Best Washable Rugs

When it comes to rugs that can be placed inside a washer, it’s already being done to an extent with cotton bath mats and certain rugs. And now newer, larger rugs are being marketed as washable.

Ginger Cowles, a Consumer Reports managing editor and evaluator, found this Lorena Canals rug to be thick, plush, and far heavier than the Ruggable one (more on that later). It was made from 100 percent wool, and she noted that the design was elevated with more details, multiple colors, and even raised lines that gave it texture and more depth. “It is, in a word, lovely,” she said.

For the planned spill, Ginger used hot black coffee and put a folded kitchen towel underneath the rug to prevent the liquid from seeping onto her hardwood floor. With a paper-thin mat (which didn’t do a good job of holding the rug in place), a little coffee did soak through and most of the coffee stain remained, even after it was blotted and cleaned with soapy water. That said, after the rug had gone through a machine cycle, the coffee stain was nonexistent. But given its larger size, the rug didn’t dry completely in the dryer even after a 2-hour cycle.

In washing the rug, Ginger noticed that it emitted an extremely strong, foul-smelling chemical smell. “I first noticed the odor while it was in the washer, and initially thought my washer was broken or had caught fire, but it had not,” she said. The odor remained when the rug went into the dryer and worsened when it was hung to air-dry completely. A bit of Febreze and an overnight air-dry session later, the smell was nearly gone. 

The rug also shed quite a lot, which the company said should be expected and would gradually decrease over time and as the rug was vacuumed. Ginger’s robotic vacuum pulled up the rug as it worked and caused it to fold over on itself. According to the brand, it should be done on low to moderate suction. 

She found the shedding to be annoying because both large clumps and lots of individual strands of wool fibers were visible on darker clothing. Pro tip: Keep lint brushes handy with this rug.

What did you like about this rug? “It’s really beautiful and goes well with my décor. It looks and feels like an expensive, luxe wool rug. I also liked that it can be dried in a dryer.” 

What didn’t you like? “It’s scratchy, which is expected of a 100 percent wool rug, but it felt excessive. Sitting on it in regular loungewear or workout clothes felt like sitting on something that didn’t necessarily hurt but that also didn’t feel great.” 

Would you buy this rug? "Yes! It looks like an expensive, plush, designer rug. But I would try to get a different mat that would secure it better and hopefully prevent very wet spills from reaching my floors. I would also use it in a different area, perhaps a living room or study, where I would not sit on the floor often. This one is not optimal for a play area, which usually involves a lot of time spent on the floor.”

Managing editor Mary Beth Quirk evaluated this Ikea rug, which was a fraction of the cost of the other rugs in our evaluations. Crafted from 100 percent cotton, the flat-woven piece is budget-friendly at its best. The downside? The creamy-beige color. “I wonder why anyone would purchase a cream rug, like, ever,” she said. “It’s supposed to get stepped on. It also feels very thin, especially compared to the Ruggable rug.” (Ikea offers the same version of the rug in a light blue.)

An accidental spill of a nearly full container of vanilla extract provided the opportunity to see just how feasible it was to clean the textile. “I tried to blot up the stain, and then pretreated it with Persil ProClean for a few hours before washing it in cold water,” Mary Beth said. “I let it air-dry, and the stains have faded to a light purple but are definitely still visible.”  

Vacuuming was relatively simple, given the small size of the area rug, though Mary Beth said she needed to avoid the tassels, which got sucked into the vacuum.

What did you like about this rug? “It didn’t shrink too much and wasn’t wrinkly when air-dried, which was a plus.”

What didn’t you like? “It’s way too light in color, and easily attracted dirt and stains. The normal workaday dirt washed out fine, but the color was an unfortunate pick when meeting a dark stain like vanilla extract.”

Would you buy this rug? “It could be a good budget pick if you don’t need cushioning and if you buy it in a darker color for high-traffic areas.”

I was skeptical of this rug when I first saw it in person because it didn’t look as smooth as pictured online. The cotton rug was made from 100 percent recycled denim and had frayed threading throughout. But given the handmade nature of it, subtle variations in pattern and weave were to be expected, and I grew to like it over time. 

Given its dark color, it was difficult to see stains, intentional or otherwise, and even in the controlled portion of my evaluation—wherein I dumped half-cups of coffee, ketchup, and wine on the rug—they were harder to discern. I was also surprised that the liquids barely seeped through to my hardwood floors. A 30-minute gentle cycle in my washing machine with one Tide pod later, the stains were almost nonexistent. Per the brand’s instructions, I line-dried the rug, which took well over 24 hours. 

Using a Dyson stick vacuum, cleaning was hardly an issue. Using the low setting, I was able to successfully vacuum the tassels without worrying about them getting caught in the rotator.

