How to Install Carpeting

With the carpeting secured along one wall, use a special carpet-edging tool to trim the carpet flush with the baseboard molding. Keep the metal shoe of the tool pressed tightly against the carpeting, and keep the carpeting tight against the baseboard. (If you don't have an edging tool, you can trim the carpeting with a utility knife, but be sure to use a brand-new blade and change it as soon as it starts to get dull.)

Before pulling away the excess strip of carpeting, check to be sure it isn't still attached at any point. If you pull on the strip while it's still connected, even if just by a thread, you could unwind a fiber from the carpeting.