DALTON, Ga. /PRNewswire/ -- Handsome wooden armoires, comfortable reclining chairs, sleek office desks and other heavy household furniture carry significant weight that can cause unsightly indentations in your carpet. Because carpet is a key decorative element in the home and a major investment, The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) has suggestions to maintain its quality and beauty.

The CRI recommends individuals take simple steps -- when adding new pieces to update a room or during weekly vacuum cleaning -- to combat depression in carpet pile.

The five primary tips the CRI recommends to prevent and offset permanent depressions or indentations include:

  • Place furniture glides or cups, sold at hardware and furniture stores, under the legs of heavy pieces.
  • Periodically, move furniture a few inches backward or sideways so that the weight is not concentrated in one place.
  • Turn area rugs on occasion to prolong their life.
  • To remedy depressions, mist lightly with a spray bottle and work the carpet pile back into place with your fingertips.
  • For the toughest areas, lightly mist the area and heat with a hair dryer on the lowest setting, working the fibers with the fingers.

    If a depression has permanently damaged the look and feel of the carpet, consider placing an area rug over the depression. Another solution is replacing the carpet with a dense loop or cut pile carpet that may better resist depressions.