No stainmaster for me. For years of wear and tear, it is wool all the way.

Buy a tight short-loop pile made from 100% wool. "By nature, wool is dirt and soil-resistant, fire-retardant and non-allergenic; it's also exceptionally durable, able to provide beauty, warmth and comfort for decades."

What is most important is something which most people don’t think about….the pad. That is what makes the stain permanent. Once the culprit sinks into that pad, you will never get rid of it.

I suggest (for whatever carpet you buy) you choose a pad like SmartCushion by Mohawk. Nothing will permeate the top layer. If the pad has to be seamed make sure those seams are duct-tape to prevent any moisture from seeping in.

Building material shouldn't be shopped for online. Period. Guessing if this is your first home purchase (congrats, btw) that you're a millenial. Me too - and we shop online. I get it. It's part of how we live. But dang, this isn't the right situation. Lowes isn't going to be super helpful because they do a lot of things, but do them all - meh. Get on Stainmaster's website and find a local, independent dealer who only does floorcoverings. Go talk to them. I promise, it'll be worth it.

Since you're looking so diligently for carpet, this is probably not the advice you want. But with allergies, a cat, clumsiness (I can relate!), and kids to come I would be looking for either wood flooring or luxury vinyl tile, depending on your budget.

Our house was new when we bought it, with new builder-grade carpet. It was soft and pretty and nice underfoot. I have allergies, as do both my kids. Both my kids went through years where they had hair-trigger gag reflexes aggravated by the allergies. (I will not spell that part out...use your imagination.) We had 2 cats and one developed kidney failure, poor old dude. The effects of his illness were the final straw for that carpet.

We made it 7 years before ripping that mess out of there and scraping up the pennies to DIY the least expensive vinyl planks we could find. 15 years later the planks are still holding up well, although they are scratched in a few places and are on my list to replace in the next 5 years. I was amazed at how much better our allergies were once we got rid of the carpet. Now when I hear a cat doing the ol' hairball hork I know there's a pretty good chance it will land somewhere easy to clean...although, cats being cats, they try to aim for a throw rug whenever possible.

There are lots of ways to soften up the look and feel of the floor without having wall-to-wall carpet. There are washable rug options, from simple throw rugs to things like Ruggables or Flor rug tiles. It's so much nicer after a spill or other catastrophe to be able to get a rug really clean rather than trying to clean up a carpet without pushing the dirt down into the pad.

No wall to wall carpet. It's too expensive and doesn't last.

Stainmaster can still stain!

Yes it never wears out, but in no time it looks terrible and you don't care if it wears out.

Select a hard surface floor of some type of purchase area rugs. You can purchase those at all different price points and throw them out if you can't clean them. Polypropylene fiber rugs, like outdoor rugs, can be cleaned with a hose. You might appreciate that when you have kids.

Joyful, I'm going to replace the carpet in my bedroom this summer. Your description was very useful!

Hi all -- backstory on why we had to get carpet: https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5708241/best-carpeting-alternative-to-wood-floors#24113940

Basically, our condo association doesn't allow them for 2nd floor units.

Joyful, thank you so much for the advice :)

It was SO helpful!

When I say it is hard to shop online for carpet, I mean, there are barely any reviews or photos of the insides of people's houses with the carpets in it. Only those weird computer-generated pictures. People write reviews for literally every product sold online, but for some reason, barely anyone writes about their carpets.

It’s hard to shop for carpet because it’s not installed as much now days. I found a Shaw loop carpet I like on line got sample but would really like a large sample before I commit. Ivedriven all over the place Carpet stores don’t have it but will order for an installation I’m not ordering until I’m sure lol. I have a 2 story home with bedrooms over bedroom I had plan on installing hardwood but 2 weeks of subfloor told me no hardwood We r installing carpet again. It keeps noice transfer down I’m down to Shaw constant beauty loop or so keen. I live country farm house so these fit my needs low pile no foot traffic marks or vacuum marks. If I lived city I would get something like the loop style pattern they r very pretty. I will never get the thick plush again that’s what I pulled out. It was s pain to keep nice even with regular cleaning. Good luck with carpet search I feel your pain

Oh, wow, April Lee...I just saw your most recent post. I wouldn't have tried to push you toward hard flooring if I'd known this backstory. Now I'm feeling mad on your behalf that this wasn't disclosed to you before you were under contract on the house!

Is frieze carpet still around? My parents put that in their house 10 years ago and it stood up to wear and tear really well while not being as flat looking as Berber. My dad has essential tremor which makes his hands very shaky and he likes to walk around with a full cup of tea in his hands. His spills cleaned up beautifully with that carpet. When they moved to assisted living last year and we got their house ready to sell we had the carpet cleaned and our Realtor said it looked practically new! It's something I would consider if I had to get carpet.

Crazy idea, but how about ripping out the carpet and just painting the wood floors underneath for now.