4 Best Washable Rugs (2024)
Written and Tested By
Reviewed By:
Rugs are a great way to add depth and interest to your home. They can round out and accent rooms with hardwood floors and add a little bit of comfort when walking around the home.
Rugs can function as ways to fill hallway space, brighten up a home office, or help dry off your feet after stepping out of the shower. But they’re also prone to trapping grime and debris, so cleaning them regularly is important. In our list of the top washable rugs on Amazon, we identified the Ruggable Damali, and the ReaLife Washable Rug as attractive and affordable options to add to any home.
How We Rate Washable Rugs
When ranking these rugs, we mainly looked at how each rug was made and stood up to regular foot traffic, the overall value each brand represented when compared to competitor’s products, and the level of upkeep required to maintain each rug.
- Design: Our team examined factors that made each rug suitable for different locations around a home/office.
- Value: Our team compared our overall testing experience to the product’s original retail price.
- Maintenance Complexity: For this metric, we accounted for how well the manufacturer explained cleaning and the rug’s regular maintenance schedule. We also considered aspects like pile height and how overall carpet size impacted ease of cleaning.
For more information about how we tested washable rugs, check out our full methodology below.
A Deeper Dive on Our Top Washable Rugs
| Product | Pile | Material | Weight | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Medium |
Chenille |
13.8 pounds |
5’ x 7’ |
|
|
Medium |
Polyester |
3.3 pounds |
2′ 6″ x 6′ |
|
|
High |
Polyester and velvet |
3.0 pounds |
4′ x 6′ |
|
|
High |
Non-woven fabric |
12.8 ounces |
17″ x 24″ |
Our Top 4 Picks
Best Washable Area Rug
Ruggable Damali
Ruggable is a popular brand for those looking for a stylish, yet affordable washable rug, and for good reason. The Ruggable Damali proved to be our team’s favorite washable area rug for its understated design and easy upkeep.
The rug utilizes a medium-low pile design, meaning the carpet fibers are short and close to the mat, so dirt and debris are easier to dislodge. This makes the Damali a good option for homes with active foot traffic, such as young children and pets.
The non-slip backing mat provided by Ruggable proved trustworthy, although it was finicky to place correctly between cleanings. That said, the chenille fabric outshines most competitors’ area rugs.
Our Testing Experience
- Locked in. The non-slip mat provided by Ruggable worked exceptionally well.
- Premium feel. This mat’s chenille composition makes it relatively easy to clean and has a more premium feel than other brands.
- Priced high. Most options from Ruggable were priced anywhere from $50 to $100 above other competitors offering similar designs, styles, and sizes.
This rug feels very comfortable underfoot and our team enjoyed its styling. We also experienced little to no detectable rug movement, which we applaud, but it wasn’t a perfect experience.
That said, the issue lies with the backing, not the rug itself. This backing is easily replaced and the rug remains our top pick despite these issues.
| Review Category | Score | What We Found |
| Design | 4.5 | While the Damali has a pleasant feel, lining the backing up with the rug in a way that did not leave any wrinkles or expose the backing proved more tedious than expected. It took our tester over 15 minutes to accomplish a passable result. |
| Value | 4.7 | The Damali has more comfort features than the other rugs we tested, making it a durable choice for common areas like living rooms and other high-traffic zones. |
| Maintenance | 4.8 | We found that vacuuming the rug took some effort, although that is due more to the medium pile length than the rug itself. |
| Overall Rating | 4.7 | An area rug that looks great, feels great, and stays in place. |
- Backed. The only rug we tested in the $250 price range that includes a high-quality, non-slip mat.
- Basic Design. The rug has a minimalist, Southwestern-inspired design that makes it easy to pair with most home decor.
- Misaligned. The non-slip backing can be tricky to line up with the rug itself.
- Pricepoint. With stiff competition, paying over $200 for a 5’ x 7’ rug may not appeal to all customers.
