The DIY Trick To Stop Rug Corners From Curling Up

Few things are more frustrating than spending ages choosing the perfect rug, only to unroll it and find that its edges won't flatten, no matter what you try. Making matters worse, ironing them isn't an option, because you could end up damaging your rug in the process, especially if it's not made of exclusively natural materials. That's not to say you can't use an iron at all, though. You just need a damp cloth as a barrier between it and the rug itself. 

For this DIY trick, all you need to do is wet a cloth or towel, squeeze out the excess water, and place it on the corner that keeps rolling up. Then, switch on your iron. You may need to plug it into an extension cable if your rug isn't close enough to a plug point. Hold the iron directly onto the damp cloth, above the rolled area. You can iron back and forth as you would with clothing, or simply hold it on the affected spot for a few seconds. 

Within a few minutes, the steam from your iron and damp rug should have worked their magic, and your curls will be flattened. And, if things are still not lying completely flat, you can always go over it a few more times. That said, there are some things to keep in mind. 

Using an iron and wet cloth is undoubtedly one of the best ways to flatten a rug, and it should be a pretty quick fix, too. Even so, you will need to take some safety precautions. For starters, it's imperative that you keep an eye on both the iron and your cloth. 

While it may be tempting to pop your iron on the rolled up area and leave it for a while, you definitely can't step away from this DIY fix. Pay close attention to the iron, so if you notice your cloth is drying out, you can remove it asap. The same goes if you're planning on using the iron over more than one corner of the rug. As soon as you see that the cloth is losing moisture, switch the iron off, remove the towel and go saturate it with some more water. Not doing so could cause a fire — and no matter how annoying rolled up rug corners may be, they're certainly not worth that risk! 

If you have a ton going on, and aren't sure you can commit to staying with your iron throughout this process, it might be wiser to try a different technique. Ironically, a hack using ice has been touted as a great alternative to heat, so that's certainly worth looking into.