What Carpet Is Best for Hiding Footprints or Vacuum Marks?

When helping clients choose a carpet, one of the first questions we like to ask is: “Does it bother you to see footprints or vacuum lines in your carpet?”

That single question usually gets a strong reaction and it helps us narrow down the carpet styles to recommend. Some carpets naturally show tracking and shading, while others are designed to minimize it.

Why Do Some Carpets Show Footprints or Vacuum Marks?

Footprints and vacuum marks appear when the carpet fibers are pressed in different directions, changing how they reflect light. This creates areas that look lighter or darker, depending on the viewing angle.

The most common carpet style to show tracking is a straight cut pile or velvet styles. This style features cut carpet fibers all twisted in the same direction and presents a finish somewhat similar to velvet.

When you brush your hand in one direction across the carpet surface, the fibers appear either darker or lighter than their neighboring fibers. This happens because when the fibers are moved, they reflect the light particles differently.

Additionally, high shine fibers such as polypropylene, tencel, viscose, or silky nylons tend to highlight every movement across the surface, making footprints and vacuum lines more noticeable.

Installation Spotlight: Upper East Side, Masland Carpet

One of our creative wall to wall installations for Julie Hillman Design featured three cut pile carpets from Masland’s Morgan Bay collection. The design called for seaming three colors into a custom box layout in the room. Like most cut piles, Morgan Bay shows tracking.

Installation Spotlight: Custom Polypropylene/Polysilk Rug

We created this custom sized rug from Stanton Carpet style Panoramic for a staged Brooklyn apartment. This style is made of SD Royaltron™ Polypropylene and Polysilk.

Our client was specifically looking for a carpet with a sheen for this beautiful space. Any higher sheen carpets will most definitely show tracking.

What Carpet Styles Hide Footprints Best?

If you prefer a carpet that looks consistent and hides marks well, choose one that has texture variation in the pile.

Here are a few styles that perform well:

• Loop or Textured Carpets
• Cut and Loop Combinations
• Frieze or Twisted Pile Carpets

Installation Spotlight: Walk in Closet with Wool Flatweave

A textured wool flatweave, like Kaleen style B-Line, is a perfect choice if you don’t want to see any tracking. Our team installed this broadloom in a walk-in closet designed by Marcy V. Masterson. Wool flatweaves are a great choice if you also plan to layer rugs on top.

Installation Spotlight: Mamoroneck NY, Tuftex Berber Carpet

Our client in Westchester was looking for a pet friendly and family friendly carpet for their attic, which was being transformed into a guest room and playroom. This space would get plenty of daily use, so durability and easy maintenance were key.

A low pile textured berber carpet like Anderson Tuftex’s Fetch was the perfect choice. Its dense loop construction resists wear and hides footprints and vacuum marks.

Installation Spotlight: Upper West Side Custom Cut Hallway Rug

Our Upper West Side client wanted a custom hallway rug that fit neatly about four inches from the walls and corners, creating a clean tailored look. They also needed a durable pet friendly carpet in their home that showed zero footprints and tracking. The winner was Masland’s style Gridlock.

Carpet Time Tip: If seeing footprints or vacuum marks bothers you, steer clear of velvety cut piles and high shine fibers. Instead, opt for a textured carpet as they’re much more forgiving and ideal for busy households or high traffic spaces.

A Heartfelt Thank You

As we approach Thanksgiving and the holiday season, we want to take a moment and say thank you to all our employees, clients, vendors and local community for working with us this past year.

As part of our annual tradition, Carpet Time has made a donation this month to the Food Bank for NYC and Citymeals on Wheels. We’re grateful to be in a position to give back and hope this small gesture brings a bit of comfort to those who need it most.

Food Bank for NYC is a 501(c)(3) organization and a Feed America member. To learn more about their mission visit www.foodbanknyc.org

Citymeals on Wheels prepare and deliver meals to homebound elderly New Yorkers. Citymeals on Wheels is a 501(c)(3) organization and a registered New York State charity. To learn more about their mission visit www.citymeals.org/about-us

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