How to Get Creases Out of a New Rug

A rug shipped folded arrives with fold lines. They come out — the question is how quickly.

Just time

Lay it flat, walk on it, and leave it. Most fold marks drop out within one to two weeks on their own as the backing relaxes. This is genuinely the most common answer.

Reverse rolling

Roll it the opposite way to the crease, leave it a day, then lay it flat. Faster than waiting and costs nothing.

Weight

Books along the crease for a few days. Combine with reverse rolling for a stubborn fold.

Damp

Lightly dampen the crease, lay it flat, weight it, and let it dry completely. On a cotton backing this resets the fibre. Do not use heat and do not iron it — heat deforms the backing permanently.

Or just wash it

A wash cycle and a flat dry removes fold marks entirely, and on a washable rug it is the simplest answer of all.