Any interior designer will tell you: Rugs can make or break your space. The right size, color and pattern transforms ho-hum floors and ties furniture, art and home accents together. Not to mention, rugs add a soft, cushy comfort that feels great under bare feet.

However, rugs are notoriously tricky to clean. Thick piles, delicate fibers and sheer size make shampooing large area rugs a full-day undertaking—or a costly professional task.

That’s why I was so excited to see washable rugs, like Ruggable, enter the floor care space in recent years. Ruggable area rugs claim to offer the same benefits as traditional rugs in an easy-to-clean format—but do they really live up to the hype? And are they truly easy to wash? I tested a 6×9-foot Ruggable to find out.

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We Tried It

Ruggable Rugs

Our editors are smitten! These washable rugs look just as good as their traditional counterparts and are made of quality materials.

What is a Ruggable rug?

If you’ve been on Instagram or TikTok in recent years, you’ve likely seen an influencer touting their beautiful, washable rugs. These are often from Ruggable, an online brand making waves in the floor care world by flipping an expensive, hard-to-clean product into a life-proof, machine-washable one—without sacrificing style or comfort.

Ruggable area rugs come in the same sizes as traditional rugs but utilize a patented two-piece system. Your rug isn’t one piece; rather, it’s a separate cover and pad. This allows you to toss the cover in the wash when life happens and, if desired, switch out covers with changing seasons or room refreshes.

There are four core cover and pad systems to choose from:

  • Flatwoven rug with a standard pad
  • Flatwoven rug with a cushioned pad
  • Tufted rug with a standard pad
  • Tufted rug with a cushioned pad

You can also find select plush and shag Ruggable area rugs. The thinner Ruggables are best for high-traffic areas that require a lot of durability, while the cushioned rugs are ideal for bedrooms and living spaces where you want cushy comfort. As we explain later on, the thicker, cushier rugs can also be harder to wash in a standard home washing machine.

How We Tested a Ruggable Rug

I’ve been testing a 6×9 Wilder Burgundy multicolor tufted rug with a standard pad since October 2024. It lives in my living room where it sees moderate daily foot traffic.

Setup

The rug topper and pad arrived in a large, brown, rectangular box. Each piece was folded inside. There was also a short assembly guide tucked inside the rug, but it didn’t apply to the 6×9 rug size, which was disappointing.

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Now, you might be thinking: “It’s a rug, who needs instructions?” I initially had the same thought—and ended up wasting a lot of time. Thanks to Ruggable’s two-part pad and cover design, there is a specific method that makes setting up the larger sizes easier.

First, I vacuumed my space and moved my modular sectional out of the way. Then, I unrolled the rug pad. I had it upside down at first, but then, after realizing how slippery it was, I quickly flipped it over. The bottom has a nonslip grippy surface, and the top has a texture similar to hook-and-loop tape.

To set up the rug cover, I tried a myriad of methods—rolling, flinging, tucking—and each was unsuccessful. The cover really wants to stick to the pad, which makes it very difficult to adjust it by yourself. After 15 minutes of effort, I ended up visiting the brand’s FAQ page and watching a short YouTube video for guidance.

Per Ruggable, for a 6×9 area rug, you need to fold the cover into thirds and then in half. Next, attach the corners, with about an inch of overhang, and start to unfold. This step was still a little tricky by myself, so I would strongly recommend a helper if possible.

Eventually, after following the correct instructions, my rug was set up! I spent a few more minutes smoothing out wrinkles/air bubbles and moving furniture back into place. Truthfully, I was not expecting this process to be so difficult. The Instagram influencers who first introduced me to Ruggable make it look so easy to replace the cover, but it’s definitely a process with the larger sizes and styles.

Content Director Ellie Martin Cliffe agrees, saying: “We have a couple of 5×7 and 6×9 Ruggable rugs. I’ve found that it’s almost impossible for me to replace the cover by myself. My spouse and I have devised a system that works beautifully. We roll the cover, make sure it’s centered over the edge of the pad, and then unroll it over the top. As he unrolls it, I smooth it out.”

Wear Testing

That said, the visual impact of a Ruggable rug is well worth the effort. Once it was in place, this rug was the missing piece I didn’t even know my living room needed. There are so many stunning styles and colors to choose from, including special collaborations with designers like Morris & Co. or Iris Apfel. There is truly a Ruggable for every aesthetic.

I chose the tufted rug and standard pad combination, which is recommended for living rooms and placing under furniture. The tufted styles are three times thicker than the flatwovens and feel like a traditional rug. Plus, the pattern is absolutely precious. Vibrant colors, clear prints and reinforced edges speak to the same quality we’ve come to expect from Ruggable after testing kitchen, outdoor and bathroom rugs. Heck, we even loved the Ruggable doormat!

And, after months of trodding, it still looks brand new. We had dozens of guests visit over the holiday season, including my sister’s golden retriever, and there’s no fraying, pilling or other signs of wear. I vacuum the rug at least once a week (more on that below) to pick up hair and debris, but so far, I haven’t needed to wash it.

Washing and Drying

Speaking of: Are large Ruggable area rugs really machine-washable? Yes—but with some crucial caveats.

While every Ruggable rug can go inside a washing machine, not every home machine is large enough for every Ruggable. The brand offers a Washing Machine Rug Guide that lets you check compatibility.

