How to Get Rid of a Ripple in the Carpet

At the time of installation, carpet is stretched and then attached to a tack strip; this process helps hold the carpet in place. Carpet floors can last for many years, however they lose their elasticity as time goes by. They tend to get wrinkles and can appear to look old. Ripples may occur in your carpet flooring when the carpet and the tack strip separate or when you move heavy furniture.

Carpet repair is much easier and economical than replacing the entire carpet. For repairing your carpet to keep it looking as good as new, you will need to re-stretch the carpet with the help of a knee kicker and then trim the extra pieces. But if the ripple is a small one, you can simply set it straight with your hand or even a rolling pin. Using a little pressure, roll the pin across the wrinkle until it is gone or until the edge of the room. This can be applied if the carpet hasn’t been glued down.
 

 

Steps for Getting Rid of a Ripple in the Carpet

To remove a bigger ripple or a wrinkle in your carpet flooring, you can either use a knee kicker or a carpet power stretcher. Follow the below procedure:

1. First, remove all the furniture from the room including the cabinets and any heavy items that might stand in the way of repairing your carpet. Take one look around the room to check what places the carpet has ripples or loose edges. If needed, remove the threshold over the carpet.
2. By using a carpet knee kicker, you can repair your rippled carpet. Once you release the carpet from the tack strip, start from one end of the carpet by positioning the knee kicker and push it along the carpet area using your knee to kick the cushion. Repeat till you are satisfied with the way your carpet looks. After this process is completed, if any extra carpet is hitting the walls, simply cut it and join the carpet with the tack strip.
3. If you tried hard and couldn’t get the required result, you can try using the carpet power stretcher. Like its name indicates, it is used to stretch carpets. You can get them for rent in any home equipment shop if you do not want to invest in buying one. The tack strips have to be removed again and clip the power stretcher on to the tack strip. Once that is clipped, make sure and see that the teeth of the machine are holding the carpet tight and locked in place. Then, run the machine across the carpet to flatten out any wrinkles/ripples. Continue until you complete the whole carpet is done without any further damage. Now, secure the tack strips.

 
  If neither of the processes worked, it's best to call a carpet flooring professional.