What did you like about this rug? I liked the look and feel of the rug—especially when compared with the Ruggable one. It fell in line with what I expected: a rug with an organic feel, softer texture, and depth. 

What didn’t you like? “I didn’t like the construction of the rug from up close because of how disjointed it looked. I also noticed spots where the textile frayed from use over time.” 

Would you buy this rug? “Yes! It was easy to wash, it easily concealed stains, and it was aesthetically pleasing to boot.”

Reporter and evaluator Perry Santanachote’s NuLoom rug arrived folded in a box and the creases never came out, even after weeks of leaving it out flat. Aesthetically speaking, the rug’s design wasn’t the worst, but it still fell short of expectations. “It looked so fake and poorly printed, but the texture felt less ‘slick’ than the Ruggable,” she said.

NuLoom claims that a nonslip layer is built into the back, which Perry found to be a rubbery texture meant to prevent slippage. While it functioned as necessary, it was unlike the Ruggable version, which was nearly unmovable with its rug pad in place. Minus the pad, the NuLoom rug was thin and sans cushioning, making it less comfortable for floor time—be that sitting or playing on it. 

When it came to the purposeful spills portion of the evaluations, she used beet juice, coffee, and marinara sauce. The marinara’s cleanup by hand with soapy water and a paper towel was most successful; the other spills spread out a lot and stained the rug more. The soapy water lathered up a lot and spread out the stains even more. Moisture went through to the other side and onto the wood floor. 

After waiting for 24 hours, Perry machine-washed the rug in a cold water delicate cycle and used Tide detergent pods. NuLoom recommends line-drying or drying without heat on an air-only dryer cycle. Because neither option was available to Perry, who lives in a condo with a communal laundry room, she put the rug in a dryer on low heat for an hour. It came out damp, requiring additional air-drying overnight. 

While the stains came out, the rug somehow picked up new markings in the wash. “There are black smear marks that looked like they were coming from the black ink,” Perry said. “When I touched the rug, it left a film on my hands. I just don’t recall if that was there pre-wash. The rug was a little rumpled and wrinkled when it dried.”

Perry used a Roomba to vacuum the rug, which got on and off the piece with ease, but (similar to the Ruggable) wasn’t able to suction off a lot of her dog’s hair.

What didn’t you like? “The NuLoom is much more rigid and heavier than the Ruggable, putting up a fight as I stuffed it into the washing machine. This factor also forced me to seek a larger capacity washer. Since it’s a coin-op I have no clue what that capacity is, but it’s just noticeably larger than the others. The rug’s bulk also made carrying it to the laundry room obviously much less discreet than the Ruggable. If I was going to get in trouble with building management for washing a rug, this was the one that was going to throw me under the bus.” 

Would you buy this rug? "No. The designs are ugly, and the rug’s rubber backing made it difficult to handle and wash. I was never able to get it smooth. Instructions say it’s okay to iron, but I don’t have an iron—and even if I did, this thing is the size of a living room. Spills seep through to the floor, too.”

Ruggable’s extensive collection of patterned rugs makes it easier to find an option that can fit a style and space. Mary Beth was a fan of the color and design of her rug, which easily laid flat on the cushioned pad. “My cat also immediately liked it, stretched out, and scratched it,” she said. So far, she hasn’t ruined it. It’s soft, and I like standing on it.”

Given its small size, it was easy to move the rug around, and aside from the controlled spills, the rug was generally in good shape throughout the evaluation process. A touch of the vanilla extract stain easily came out with a little cold water, a towel, and gentle blotting. And even after a run in the washing machine, there was no visible staining. Plus, it was very easy to vacuum.

What did you like about this rug? “I loved the design, color, and feel of the rug. It looked snazzy in my kitchen, and it was comfy to stand on while cooking or emptying the dishwasher. It always receives compliments, and it brightens up my small space, making it cozy and enjoyable to be in.”

What didn’t you like about it? “Just the fact that I had something else in my apartment to clean. Sometimes debris would collect on it, or at least I’d notice more often that I was standing on crud, so I’d either sweep it with a broom or find myself shoving it off the rug onto the regular floor with my feet. Also, one corner of it has curled up slightly since washing it, even though I air-dried it."

Would you buy this rug? "Yes."

Perry’s Ruggable was a hit straight out of the box. Although it had no creases, oddly enough, it arrived with a stain on it. The chenille rug was almost slippery and soft but not exactly cozy. Though comfortable underfoot, it felt synthetic and the color wasn’t white, as its name and online photos would suggest. In the daylight it looked slightly gray, while other lighting made it appear greenish-gray. 

Having opted for the cushioned rug pad, Perry found it difficult to unpack and roll out; it even caused a few scratches on her forearms and hands. The cushion was much needed, though, because the actual rug itself was very thin, and because it was cut a little smaller than the rug, there was a noticeable dip along the edges. The Ruggable won’t work without a rug pad because the underside is also fabric.

