How to Get Burns Out Of Carpet? (8 Easy Steps)

Photo of a carpet on fire. How to Get Burns Out Of Carpet?

You can repair the situation if you’ve got a burn mark on your carpet! Below is how to get burns out of carpet!

Removing burn marks on your carpet will require minor surgery for your carpet fibers.

  •  First, you’ll need to sand away whatever scorch and burn marks on your carpet. Sand until you can’t get anything else off;
  • Then vacuum up the loose bits. Use scissors to cut out what’s left after vacuuming;
  • To remove anything stuck on your carpet, you’ll need to spritz hydrogen peroxide and water onto it and blot it dry;
  • Next, you should remove some carpet fibers from an inconspicuous spot and use that to fill any gaps left by your scissors;
  • Set it in place using carpet cement and the fuzz;
  • After it dries, brush the fuzz to make it look natural.

No matter how you look at it, that’s a lot of steps. Feeling overwhelmed? There’s more help and advice below!

Will carpet burn marks disappear over time?

Carpet burn marks can lighten over time, especially if you’re treating the fibers using the proper cleaning solutions. In small burn marks, they can disappear over time. You won’t want to depend on time to repair your carpet burn; take charge of their repair for the best results and some DIY pride!

How to get burns out of carpet step by step

Here’s more detail on the steps that I mentioned above. There’s a lot to focus on with burn mark repair!

  1. Sand away what you can
  2. Vacuum up the mess
  3. Cut out what’s left of the black marks
  4. Use hydrogen peroxide to lift leftover stain marks
  5. Blot dry
  6. Get extra carpet fuzz or a replacement patch
  7. Attach it and allow it to dry
  8. Brush the carpet fibers to make them look natural

1. Sand away what you can

Use sandpaper to gently rub off what burn marks you can. This will help make the cleaning process easier and faster. Be thorough with this step to make the rest of the process easier.

2. Vacuum up the mess

You’ll have a selection of “crumbs” from the removal, so vacuum up those thoroughly to see what you’re left with.

3. Cut out what’s left of the black marks

You’ll want to take a more direct approach to the leftover black marks. Since these are too stubborn to come off with sandpaper or vacuum, you’ll need to take scissors to them. I recommend using manicure scissors for a detailed approach. Stay as close to the top of the fiber as you can!

4. Use hydrogen peroxide to lift leftover stain marks

Now for some heavy-duty stain removal! Mix 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 10 parts of water into a spray bottle. Use that to spritz your carpet. Be thorough with this and get the entire stain coated. Make sure to stick to this ratio, so you don’t accidentally bleach out your carpet’s color.

5. Blot dry

When you’re done, blot the carpet dry with a clean rag or paper towel. You’ll see the stain start to lift as you do so. Keep blotting until the towel comes up dry. Now you’ll see what kind of repair is needed — fuzz or repair patch?

6. Get extra carpet fuzz or a replacement patch

If you need fuzz, cut some off from a hidden spot in the corner or under a chair. Work it into a ball that fits perfectly into the hole. You’ll attach that using carpet cement in the next step. 

If you’ve got a larger hole that the fuzz can’t fix, get a repair patch that will match your carpet! There’s some bad press around patches, but they can be useful. Ensure you know how to use them properly, since much of the bad press comes from those who don’t read the instructions!

7. Attach it and allow it to dry

When you’ve chosen your repair method, attach it using carpet cement or carpet glue (depending on what you’re working with), and allow it to dry. Follow the cement or glue instructions to know you’re not using too little or too much. Using it wrong can permanently damage your carpet, so pay attention to this! 

The drying time is also crucial. Cover the repair match with a book or something else heavy to keep the pressure down and allow the curing process.

Tip:

Keep pets and kids away from the repair patch while drying to ensure the process isn’t interrupted.

8. Brush the carpet fibers to make them look natural

Now the part that most people enjoy the most; brushing the repair with a carpet comb! This will align the fibers with those around them and make it so that the carpet repair completely disappears! Do this gently even though the area has dried entirely. 

Tip:

You can consider changing the furniture around in your room if you want to hide the stain even after its repair!

How to remove scorch marks from the carpet

As you’ve read, hydrogen peroxide mixed with water will be the best repair choice for your carpet’s fibers. You can also follow that up with your favorite carpet cleaner. You’ll want to avoid products like vinegar or bleach since they’ll just discolor your carpet!

Is it possible to replace only a small patch of carpet?

Yes, you can replace only a small portion of your carpet if necessary. You’ll want to get it from the manufacturer that made your carpet since they’ll match your carpet properly. Regarding the steps after, Bob Villa recommends using a carpet patch kit if you’ve never done it before. It can be an intimidating task!

How to get different types of burns out of the carpet

Not all burns are going to respond the same way to cleaning methods. So, let’s look at a few specific kinds of burns and how to treat them!

Small burns (including cigarette burns)

To repair your carpet from small burns (the best and easiest kind), you’ll be able to get away using some fuzz! You shouldn’t need a patch of carpet. This includes cigarette burns since they are often small!

Large burns

You’ll want to skip the fuzz and go straight to the replacement patch for large and intense burns! It’s easier to get than you’d think, and it’ll really help your carpet look like nothing ever happened.

Hair straightener and hair dryer burns

If you have burns from a hair straightener or hair dryer, you’ll likely have a fair amount of melting! You’ll want to have a patch to help cover this since it can be hard to “coax” melted fibers to rise up again.

Ash and charcoal burns

When you’ve got either of these kinds of burns, it’s going to be mostly the chemicals and staining that are the issue. When dealing with this kind of burn, I recommend using dish soap and water as a first step. It can take a lot of the staining out of your carpet, and you’ll be able to see what’s left over as far as the actual burn itself. From there, repeat the process that I mentioned earlier with the hydrogen peroxide, etc.

How to fix a burnt carpet without extra carpet?

While it is certainly a good idea to consider having some extra carpet if needed, you can fix a burnt carpet with just some fuzz from an inconspicuous part of your carpet. It’ll often do a great job and surprise you when you can’t even find the repair site the next day or week.

How to clean black burn marks from the carpet?

When you specifically are looking for cleaning tips for those black marks from the burn, your best combination will be sandpaper, a vacuum, and scissors or tweezers. However, you’ll also find hydrogen peroxide, a commercial carpet cleaner, or good old dish soap to do a great job!

What is the cost of repairing a burnt carpet?

If you’ve decided to outsource the carpet repair, Home Advisor explains that you can expect to pay between $150 to $300. If you’re uncomfortable with DIY fixes, this will be a wonderful option! It’s also good if you make a mistake in the repair process and need a professional to step in.

Fixing your carpet’s burn marks will take several steps. Firstly, sand away what you can, and then use scissors to cut out what’s left. Next, grab your 1:10 hydrogen peroxide and water mix and spritz it on.

After you’ve removed what you can of the stain, consider a commercial carpet cleaner for anything left. Then, use some carpet fuzz or a replacement carpet patch to cover any leftover carpet damage. Brush out the fibers, and your burn mark should disappear!

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Rosa Peterson

Rose is the writer and creator of Better That Home, a blog about home design and decor. Rose has been designing spaces for over 10 years and writing home design and decor for big publishers. She has been inspired by many other creatives from around the world and loves to share those inspirations with her readers. Read more about Rose here