Generally, most flatwoven Ruggable rugs fit in machines 3.8 cubic feet or larger. Only 9×12 and 10×14 sizes require bigger washers. The tufted pile (which is what I tested) gets a little trickier. A 3.8-cubic foot washer will hold smaller tufted sizes, including runners, just fine. But to fit my 6×9 tufted rug, I’d need at least a 4.2-cubic foot washer—and an even larger machine for 8×10 styles. Opting for a plush pile? The fit gets even narrower. Before buying, I strongly suggest you evaluate the size of your washing machine and what Ruggable options will fit.

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Ultimately, I decided that my home machine was a little too small to handle my tufted 6×9 rug. When the time comes for a refresh, I’ll likely take it to a laundromat or even hose it off outside on a sunny day. Rest assured, though, that tufted styles are able to ditch stains. I tested a Ruggable runner that’s the same tuft as my 6×9 area rug, and an assortment of stubborn stains (coffee, blueberry and ketchup) lifted right out.

Flatwoven styles are more versatile. “The 6×9 fits fine and gets thoroughly clean in our front-loading washer,” says Ellie. “We put it in our dryer on air-dry, which also works. If it’s still a little damp, we’ll drape it over a couch to let it dry all the way. I’m impressed by how quickly they dry. I never have to worry about it getting musty like you sometimes do with thicker rugs.”

Vacuuming

While washing large Ruggable area rugs can be tricky, luckily, vacuuming them is not. I find weekly upkeep is enough to stave off hair and dust buildup. Ruggable does offer vacuum tips to prolong the life of your rugs. It suggests using a low setting, skipping stiff bristle brush attachments and avoiding the corners.

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I use a Dyson cordless vacuum for daily use, and I find that it does a good job picking up debris. The powerful suction of the vac does want to “eat” the rug, so I’m careful to push in long, broad strokes rather than short, choppy movements. Having furniture anchor the rug in place also helps a lot.

Pros

  • Vibrant, beautiful rug designs that instantly warm your space
  • Ample options to customize size, cushion and tuft level
  • Functional; quality materials and durable stitching
  • Easy to vacuum
  • Machine-washable, so long as you have a large enough machine
  • Stains lift away with ease

Cons

  • Tricky to align on the rug pad, especially by yourself
  • Many 6×9 and larger styles (especially tufted and plush piles) only fit in select washing machines

Final Verdict

While the tufted 6×9 rug cover is slightly too large for my home washing machine, I’m still glad I chose a Ruggable rug. For starters, knowing that I can wash it gives me incredible peace of mind—especially when the red wine comes out at family get-togethers. Sure, I’d need to take it to a laundromat, but it’s a small price to pay for a squeaky-clean carpet. Plus, if our lifestyle changes (read: pets enter the picture), I can always order flatwoven rug covers that are easier to wash in my smaller machine.

Where To Buy a Ruggable Rug

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We Tried It

Ruggable Rugs

Large and high-pile Ruggable area rugs aren't compatible with all home washing machines, but they still deliver comfort in a range of beautiful styles.

Pick up Ruggable area rugs in a variety of sizes—like 5×7, 6×9, 8×10 and 9×12—directly from the brand. You can also find select options on Amazon and Costco. Prices vary depending on the size, style, tuft, pad and collaboration. The exact rug I tried costs $579.


FAQ

How do you wash Ruggable rugs?

To wash Ruggable area rugs, first remove the rug cover from the rug pad. Pre-treat any stains, then toss in the washing machine—design-side facing out—on a cold, gentle cycle with mild detergent.

Before buying a Ruggable, we strongly recommend ensuring you have a washing machine that is large enough for the rug size and pile height you’re considering. Check out the brand’s Washing Machine Rug Guide for specific details. Most flatwoven styles can fit in medium-large machines, but thicker tufted and plush styles can be trickier to fit.

Are Ruggable rugs worth it?

In our experience, yes. Whether you have kids, pets or allergies, it’s reassuring to know that your favorite rug is cleanable when it encounters life’s messes. In our thorough testing, we found that Ruggable rugs are stylish, well-made and cleaned up well. However, the larger, thicker styles may be too large to fit in some home washing machines.

Where can you buy Ruggable rugs?

You can buy Ruggable rugs on Ruggable’s website and Amazon. Select styles are also available at Costco.

How do you clean a Ruggable pad?

Ruggable rug pads are not machine-washable or dryer-safe. To clean, spot treat with a damp cloth. For deeper stains, saturate the pad with soapy water and rinse thoroughly. Then, hang to dry.

Does Ruggable have sales?

Yes! Ruggable runs frequent sitewide sales, as well as discounts on specific collections. Keep an eye out for Ruggable sales around major holidays like Black Friday and Presidents Day.

Can Ruggables go in the dryer?

Yes! Ruggable rug covers are safe to tumble-dry on very low heat or air-fluff settings. You can also air-dry them.

Why You Should Trust Us

Here at Taste of Home, it is quite literally our job to evaluate home and kitchen products. And we take that responsibility seriously! We thoroughly vet products through fair, accurate testing methodologies. Our team has combined decades of experience in the home, kitchen and lifestyle spaces.

The tester for this Ruggable runner evaluation, Katie Bandurski, has nearly a decade of experience in the media industry covering food, kitchen, home and garden trends. She extensively covers home care, including other Ruggable products. To date, our team has tested most of what the brand has to offer, including a runner, bath mat, kitchen mat, outdoor rug and doormat.