Perry’s dog had an accident on the rug, and though the smell was present, the spot wasn’t. “The rug was a little too efficient in hiding and absorbing the mess,” she said. “But then the odor stank up my entire apartment, so I had to wash the rug in the washing machine.”

As with the NuLoom rug, Perry spilled beet juice, coffee, and marinara sauce, and even though most of the stains came out, there were some residual spots. After the first wash—with Tide laundry pods on a cold, delicate cycle—it no longer smelled and looked exactly the same. But she had to run it through twice because the machine wasn’t able to properly wring out the rug. It was still sopping wet when the cycle was over. Two hours in the dryer was still not enough time to dry the rug, so it required additional air-drying overnight.

Using a robotic vacuum cleaner proved to be easy, although it was unable to pick up dog hair, prompting Perry to liken the rug to Velcro.

What did you like about this rug? “The design was beautiful, and the rug was well made. There were no creases, no out-of-the-box smells, and no shedding. The convenience can’t be beaten, and I didn’t have to worry about pets or kids or wine-drinking husbands hanging out on it.”

What didn’t you like? “I spend a lot of time on the floor and would just like it to be a little cozier. It felt very synthetic, which it is, but I’m also used to having plush, wool rugs in my home."

Is Ruggable worth buying? “It’s an investment, and several visitors have asked me this question. In my opinion, if you have kids, pets, and/or entertain often, it’s worth it. The designs are gorgeous and way better than less expensive rugs, but the quality is there, too. The ease with which these things can be cleaned without shrinkage or coddling is so nice. And in the long run, it’s cheaper than getting your traditional rug cleaned over its life span. I think I would invest in one for the living room, hallways, kitchen, etc., but need a plushier, cozier wool rug for the bedroom.”

Ginger’s Ruggable was also a hit; it matched her home décor and fit well in her daughter’s play area. “It was a definite upgrade from ABC & 123 foam tiles we had there,” she said. “When my daughter first saw the new rug in place, she immediately ran over and laid down on the rug and kind of sighed, as if to say, ‘This is so nice, Mommy!’ It’s super-cozy and soft. We love playing on it!”

Accidental stains came by way of a mixed berry smoothie that splattered all over, but Ginger was able to wipe it away quickly with a damp towel. Other spills included washable paint and whiteboard markers, all of which were easily cleaned without requiring a machine wash. Ginger used Tide Ultra Oxi to wash the rug and let it air-dry overnight by draping it over a triangle-shaped clothing rack. After washing, a planned coffee stain (which entailed a full cup of joe) was undetectable—and better yet, the pad prevented any of it from seeping onto the floors. The rug truly was washable and looked like new. 

Ginger’s robotic vacuum, which runs daily, was a momentary but unwarranted concern. There were no issues with shedding, and the Roomba was able to easily navigate its way without the rug shifting or folding over. The sticky pad underneath did a great job of gripping the rug as well.

What did you like about this rug? "It’s really beautiful and goes well with my décor. It doesn’t feel or look cheap or flimsy, like I expected it to look, as someone who has not tried a washable rug until now.”

What didn’t you like? "There’s nothing I disliked about this rug. It actually does what it says it will do, looks lovely, feels soft and cozy, and is a breeze to clean. The only drawback—it’s not a dislike—was that it has to be air-dried, which takes about 36 hours to dry fully.”

Is Ruggable worth buying? “Yes, 100 percent.”

Given all the noise surrounding Ruggables, my expectations were high for this one. I was underwhelmed by the composition of the piece, but there’s no doubt that the bubbly colors and patterns were a treat to the eyes. I appreciated the subtle grooves on the rug, which gave it a more authentic feel, but the synthetic makeup was hard to overlook.

On a particularly rainy day in New York City, the rug, which was placed by my front door, was covered in dirt and mud. A day later, the dried-up pieces of dirt were easily vacuumed off and the rug looked as good as new. It reminded me of water-resistant fabric, where the slightest hint of liquid would immediately bead up. 

A friend’s dog had a little accident on the rug, and after giving it a quick 30-minute wash, I was unable to detect any lingering odors or stains. My controlled spills portion of the evaluations mostly followed suit, but when examined closely, there remained a slight trace of the red coloring from the spilled ketchup.

Vacuuming was as easy as it was with my Revival rug, and air-drying the piece took a significantly shorter period of time, though it’s worth noting that it came out of my washer still soaking wet and had to be wrung out a number of times. 

What did you like about this rug? "After two washes it still looked like new, and the stains were essentially nonexistent.” 

What didn’t you like? "I had a hard time getting over the synthetic element and the way the pattern was printed on vs. woven in." 

Is Ruggable worth buying? I personally wouldn’t invest in one, especially if I’m looking for a smaller version. There are plenty of options made from natural materials, with equally fun patterns and a lower cost.