Carpets in homes or vehicles are often stained and discolored long before they wear out. Even with the use of a vacuum cleaner and regular cleaning, carpets can look prematurely old. If the rug is wool or nylon, painting the rug can be an effective way to make it look new again, extend its life, or change it to match your new home decor. Do not paint the carpet if the carpet is made of acrylic, polypropylene, or polyester-the fibers will not absorb the paint well. There are professionals who can help if you decide to paint your carpet. Painting the carpet yourself is very risky and the results are not optimal, but it is possible to do.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Preparing the Carpet
Step 1. Consider the cost and effort
Showing the carpet to a professional first to see how much it would cost might be a good idea. Use the nominal given by the officer as a comparison figure when you assess the cost of doing it yourself. If it doesn't cost much more and you're not really confident in your ability to do it yourself, it might be worth it to hire a professional. The work is also very difficult.
Step 2. Choose the right carpet paint for your carpet
Only paint if you are sure the material is wool or nylon. Read the paint packaging carefully to make sure the paint is safe for use with these materials. A number of fabric, carpet and home goods stores, as well as various online stores, sell carpet paint in a standard range of colors. Some websites offer a wide range of common colors, in addition to a number of unique carpet colors.
In general, home carpet painting is more effective when the chosen color is darker than the original carpet color. If the carpet is very dirty with dark stains, a paint color that is darker than the stain will work best. You can't paint the carpet to a lighter color
Step 3. Find a store that sells custom-made carpet paints if you're trying to paint your rug an original color, or to match your rug to walls, curtains, or other decor
Some companies offer color matching. You can bring or send a small section of the carpet and they will mix the carpet paint to your liking. Be careful, as this may be more expensive. Paint strokes from the paint shop, curtain ties, and other color samples can also be color-adjusted effectively.
Step 4. Remove all furniture from the room
This is of course necessary if you are going to be painting the carpet from one side of the wall to the other and you need to clean it thoroughly, so it's best to remove the furniture so it doesn't get in the way.
Step 5. Purchase or rent a steam carpet cleaning machine
Walmart and Home Depot rent steam cleaners, so you can visit one of these stores or a store in your area and just rent a cleaner for a day. You won't need it much longer than that. Rug Doctor also offers the same rental services.
Step 6. Clean the carpet thoroughly
Make sure you follow the instructions on the steam carpet cleaning machine specifically. This can be dangerous and you also need to make sure the machine is functioning properly. Make sure you hit each section of the carpet at least twice. Methods such as mowing the lawn are a good idea-work to the width of the rug and continue hitting all the soiled areas.
Step 7. Allow the carpet and padding to dry thoroughly before painting them
If the carpet is wet when you try to paint, the painting process will be much more difficult. Use a paper towel or sponge to pat it dry. The rug doesn't need to be 100% dry, but it doesn't have to be wet either. A little damp is not a problem.
Method 2 of 3: Painting the Carpet
Step 1. Follow the instructions on the paint package to prepare the paint
The method for each paint is different, so it's hard to go into specifics in this article, but most carpet paints require you to mix them with hot water and chemicals. Mix the paint according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
Step 2. Wear the right clothes
You definitely don't want to wear nice khakis or your favorite dress. It's very likely that your clothes will get a little bit of paint. You will also need to wear protective eyewear, and possibly gloves.
Step 3. Test the paint on the carpet in an inconspicuous area before starting work
The corner of the rug can be the perfect piece for this, or the part of the rug that is usually placed under the table. Test it and give it a few hours to dry, as the color you see immediately may not be the same color once the carpet is no longer wet. The paint manufacturer will list the drying time. If you are satisfied with the result, you can continue painting the carpet. Continue with your decision to paint the carpet only if there are no side effects on the look or how the carpet feels and you are satisfied with the color.
Step 4. Apply paint to the carpet
Start applying paint to the furthest corner of the room and work your way to the exit so you don't have to step on the wet paint. Many manufacturers require that you spray paint on the carpet. It's a pretty easy thing, all you have to do is take an empty spray bottle you have at home and pour some paint into it. Be careful not to spill the paint - pouring it into a cup first and then into a spray bottle might work better. An empty Windex spray bottle or something similar will do. Rub the paint into the carpet fibers after spraying. Use a stiff bristle brush and work in a circular motion. Take the time to make sure the carpet fibers are evenly covered as you look at it from every angle. If you scrub the carpet-the fibers will break down. Scratching it with a carpet broom in one direction is the only way to spread the paint and not damage the fibers.
Step 5. Let it dry
Keep children and animals out of the room and allow sufficient time for the carpet to dry. The paint manufacturer will have an approximate time for drying, and waiting longer than that is always a safe bet. Hopefully your carpet will look beautiful!
Method 3 of 3: Hire a Professional to Paint the Carpet
Step 1. Hire a local carpet cleaning service to paint the carpet
Many carpet cleaning services in your area offer drying services at reasonable prices. Invite several officers to your home so they can see what needs to be done, tell you service options and make offers.
Contact a company that only does carpet painting services. Hiring a carpet cleaner who has no carpet painting skills can result in a poorly done carpet. Make sure whoever you hire is a professional and make sure he or she has painted carpet before
Step 2. Get a guarantee that protects the outcome
Even if you hire a professional, you don't want to be stuck in a bad situation because of expensive carpets that are damaged by messy workmanship. Especially if they get paid to do it! Be sure to read the contract before you rent it. That way you are under protection.
Step 3. Set a painting time and date either over the phone or in person
Make sure you won't need to use the carpeted room during the painting time. Professionals will take care of other things.
Tips
- Double check to make sure your carpet is nylon or wool. You can do this by gathering a small amount of fiber and placing it on a flat plate. Soak the fibers in household bleach and leave overnight (at least 12 hours). Carpets can be painted if the fibers are yellow or white, after the original color has disappeared (meaning the carpet is made of nylon). If the fiber is soluble, the material is wool and can be dyed. If the color of the fibers does not go away, the carpet cannot be painted. If the fibers turn pink or purple, the carpet cannot be painted.
- Sometimes the paint has to be applied a second time on dry areas that are a lighter color than the rest of the carpet. This can happen if the paint is not applied sufficiently the first time or on areas that have stains, smudging, and other discoloration varying before applying the paint.
- Limit the use of painted carpet for the time recommended by the manufacturer. Environmental conditions and carpeting can also affect the amount of time it takes for the paint to fully set.
- Carpet paint is not a permanent solution to carpet replacement and should never be applied to carpet that is dirty or has been overused. Carpet painting is meant to keep the carpet looking good a little longer. Over time, the color can fade from the carpet, especially in areas that are frequently stepped on or exposed to the sun. Apply fresh paint to these areas if it's not time to replace the carpet.
- Do not paint carpets that are in very bad condition. The paint won't stick even if there are a lot of stains, spots or faded color that you're trying to cover.