Good for: The hype around Ruggable is mostly deserved for its Damali model with a soft, relatively low-maintenance offering that fits most homes.
Best Bedroom Rug
Ophanie Shag Rug
Customers seeking a luxurious feel and don’t mind a little extra cleanup may enjoy Ophanie’s Machine Washable Shag Rug. With a pile over 1.5 inches and a versatile design, this rug can live anywhere you want to lounge. Just make sure it’s tucked somewhere that will keep it secure, as it tends to slide around a lot.
Our Testing Experience
- Comfort forward. Unlike other rugs we tested, this plush beast uses a high-density shag carpet surface for softness and comfort. Additionally, the carpet fibers are fairly tall with a 1.53-inch pile length.
- Less mess. Ophanie claims to optimize its rugs for less shedding, so fibers stay in place longer.
- Air it out. This rug is recommended for air drying only after washing.
This plush behemoth was a welcome aesthetic addition to the bedroom during our testing period. The feel of bare feet on the rug was comfortable and smooth, although cleaning the gray mass felt like a tall task.
| Review Category | Score | What We Found |
| Design | 4.5 | While the feel of this washable rug was luxurious, the non-slip backing was less effective compared to the other rugs on this list. |
| Value | 5.0 | Getting a plush 4’ x 6’ rug for under $50? This rug is an easy winner for value. It also held its stitching extremely well after each wash. |
| Maintenance | 3.7 | The high-pile design and sheer mass of the rug make it somewhat arduous to load into a washer and air drying does take longer than competing brand’s maintenance routines. We also found this rug trapped debris easily. |
| Overall Rating | 4.4 | A luxurious, large rug at a budget price. |
- Style simplified. The mostly monochromatic stylings help make this rug an easy addition to a room without standing out.
- Plush lovers dream. The comfortable high pile makes it a great option for a child’s room or nursery, but also for an easy bedroom accent piece.
- Priced well. Ophanie managed to keep costs relatively low with rugs regularly on sale.
- High pile = high mess. The shag carpeting means items can easily get stuck or lost in the carpeting, so regular cleaning is a must.
- Unweildy. Opting for a larger size may make placing the rug in a washing machine difficult.
- Heavy. At three pounds, this is one of the heavier rugs for its size.
- Better Backing. This rug lacked stability compared to other brands we tested.
Good for: This rug is raw comfort for buyers who don’t mind a longer cleaning time.
Best Washable Runner
ReaLife Boho Farmhouse Vintage Rug Image
This environmentally friendly rug cleans easily and stays put, but at the sacrifice of style. This rug would make for a great kitchen runner if customers choose a low-pile or flat-weave design.
Our Testing Experience
- Bohemian Inspired. Most designs for this washable rug evoke either a farmhouse or Bohemian aesthetic.
- Eco focus. ReaLife uses recycled materials and is able to produce a rug that stands up to competitors in feel and vibe.
The instructions for washing the rug were relatively simple—cold wash and tumble dry. We found the material relatively intact after the first wash.
We placed this rug in a high-traffic hallway and noticed little movement, which is a benefit considering this model does not ship with a non-slip pad. Still, a backing pad would be a nice addition, with this unit retailing for around $100 for the 10-foot version.
| Review Category | Score | What We Found |
| Design | 4.3 | Our team liked the feel and vibe of this rug, but a limited selection of Bohemian styles likely isn’t going to win over customers with modern taste. |
| Value | 4.0 | The upcharge for recycled materials is apparent as competing brands offer rugs of similar sizes and styles for 10–15% less. |
| Maintenance | 4.8 | Washing the rug proved fairly simple, and we didn’t notice any fraying or immediate damage to the fabric over the testing period. The unit also took well to vacuuming. |
| Overall Rating | 4.35 | A noticeable upcharge for an eco-friendly rug that is easy to clean. |
- Durable material. The eco-friendly material holds up well in both the washer and dryer and under a vacuum.
- Smart for hallways and kitchens. The recycled fibers are great at repelling dirt and pet hair, which makes it a great choice for high-traffic zones.
