My landlord recently replaced my nasty old carpet, but this new one isn't that great either. It got flat almost immediately, granted we also have kids, and I want to fluff it back up but I haven't been very successful. I sweep it after I vacuum so I can get it soft and fluffy but it takes ALOT of work and doesn't last for more than a couple of hours. Anybody know how to help?
A good sweeper with a stiff roller brush will raise the nap of a carpet as it cleans it. But even this doesn't last very long. The carpet fibers get weakened by foot traffic and that becomes known as the traffic pattern across a carpet. Don't expect quality carpet from a landlord. ( Can you blame them? ) Best thing is not to worry about the carpet showing wear. Also the pad underneath the carpet has an effect on how the piece of carpet lays and wears. The more you attempt to make the carpet fluffy, the worse it will become.
Your carpet is probably Polyester, made from recycled plastic bottles. It is often times made to look like Nylon carpet, however, it does not stand up to traffic and eventually will not stand up at all. This carpet is fairly inexpensive and therefore attractive to landlords. They are reluctant to have expensive Nylon carpet installed because the chances of it being permanently abused and stained by renters is great. We find quality carpet in only the higher end apartments where the people who can afford the higher rent are normally better educated and easier on the premises as a whole. You, no doubt are a careful renter, however, the law of averages is at work here. Call a carpet cleaner and purchase a grooming rake from them, it may help somewhat.
Get a carpet rake ( sometimes it's called a carpet groomer ). You can buy them at the big box hardware stores. It is specially intended for fluffing up matted, flattened carpeting. It can also be used before vacuuming to get up imbedded dirt and hair ( both human and pet ).
