My carpet is turning to dust? What the...

millyaulait

I have been living in a house (rented) for over a year now, and I have basically never really been in the spare room. I just use it as storage. Now, I went in today to get something out of storage and noticed what I thought was a rip in the carpet.

I investigated further and it looks like part of the carpet has simply disappeared, this is basically a no/low-traffic area of the room, too. I touched the area and the carpet that I touched turned dust-like. It really just fell away & it looks like my carpet has turned to dust when I touch it even extremely lightly. It comes off on my finger.

I'm really worried because I have NO idea what this is, why it happened, or how to fix it. I'd love some input... Thank you.

Antispam

Sounds like the backing has gone that holds the threads in place, could be due to age/damp/lack of underlay or poor maintenance. Carpets normally last a long time if looked after and fitted properly

http://www.flatratecarpet.com/10_Carpet_Myths

Myth 3 - It Doesn’t Need Cleaning - My Carpet is One or Two Years Old

A common misconception is that your carpet only needs cleaning when it looks dirty. And that a new carpet (only a year or two old) still looks pretty clean.

In reality, most of the damage has already been done by the time dirt and soiling become noticeable. The fact is that the soil you can't see does the most damage. This microscopic dirt actually breaks down the fiber of your carpet and destroys its fiber coating.

Fuzz in your vacuum cleaner? It’s your carpet - slowly disintegrating.

millyaulait

Thanks, Anti. Do you think this is one of those cases where the entire carpet would have to be replaced? Worrying about the costs, etc.

HappyMJ

millyaulait wrote: »

Thanks, Anti. Do you think this is one of those cases where the entire carpet would have to be replaced? Worrying about the costs, etc.

Most probably. Carpet can be cheap. It depends on what quality you want.

Swipe

If you are renting it's the landlord's problem, not yours

millyaulait

Swipe wrote: »

If you are renting it's the landlord's problem, not yours

Even if it's happened while I've been here? I can understand if it started before I moved in, but I'm not really that clued up on what the landlord takes care of & what I do. I feel like it's my fault (since I'm living here) & therefore it's my issue. I don't exactly have a lot of money, so I'd be pretty relieved if this was definitely the case!

rosalie-lavender

Is it an area of carpet that gets a lot of sunlight? Our last carpet deteriorated in front of our patio doors. It finished up completely bare in that patch in the end. We have had a new carpet fitted that is fade resistant but have been advised to keep the curtains drawn in the summer when it is very sunny.

millyaulait

rosalie-lavender wrote: »

Is it an area of carpet that gets a lot of sunlight? Our last carpet deteriorated in front of our patio doors. It finished up completely bare in that patch in the end. We have had a new carpet fitted that is fade resistant but have been advised to keep the curtains drawn in the summer when it is very sunny.

Nope, the blinds are always closed since I never use the room anyway. The sunlight is at the other side of the house most of the day too. Thanks for the info though, I had no idea about sunlight damage!

macman

Cheap carpets with foam rubber backing invariably disintegrate quickly.
Is there a decent underlay (or any underlay)?

millyaulait

macman wrote: »

Cheap carpets with foam rubber backing invariably disintegrate quickly.
Is there a decent underlay (or any underlay)?

I honestly have no idea what an underlay looks like, but there is a sort of thatched/hatchmark beige coloured something underneath the fibres? Would an underlay be that foamy layer underneath the actual carpet, between the floor/wood and carpet? Not sure if it has that, to be honest.. I'm useless, sorry. Guh.

aliasojo

You sure this is down to the carpet itself rather than a carpet beetle issue?