- Limited options. Most ReaLife rugs are farmhouse or Bohemian-inspired, leaving few choices for someone looking for a modern/contemporary style.
- Comfort complex. It’s not as soft or comfortable as other rugs, but it suffices for a runner.
Good for: Eco-conscious homeowners seeking a durable rug that’s easy to keep clean.
Best Washable Bathroom Rug
Genteele Memory Foam Bathroom Rugs
This plush bathmat keeps its shape even after months of regular use. It’s easy to clean and available in several attractive colors. For the money, it’s an excellent choice.
Our Testing Experience
- Options. This bathmat is available in nearly 20 colors and four sizes.
- Affordable. Most options for home use are $20 or cheaper.
In a way, the Genteele Memory Foam bathmat took the most abuse out of all the rugs we tested. This mat underwent over two months of our review team stepping in approximately the same place and retained its overall bounce and shape.
| Review Category | Score | What We Found |
| Design | 3.5 | The Genteele does exactly what it is designed for, but saying it goes above and beyond is generous. |
| Value | 4.0 | We feel that the smaller options from Genteele are reasonably priced, but the third largest option regularly retails for over $40. |
| Maintenance | 5.0 | The smaller the mat, the easier they are to clean. Washing these memory foam mats was a breeze. |
| Overall Rating | 4.16 | A cushy bathmat that is easily cleaned. |
- Highly absorbent. We used this bathmat everyday for two months and barely noticed any spillage from our feet to the shower.
- Very plush. After two months of standing roughly in the same spot, this mat is still comfortable to the touch.
- Style. This bathmat is more for the resident than to show off to guests.
- Slip or no slip? Several customer reviews of this product mention issues with the non-slip backing.
Good for: This bathmat won over hearts for its simplicity and easy cleaning.
Why Trust This Old House Reviews Team
This Old House has empowered homeowners and DIY-ers for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement advice in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content.
Our Reviews Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content. To date, we’ve published over 1,600 reviews on products in the home space, from doorbell cameras and backyard fencing to pool vacuums and snow blowers.
Once we conclude our research, we craft a comprehensive, user-friendly article of recommended products and additional information to help our readers make the right purchase.
How We Tested Washable Rugs
Our reviews team tested the rugs by placing them in one of our staffer’s homes and noting how each product fared over a two-month period. Each rug was vacuumed once every two weeks, and then washed as directed by the manufacturer every four weeks.
Before each wash cycle, we knocked loose any dirt and debris and accounted for rugs with a higher pile that are inherently harder to clean.
We placed rugs in the following high-traffic areas: a living room space, a bedroom, a bathroom, and a primary hallway. To test the grip strength of each washable rug’s non-slip mat/backing, we intentionally did not place any of the rugs under furniture that would lock them in place.
How We Score Products
Our reviews team scored each washable rug in three separate categories with a rating of 1-to-5 stars based on their performance during the testing period. We then awarded an overall rating based on the average of all three scores.
A rug may have scored highly in one area and faltered in others, which could impact consumer choice depending on what qualities they are seeking. For example, a 6’ x 9’ high pile rug may have scored 4,0 for design and 5.0 for value, but because of its size and pile, it could have scored 3.5 for maintenance.
- 5.0 Stars: The rug has an attractive and durable design that easily outshines competitors, is easy to maintain, and is priced exceptionally well for its level of quality.
- 4.0 Stars: This rating means the rug performed at or above expectations, and represents a worthwhile purchase compared to similar products.
- 3.0 Stars: The rug functioned as intended and met expectations in terms of durability, performance, and value, but may have been outclassed by competitors. Additionally, we feel the rug is adequately priced for its overall design.
- 2.0 Stars: The rug performed as intended or slightly under par against competing brands. Slight damage or confusing maintenance instructions, or an inflated price point would have contributed to this rating.
- 1.0 Star: The rug either arrived in unacceptable condition or depreciated quickly after arrival and did not represent a wise investment.
