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Many car owners routinely polish away minor scuffs and scratches to the paintwork of our cars, yet few of us adopt the same DIY approach to the inside. It’s amazing how easy it is to rejuvenate or repair some parts of a car interior, with the carpet being a prime example…

Invariably some of the muck that we bring into the car on the soles of our shoes or which we accidentally drop onto the floor can get under or around the mats and into the carpets to the extent that a vacuum won’t suffice in getting things looking good again – particularly in the event of a stain, say, or perhaps worst of all, if there’s carpet hair that is burnt or missing due to somebody dropping a cigarette that’s still alight.

If the carpet is stained you can try soaking the affected part in a shampoo or stronger cleaning agent. If that doesn’t work you’ll need to consider cutting away the affected hair (using a razor blade or a very sharp small pair of scissors) and filling the hole with hair that you can cut from a part of the carpet that nobody usually gets to see, such as under the seats or under the dashboard.

The same sort of hair “transplants” can also be used to remedy any other holes, such as those caused by a burn… After collecting a pile of carpet hair cuttings, ensure that the hole in the carpet is clean by way of trimming and discarding the stained (or burnt) hair around the circumference of the hole while being careful not to cut through the carpet board under the hair. Put a little suitable glue into the hole, generously sprinkle the hair cuttings into and onto it, allow the glue to dry, and then tidy up by way of a “haircut” and vacuum.

Sure, in some cases a damaged carpet is so stained or burnt as to be irreparable. But many seemingly ruined carpets can be made to look nearly as good as new!