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Why Worry About Cleaning When You Can Buy Carpets That Won't Show Dirt

By
Real Estate Agent with Long and Foster Real Estate VA License # 0225089470

Why Worry About Cleaning When You Can Buy Carpets That Won't Show Dirt?

Something is happening to me the older I get.  I am sounding more and more like my mother every day that goes by.  That is not necessarily a good thing for those that don't appreciate...oh...how shall I say it... BLUNT.  

I found myself in a lovely home with buyers not too long ago.  The home fit what they were looking for to a T.  And it was so well maintained.  There were barely off-white carpets that were practically gleaming.  The comment from them both was something to the effect of, "These carpets would show every stain our kids made.  We need something that doesn't show dirt."

Okay, I don't have kids, but I have five indoor cats.  They love to deposit hair balls on our carpets and occasionally, they do have something that sticks to their fur when they leave the litter box that they love to use our carpet to wipe off.  Did I mention my carpets are neutral and don't have stains on them?

What's the big secret?  We don't hire a carpet cleaning company to come to our home every month.  No. We have a spot cleaner.  It's awesome. When we see a mess, we clean it up.  Sounds really complicated, doesn't it? And if it's one of those butt-dragging incidents, we bring out our own steam cleaner and do the entire area in question.  Why?  We like our carpets to look clean and actually BE clean.  After all, we walk around barefoot in the house.  The small jobs take about five to ten precious minutes out of my life to eradicate from the carpet.  And rarely do we have big jobs if we are keeping up with the small jobs.

So having carpets that hide dirt may make your house look cleaner than it is, but the idea of leaving dirt in your carpet is just gross.  With all the formulas, potions and removal devices on the market, there isn't a stain you can't remove.  But if you still feel the need to get around cleaning, maybe we can start a new trend in real estate.  Perhaps a dirt floor and stone walls would interest those that find cleaning to be too hard?

 

 

Comments(7)

Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Chris -- don't you just love some of the comments people make while touring homes?   Shoes off when I enter my house and I used Folex(available at my grocery store) is a spray solution for "mistakes" that happen.  Regular use of the vacuum and my roomba robot help as well too.

Jul 05, 2012 06:45 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Michael:  It really is kind of disgusting when you think about the intent behind a carpet so dark it hides dirt.

Jul 05, 2012 08:44 AM
Carol-Ann Palmieri
RE/MAX Executive Realty, Al and Cal Realty Group - Franklin, MA
"Cal" the Real Estate Gal

Hi Chris Ann.  Just the thought of it makes me crazy.    I'm a no shoes in the house kinda gal myself and remove them in others homes too.   Having said that, I have dropped some red wine on the carpet and the cleaners they have these days are amazing.  Not a trace!   

Jul 05, 2012 08:51 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Carol Ann:  Red wine is about as harsh as a stain can get.  There's just no excuse to not keep carpets.

Jul 05, 2012 08:54 AM
Kathryn Maguire
GreatNorfolkHomes.com (757) 560-0881 - Chesapeake, VA
Serving Chesapeake, Norfolk, VA Beach

I am so glad this post went the way it did...I was thinking when I read the title "who would just want carpet that hid dirt rather than get rid of dirt!"  

Jul 05, 2012 09:33 PM
Ritu Desai 703-625-4949
Samson Properties - Chantilly, VA
Northern Virginia,Washington DC & Maryland Realtor

Chris Ann, I agree I would rather know where the dirt is and clean it as needed. We have light carpet and raising 2 boys was fun. I am glad we replaced all carpets to hardwood.

Jul 05, 2012 11:24 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Kathryn:  While that may be what some people want, it's disgusting to even think about.

Ritu:  Hardwoods are definitely easier to clean.

Jul 06, 2012 05:35 AM