Compare Top Washable Rugs
| Product | Rating | Best For | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|
|
4.7 |
A comfortable washable rug well suited for a living room |
$100—$830 |
|
|
4.5 |
This understated rug easily adds comfort to any bedroom or |
$12—$120 |
|
|
4.35 |
A stable and attractively-designed rug that fits in hallways or in kitchens. |
$40—$235 |
|
|
4.16 |
Simple and soft, this bathmat is an easy accent to any restroom. |
$12—$40 |
Other Best-Selling Washable Rugs
Our list of rugs is not exhaustive. There are other brands our team researched that almost made the cut. Below are a few contenders that almost made our list of best washable rugs:
Bloom Rugs
Bloom rugs are a strong contender when compared to a brand like Ruggable. The company offers a wide selection of styles and sizes, sometimes at a sticker price of up to $100 less than the equivalent Ruggable option.
We chose Ruggable over Bloom because of two factors: materials and value. The Ruggable Damali uses a chenille fabric, while most Bloom options are listed as using polyester blends. Both materials are durable and suitable for indoor use, but the Damali had a much more premium feel when compared to polyester rugs.
Additionally, the Ruggable was the only rug reviewed by our team that came with a non-slip backing. While this back was somewhat tedious to install, our team observed very little to no movement in the positioning of the Damali during testing. For this reason, we are team Ruggable.
Tumble
Another contender with similar styling to Ruggable, Tumble claims to have similar spillproof designs, anti-curling fabrics, and a non-slip back mat. Those are all things that check boxes for our testing criteria.
However, the one box Tumble failed to check is being available at common retailers like Amazon or Target. For that reason, we left those rugs off our list.
Amazon Basics
Amazon sells its brand of rugs and other home products, usually at a discount when compared to other sellers. Additionally, Amazon Basics does have a shag bathmat and a banded bathroom rug.
Ultimately, we felt that while these rugs are serviceable, most other retailers offer greater specialization and more options for customers at a comparable price point.
Buying Guide for Washable Rugs
Professionally cleaning a rug can be notoriously expensive. Fortunately, many smaller rugs on the market can fit into a front-load or top-load washing machine for effortless maintenance. However, depending on your needs and where you intend to place your washable rug, it’s important to know what it is made of, its pile, size, whether it’s dryer-friendly, and more.
Types of Rugs
Like non-washable or outdoor rugs, most washable rugs are either area rugs, kitchen rugs, bathroom mats, or runners.
- Area rugs: As the name implies, area rugs are designed to take up a large amount of space in a room. Area rugs are typically placed in living rooms, bedrooms, or large areas with wood or tile flooring. Unfortunately, many area rugs are too large to fit inside the average washing machine.
- Kitchen rugs: Kitchen rugs increase the lifespan of the kitchen floor by absorbing spills from water and cooking oils. Homeowners frequently place a kitchen rug or mat in front of the sink or stovetop. The small size of kitchen rugs makes them easy to machine-wash.
- Bathroom mats: Also referred to as shower mats or bathmats, these small rugs are intended for personal use. They’re highly absorbent and sit outside a shower or bathtub, allowing users to safely get out and place their wet feet on the mat without slipping on the bathroom tile.
- Runners: Runners are long, narrow rugs. Runners usually span the length of a hallway or entryway from the front door to the staircase, encouraging guests to walk on the runner as a pathway. A pet-friendly runner is one that’s made with fibers that naturally shed pet hair and is a good choice for dog or cat owners.
Rug Pile
Pile refers to the density of the rug’s fibers. Pile also refers to how tall the rug sits above the ground. Rugs with low piles feature less space between the fibers, making them more durable and easier to clean than high-pile rugs with more space between each fiber. However, some high-pile rugs, such as those resembling shag carpeting, tend to be softer and more comfortable than low-pile rugs.
