Filthy carpet may eventually appear excellent (4,4,7)
I believe the answer is:
take some beating
'appear excellent' is the definition.
(something very good will take some beating)
I don't understand the rest of the clue.
(Other definitions for take some beating that I've seen before include "Suffer in the ring" , "Be difficult to surpass" , "very difficult to get the better of?" , "favourite to win?" , "as Axminster may?" .)