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Original poster

Whatever happen to sisal carpets in homes?

59 replies

KievLoverTwo · 22/08/2023 20:49

They were everywhere in the early 2000s and I can't remember the last time I saw one.

Now everything is grey :(

I guess they were impractical to clean or something?

OP posts:
StupidHip · 22/08/2023 20:50

They were horrible to hoover, dirt got ingrained and really uncomfortable to walk on.

Cazaletto · 22/08/2023 20:51

I had one, it was bloody lovely - but I was single and tidy and not prone to spilling stuff. It was also incredibly uncomfortable to sit or kneel on, so I wouldn’t have one with kids, regardless of the practicalities of scraping playdough out of it.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 22/08/2023 20:52

I still have mine! It does indeed date from the early 2000s and I got extra to replace the downstairs hall, but it is holding out. Shoes off at the door please.

Ketzele · 22/08/2023 20:53

They're back! V trendy again.

Original poster
KievLoverTwo · 22/08/2023 21:13

StupidHip · 22/08/2023 20:50

They were horrible to hoover, dirt got ingrained and really uncomfortable to walk on.

I thought some were scratchy and some quite soft?

Rose tinted specs, perhaps.

OP posts:
Original poster
KievLoverTwo · 22/08/2023 21:17

TheYearOfSmallThings · 22/08/2023 20:52

I still have mine! It does indeed date from the early 2000s and I got extra to replace the downstairs hall, but it is holding out. Shoes off at the door please.

Hurrah! Do you still love it.

OP posts:
BeautBastard · 22/08/2023 21:54

It's still around and still desirable ( comes in fancy muted neutral shades too, grey included!) but I was told by my decorators it's a pain to lay and difficult to clean. Also it's very expensive compared to carpet (fitting is more ££ too)

BeautBastard · 22/08/2023 21:57

I love the look of them but also impractical if you share your home with little beasts - cats claws are not compatible apparently!

Original poster
KievLoverTwo · 22/08/2023 21:58

BeautBastard · 22/08/2023 21:57

I love the look of them but also impractical if you share your home with little beasts - cats claws are not compatible apparently!

Our cat got run over by a combine harvester a fortnight ago. I can't see getting a cat again anytime soon :'(

No little beasties to worry about. Just us adults who drop things all the time.

OP posts:
Original poster
KievLoverTwo · 22/08/2023 21:59

BeautBastard · 22/08/2023 21:54

It's still around and still desirable ( comes in fancy muted neutral shades too, grey included!) but I was told by my decorators it's a pain to lay and difficult to clean. Also it's very expensive compared to carpet (fitting is more ££ too)

Grey sisal? Shudder. That trend really needs to die.

OP posts:
HerRoyalNotness · 22/08/2023 21:59

I really like the look of it. We have awful cream carpet in our upstairs which is filthy 10 seconds after we’ve had it cleaned. It needs to be replaced and I thought about sisal but agree with PP about it being uncomfortable. And we’re getting a cat tomorrow so maybe not

DyslexicPoster · 22/08/2023 22:03

Does it smell?

JamMakingWannaBe · 22/08/2023 22:05

Oh, this is bringing back memories. I had a sissal stair runner in my previous property (2004-2012)

HerRoyalNotness · 22/08/2023 22:07

I’ve just looked up pricing here and it’s US$100-250 per sq yard. Crikey! One of the pictures had please contact for pricing.

but also made from a cactus and a renewable resource.

Original poster
KievLoverTwo · 22/08/2023 22:08

DyslexicPoster · 22/08/2023 22:03

Does it smell?

I only lived in a flat with it for a year. No memories of smell. Perhaps after a while?

OP posts:
Anonymouslyposting · 22/08/2023 22:09

We had it put in on our staircase a few months ago. The scratchy surface on bare feet took some getting used to but I love how it looks, won’t be going back.

BeautBastard · 22/08/2023 22:11

Sorry to hear about your cat @KievLoverTwo It (sisal) is tricky to clean though allegedly. Looks great though!

RememberWhy · 22/08/2023 22:12

It cannot be cleaned properly. That alone puts me off it.

OwlBasket · 22/08/2023 22:13

There was some in a house we bought in the early 2000s. Two flights of stair, landings and all the bedrooms (hard flooring in the hall and downstairs). It looked amazing and we were thrilled with it.

Then it turned out to be painful to walk on barefoot and impossible to sit or kneel on. Had to replace the lot which was painful too.

it did look fab though!

VenusInfers · 22/08/2023 22:15

Very 2000’s! I was renting a room at the time and my landlady had a wall-to-wall sisal rug in her tiny lounge. One spilled glass of red wine later I had a bill of £300+ to replace it. The £80 I spent steam cleaning it just made the stain paler, spread it around and shrunk the rest of the bloody thing!

OwlBasket · 22/08/2023 22:15

Ours was scratchy but I could have got used to that. Problem was that it was sort of corded or ribbed and actually hurt

ScottBakula · 22/08/2023 22:20

I was lucky enough to be donate one that had been specially made to protect a ornate wooden floor so I didn't pick the colour, it was dull brown . I had it for about 12 years , it had been protecting the wooden floor for 6 / 7 years and was very heavily used.
I have a cat and his claws caught in it occasionally.
I got rid of it because it was worn but also uncomfortable to walk on , kneel on and was a horrible colour !
However I kept a bit of it and made mine and my neighbour's cat scratching post which the both love .

OhcantthInkofaname · 22/08/2023 22:30

Didn't some of them damage the floor underneath?

Clymene · 22/08/2023 22:31

It's painful and impossible to clean.

Cat sick on sisal? Big nope.

hexsnidgett · 22/08/2023 22:34

It looks nice, just don't try to wean a child near it.Wink

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