polypropylene, which have a lower melting point than wool or other natural fibers.

To use heat to relax your rug, place a towel over the curl and apply gentle heat from your iron or handheld steamer. Gently pull on the rug to stretch the fibers into compliance. Combine this with the weight method to hold the edge down while it cools.

If using a handheld steamer, test an inconspicuous spot first to ensure the colors won’t run.

Put Ice on It

This method is all the rage on TikTok, with users swearing it works. For best results, try this one on small folds or corners rather than the entire edge or other large areas; the last thing you want is a wet, moldy rug.

Simply place a few ice cubes on the crease and weigh down the tip of the corner (do NOT put the weight on the ice). As the ice cubes melt, they relax the fibers and backing, allowing the rug to adjust slowly to the new position. In the morning, blot the rug dry.

This method also works on furniture indentations. Place an ice cube in the chair mark and allow it to melt overnight. In the morning, use a stiff tool like a butter knife or spoon to fluff and straighten the flattened fibers, then blot dry.

Lay It in the Sun

I wasn’t about to drag my giant rug outside, because it weighs a ton. But for small- to medium-sized rugs, this natural method gently heats the fibers just like an iron. Check the weather first, then place your rug in a sunny spot and allow nature to do its thing.

If you’ve ever heard the phrase “sunlight is the best disinfectant,” know that while the sun’s rays relax the rug creases, they’re also killing germs. This is a perfect option for old rugs that haven’t been cleaned in a while.

Tape It Down

When all else fails, just tape the rug down.

For rugs you don’t plan on moving, choose double-sided varieties that stick to the floor and the rug; look for ones that say “residue-free” to avoid damaging your floor. Another option? Pad-like strips that grip the floor rather than adhere to it.

Whichever you choose, rug tape is inexpensive (generally less than $20) and works like a charm to keep those corners from curling.

Use a Rug Pad

Rug pads keep the entire rug from moving around, and over time can relax a wrinkled rug and prevent future bunching. All that padding feels great underfoot, too.

They’re not the cheapest option. But if you’ve got a curled, sliding rug that won’t stay put and you’re looking to add comfort and security, try a rug pad. Some can cost $100 or more, but you can find well-reviewed, reasonably-priced rug pads for less than $40, depending on the size of your rug.