Everything You Need to Know Before Buying a Ruggable Washable Rug

Can a machine-washable carpet stand up to potty training dogs?

By Emma Seymour Updated: Dec 6, 2023

If you’ve ever deep-cleaned a rug by hand or sprung for a professional carpet cleaner, you’ve probably also wished that you could just throw your rug in the washing machine. Ruggable rugs let you do just that: All of the brand’s rugs are entirely machine washable.

Ruggable rugs come as a two-piece set with a non-slip rug pad and a top layer that attaches with a Velcro-like grip. Whether you need to clean up after pet or kid messes, you’ll find it’s easy to remove the top layer and put it in the washing machine and dryer. Based on our extensive research into washable rugs, we found that many rugs advertise as "washable," but that doesn’t mean they’re machine washable like Ruggable, which clinched the top spot in our machine washable rugs tests.

Ruggable Delphina Delft Blue Rug

Credit: Ruggable

RUGGABLE Kamran Coral Rug

Credit: Ruggable

RUGGABLE Cambria Ruby Rug

Credit: Ruggable

RUGGABLE Zinnia Blue Rug

Credit: Ruggable

Why we love Ruggable rugs

✔️Machine washable: First and foremost, we love that the top layer of the rug can easily be removed to be thrown in the washing machine and dryer. In our Lab evaluations, the rug did not shrink or show changes in appearance after multiple wash cycles.

✔️Kid- and pet-friendly: Reviewers rave that Ruggable rugs are perfect for homes with little ones and pets. No matter who is having an accident, it’s easy and quick to clean up spills and messes. "With three small kids and a dog, our throw rugs get trashed. Then I discovered Ruggable," says Meaghan Murphy, content director of Woman’s Day. "You legit roll it up and toss it in the wash. Bonus: The patterns and size options are endless."

✔️Unbeatable selection: Ruggable rugs are available in a wide variety of sizes — including runners, 8’x10′, 6’x9′, 5’x7′ and 3’x5′ — to fit every space in your home. It’s easy to shop by color or style with an impressive selection of options like Bohemian, floral and geometric patterns — even Disney motifs that are perfect for kids’ rooms. Ruggable is one of the only brands to offer washable shag rugs, which are known for collecting dust and dirt due to the high pile. They’re super soft according to online reviewers and are available in white and grey in a variety of sizes.

✔️Easy-to-swap styles: Once you have the rug pad, you can purchase different top layers to change up a room’s appearance as often as you like. It’s more affordable than buying a whole new rug.

✔️Exciting collaborations: Ruggable works with a variety of partners to create rugs for everyone, no matter your interests. Their collaboration partners include renowned designer Jonathan Adler, Star Wars and Disney. They even have a collegiate collection so you can show off your school spirit.

✔️Fun outdoor options: If you’re looking for something a little sturdier that can withstand the elements, Ruggable’s variety of outdoor rugs are fade-resistant, durable and made from woven material that won’t feel rough. Bring on the rain, wind, sleet, hail, dirt, dust and just about anything else you can throw their way.

How to clean a Ruggable rug

For day-to-day cleaning, you should vacuum your rug to remove pet hair, dirt and dust without washing. If you spill or your pet has an accident, you should throw the top layer of the rug in the washing machine right away. The rug is also dryer-safe, but some reviewers note that larger rugs take a while to dry. We recommend that you launder the rugs only when you absolutely have to in order to prevent wear and tear to keep them looking brand-new.

Is Ruggable worth it?

If you want ultimate ease of use, we say yes, Ruggable is worth it. That doesn’t mean there aren’t downsides:

Thinner feel: Because there are two separate layers, Ruggable feels thinner than a traditional rug. The top layer is low-pile and lightweight, which is what allows it to be machine washable.

Curling on edges: In our Lab evaluations, we found that the rug edges curled up a bit after washing. This is not uncommon for area rugs, though.

Return policy: Ruggable accepts returns of unused products only, so products can’t have visible damage, wear and tear or have been washed before returning. Products can be exchanged or returned for a full refund, but you’ll have to pay the return shipping fees. Note that all sample swatches are final sale.