The Best Washable Rugs, According To Rigorous, Hands-On Testing
The best washable rugs are durable, easy to clean and available in a variety of colors and patterns to complement any home. After six weeks of hands-on testing—including stain tests, multiple cycles in the washing machine and dryer and everyday use—I found that the Ruggable Tufted is the best washable rug overall. It’s easy to clean, available in a range of diverse patterns and has a soft, plush texture underfoot, making it a standout choice for most homes.
If you’re a pet parent or someone who doesn’t want to be too precious with furnishings, washable … [+]
From there, I also selected top picks for more specific needs. For example, the Sinclair and Banks Collections from Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines x Loloi are the best washable rugs on Amazon, and I recommend the Lorena Canals Washable Rugs in cotton for kids and playrooms. Read on for the best washable rugs in every category, based on rigorous testing.
If you’re in the market for a washable rug, you’ve probably heard of Ruggable. The brand’s rugs are sold as two pieces: the rug pad, which has a nonslip bottom and a grippy, almost grippy top, and the rug cover that lays on top. While some people may be averse to a two-part system, I’ve found it to be the most efficient solution compared to one-piece washable rugs. The top cover is considerably thinner and lighter, making it easy to pop in a standard washing machine. It can also be easily tumbled in the dryer on low, which eliminates the annoyance of line-drying a large rug either in your home or backyard. When it’s time to put the cover back onto the pad, make sure it’s fully dry and take care not to stretch the cover, as this can cause rippling or an uneven surface. I’ve found that a rewash and dry will fix any misshapenness that can occur during this process.
As a dog owner and someone who doesn’t want to be too precious with my furnishings, I’ve had Ruggable rugs in my home for over four years now and have been consistently impressed with its quality and the improvements the brand makes based on customer feedback. The tufted Ruggable is an excellent example of this responsiveness: This version is three times thicker than the original flat-woven style, and it has a soft medium pile that better mimics the barefoot experience of a traditional rug. So if you’ve previously been disappointed by the softness or cushiness of a Ruggable, this one’s for you.
The best part about this rug, though? It’s exceedingly washable. During stain tests, it easily shed residue from red wine, coffee and potting soil with just a cycle in the washing machine. While you can, of course, pop your Ruggable in the washing machine to be cleaned, I also spot-clean mine as needed with an upholstery cleaner, which works wonders on dog accidents and spills. According to one tester, who has a Ruggable in their playroom, the rug has seen its fair share of paint splotches and crayon marks. “It all washes off quite well with just a wet cloth and a good amount of dabbing,” they confirm.
Ruggable rugs come in a staggering number of patterns (more than 900), ranging from traditional Persian and Moroccan designs to midcentury geometric patterns, brand collaborations (with brands like Disney and Morris & Co.) and lots more. While they come in sizes up to 9 x 12 feet, bear in mind that the larger the rug, the larger the washing machine will need to be. Check your washing machine’s capacity or plan to head to a laundromat for a commercial-sized washer for larger sizes.
There are plenty of vintage-inspired rugs on the market, but they don’t always live up to the photos online. This rug is a pleasant exception: It has all the design nuances and lived-in appearance of an authentically vintage rug, but it’s fully machine-washable and surprisingly soft. It is a printed rug, so once you get up close and swipe your hands over the fibers, you’ll notice that it’s not handwoven. However, I consider this a worthwhile trade-off for a rug that can be easily cleaned. And since it’s available on Amazon, it’ll also arrive at your doorstep with Prime shipping—perfect for anyone who needs a new rug, ASAP.
I placed this rug in my dining area, and I particularly enjoyed the low pile because it ensured that errant dinner crumbs didn’t get lodged deep in the fibers. It also vacuumed easily without needing the max setting on the machine. When it comes to washability, this rug is a bit more difficult to get into the washing machine than a Ruggable since it’s all in one piece. While the 5 x 7 foot rug technically fit in my standard washing machine, I would probably take it to the laundromat next time around. Annoying, I know, but here’s how I see it: The hour and $5 it takes to wash this rug at the laundromat is far cheaper and less annoying than buying a brand-new rug every time there’s a smell or stain that I can’t get out with spot-cleaning.
Lorena Canals has been a leader in the washable rug industry for 25 years, so it was essential to test and include one of the brand’s rugs in this review. While Lorena Canals manufactures washable rugs in both cotton and wool, I opted for the cotton version here, as it’s generally easier to wash and spot-clean than wool. This choice was validated during testing: The rug came out perfectly clean after stain tests with some spot treating (I tested a white rug, so stains were more visible) and a wash cycle.
Originally designed for children’s rooms, these rugs are made with natural fibers, and the pile is incredibly soft for little hands and feet. However, the rugs come in a variety of colors and designs suitable for nurseries and adult spaces alike, making them versatile and adaptable as your needs change. If you’re in the market for a soft, vintage-inspired rug, these are a great option.
Unlike many washable rug brands, Lorena Canals doesn’t offer many oversized options—the largest is just over 10 x 6.6 feet. This might be limiting if you’re shopping for a large space, but based on my testing experience, finding a washing machine that can accommodate a rug larger than this is quite challenging anyway.
The tufted Ruggable is my top pick overall thanks to its regular rug feel, but the original version is unbeatable for pet owners. Having lived with several Ruggable styles and a rambunctious dog for the past few years, I remain a big fan of this original style. While the flat-weave construction isn’t the softest, it’s extremely easy to clean after accidents and spills because liquids don’t permeate the fabric as quickly as they do with high-pile rugs, which seem to soak up liquids. The tight weave is also particularly durable against nails and claws, and it prevents pet hair and debris from penetrating the fibers. This is especially true compared to looped wool or shag cotton washable rugs, which easily snag and attract crumbs.
Another benefit of the dense weave is that even larger rug covers can fit into a standard washing machine. Though it was a tight fit and would have been better off at the laundromat, I successfully washed my 9 x 12 foot Ruggable in my standard washing machine. I set the load to heavy and added an extra rinse cycle.
Similar to Ruggable, Tumble rugs consist of a rug cover and a separate pad. However, the Tumble rug pad comes in several pieces that fit together like jigsaw pieces of a playroom or gym floor mat. “The pads are thick and supportive,” says our tester, “but I didn’t love the puzzle-style rug pad because even if one piece shifts, the feeling underfoot isn’t the same.”
Despite this, the Tumble rug is great for low-traffic areas like dining rooms, meaning the rug pad won’t be subject to as much slippage. Plus, the silky smooth flat-woven rug cover is particularly easy to vacuum and toss in the wash. It’s also available in a range of neutral and boho designs that would fit well in a modern farmhouse or contemporary home.
If you’re aiming to inject some color and character into your kitchen without fretting over spills or tracked-in messes, this runner is a reliable choice. While authentic vintage rugs make a statement, they’re not practical for high-traffic areas like kitchens since they often require professional cleaning when soiled. This runner captures a vintage aesthetic but is notably more affordable and easily fits into standard machines, ensuring there’s no need to panic when accidents occur.
The flat-weave construction may not be the softest underfoot, but I found that its low profile minimizes potential tripping hazards compared to thicker rugs. However, it definitely requires a nonslip rug pad, as it can be quite slippery on hard surfaces without one, and the extra traction is essential in a kitchen setting.