A Rug That You Just Toss in the Washing Machine? Yep — If It’s A Ruggable

The perfect rug can transform a room: Rugs add color, texture, style and comfort, but they can also be a real pain to keep clean. Between pets, kids, family gatherings and cooking, spills and stains happen often. Enter Ruggable. This rug brand is an Internet sensation, with more than 100 million views on TikTok and more than 43,000 posts about them on Instagram, thanks to its vast selection of stylish rugs that just so happen to be machine washable. But do they live up to the hype—and are they actually easy to wash? We spoke with design bloggers and style experts who have no affiliation with the brand about their experiences with Ruggable. Keep reading for all the need-to-know info and tips on how to wash a Ruggable rug— or any rug.

What exactly is a Ruggable?

“Ruggable is the ‘it’ rug brand right now,” says design pro Kate Striegel, founder of Chic on a Shoestring blog. “Not only do they have a wide variety of sizes, colors, prints and patterns, but they are affordable and totally washable!” The thin polyester rugs have a polyurethane water-resistant barrier that comes with a removable pad. The nonstick pad is made up of a thermoplastic rubber — a latex-free synthetic material. The actual rug, which sits on top of the pad, is easy to remove and toss into the washing machine like a throw blanket.

What to know before purchasing any rug

First things first, when it comes to choosing a rug for a room, measure your space! It’s key to know the size of your area before you start browsing. If you’re adding a rug to a high-traffic area of your house like a kitchen, entryway or mudroom, consider opting for a medium-colored or darker-colored rug. “When an area gets a lot of foot traffic, it’s better to go for a darker-toned rug because every single footprint or smudge won’t show up and it will appear cleaner for longer,” notes Striegel.

How to wash a Ruggable rug

Keep reading for the best way to clean your Ruggable rug.

“We’ve had guest spills and dog accidents — and we’ve thrown our Ruggable rug in the washer and it’s done amazing,” says design enthusiast and DIY Youtuber Lizzie Buchanan. “We’ve had it for about six months and I’m really impressed — it comes out of the wash looking brand new.” Other pros: Hair and pet fur don’t cling to the Ruggable rug material so it is very easy to vacuum or wipe up. Check out Buchanan’s entire Ruggable review here.

Step 1: Pre-wash

Just like with clothing, pre-washing your rug can deliver the best results. Here, 3 easy ways to do so:

Carpet spot cleaner: Apply spot cleaner as a pre-wash treatment by applying the spot cleaner product to the stain and wait 10 minutes before washing the rug.

Laundry stain remover spray: Use an oxygen- or enzyme-based laundry stain removal spray like this one, which is being called “Tik tok’s favorite stain remover,” with thousands of 5-star reviews for stains that were made minutes or years ago!

Laundry detergent: Mix 1 to 3 teaspoons of laundry detergent with cool water and gently work the mixture into the stain on the surface of the rug. Allow the rug to sit with the mixture up to an hour before washing.

Step 2: Wash

Next, remove the rug from the rug pad and place it in the washing machine with the design side facing out. You can wash it in front-loading washing machines, top-loading washing machines and washer-dryer combos. The pros we spoke to recommend washing the rug in cold water on delicate settings, using a mild, nonbleach liquid detergent.

If the wash cycle didn’t fully eradicate stains after one wash, you can run in through again. Tip: Add ½ cup or so of white vinegar to the detergent to help neutralize any pet or food stain odors.

Note: These days, every washing machine comes with a load capacity so be sure to read the rug’s instructions and check your washer’s capacity before adding the rug to the machine. If you don’t have a large enough machine at home — especially for those 10 x 14 rugs — simply take your rug to the local laundromat and pop it in a “family-sized” machine, which can accommodate large items.

Step 3: Dry

To dry, simply pop it in the dryer on low heat or hang to air dry. Still want to see exactly how to wash a Ruggable rug? For a simple how-to tutorial that shows a classic Ruggable runner being washed, check out this video by the husband and wife interior design duo StyledWright:

How to spot-clean your Ruggable rug (or any rug!)

“I have multiple Ruggable rugs and multiple dogs, but sometimes these rugs just need a quick spot cleaning and not an entire machine wash,” shares Jemma Evans, First for Women’s style director. Her tip? Act fast when you see a stain. “In general, speed is key when it comes to spot cleaning your Ruggable rug — or any rug for that matter.”

For the best results, first remove any debris with a spoon then blot the area with a paper towel to soak up any excess liquid. Combine a few teaspoons of liquid dish soap and up to 2 cups of water in a bowl. Dunk a color-safe towel, sponge or cloth in the soap mixture. Dab the stain with the mixture gently and avoid spreading or rubbing the stain out further. Rinse the area with cool water. Repeat if needed. Dab wet area with a dry towel and soak up all the excess water.

The verdict: Are Ruggable rugs worth the hype?

“In my opinion, yes!” says Striegel. “With a normal rug, you’re usually forced to deep clean or steam them once or twice a year, but a Ruggable can be washed as often as you need. All in all, putting a rug in a washing machine is a cleaning game changer. It’s family friendly, pet friendly and spill friendly—and yes, it’s easy to wash! Just do a quick spot-clean, remove the rug from the pad and toss it in for a delicate wash on a cold water setting, then air dry.”

Any cons? Some larger sizes and certain styles can lean toward the pricier side, but thankfully the site has a variety of options so there are rugs in all price ranges. “One con is that Ruggable rugs are not super cushy or plush,” says Buchanan. (Though you can choose a thicker pad option if you’re looking for a plusher feel!) “For me, I personally loved them because I liked the patterns, colors, durability and the ease of being able to throw them in my washer! All in all, out of 5 stars I give Ruggable a 4.8.”

For more on washable rugs, check out this washable rug review and FAQ from our sister publication Woman’s World.

Got regular rugs that need cleaning? Click through to learn How to Deep Clean Carpet Without a Machine — And the Best Homemade Carpet Cleaning Solutions.