i used carpet for over a year and i hated washing them; i rotated with 2. they didn't smell, but i also washed them ALL. THE. TIME. in the end it's just another thing to clean and/or worry about. eg: when yellow was little i thought he escaped when he snuck under the carpet and i didn't notice the bulge in the substrate and tore my room apart 😀.

also tape is a no-no.