Ruge Pile and Location
Below are some good places for rug placement by pile type:
- Low pile: Kitchen, dining room, hallway
- Medium pile: Living room, hallway, home office
- High pile: Bedroom, guest house, sunroom
Rug Size
If you buy a 5-by-7-foot rug, you might have trouble fitting it inside your washer unless it’s a full, family-sized washing machine. Smaller washable rugs for kitchens and bathrooms should have no issues fitting inside a washing machine. Pay close attention to the listed dimensions of a washable rug, which represent height and width, and consider measuring the area before buying.
Similarly, the size of the space and the area should dictate rug size. Smaller apartments with more constricted hallways should opt for runners. If you are shopping for a living room rug, an option that can be partially tucked under couches and a coffee table may be better than something that dominates the common area.
Rug Material
Polyester, microfiber, and cotton are common materials for washable rugs, with polyester or a polyester blend being the most popular. Polypropylene is another popular option, which consists of a blend of synthetic fibers.
Natural fiber rugs are growing exponentially in popularity. Look for jute, natural cotton, wool, and hemp if you’re in the market for a more natural option.
How To Care for Your Rug
Whether you want an easy-to-clean runner for the kitchen, a new bathroom mat, or an ornate, sprawling rug to tie your new living room together, it’s important to take great care of your washable rug. From protecting your rug from high-traffic areas to caring for a low-pile rug, here are several general care tips to help you get the most out of these practical home decor pieces.
Regular Vacuuming
Like carpet, regularly vacuuming your rug is a no-brainer, even if you can wash it in your washing machine. A thorough vacuuming weekly or once every two weeks will remove dirt, dust, debris, and other allergens deeply embedded in the rug’s fibers and put less strain on your washing machine when you eventually clean it.
Clean Spills Immediately
Beverage, food spills, or pet accidents should be cleaned as carefully but quickly as possible. You can remove most stains with a little TLC.
Rotating
You may consider rotating your rug, bathmat, or runner every so often, especially if it’s frequently stepped on in the same spot. This prevents uneven wear.
Rug Pads
Non-slip rug pads prevent you and your guests from tripping on the rug and also prevent creasing. Rug pads also protect the flooring underneath the rug from discoloration due to the bleeding of the dyes embedded in the carpet fibers. This is just as important for vintage or Persian rugs as for brand-new rugs.
The Bottom Line: Our Top Washable Rug Picks
Our reviews team identified several rugs that are easy to clean, offer attractive designs, and are priced well for their construction and materials. We also discussed certain characteristics of rugs that people should be aware of when purchasing rugs for certain rooms or when they desire a certain feel.
Below are our review team’s top picks:
- Best Washable Area Rug: Ruggable Damali Washable Rug
- Best Washable Runner: ReaLife Machine Washable Rug
- Best Washable Shag Rug: Ophanie Shag Rug
- Best Washable Bathmat: Genteele Memory Foam Bathmat
Washable Rug FAQs
Below are some common frequently asked questions about washable rugs.
How do I spot-clean my washable rug?
Even if your rug is stain-resistant, spills are practically inevitable. To spot-clean your washable rug, immediately treat the affected area with a mixture of one cup of warm water, a quarter teaspoon of dish soap, and one teaspoon of white vinegar. Then, using a clean cloth, gently dab the area with the mixture, being careful not to oversaturate the spill at once. Note that this is a standard spot-cleaning method for rugs, which is generally safe for all fabrics. You may also use a commercial-grade cleaning solution for carpet and rug stains.
Who needs a washable rug?
Any household with multiple occupants, or homeowners with families, will appreciate the convenience and ease of maintenance that a washable rug offers. Even if you live on your own or don’t frequently have guests, washable rugs will make quick work of deep cleaning.
What is the best way to clean a rug?
First and foremost, check the care instructions provided by the manufacturer of your washable rug. They’ll note what to do and what not to do based on the materials used in the design of your washable rug. Most commonly, you can machine wash your rug on a gentle, hand wash, or bulk wash cycle, but only if the rug is small enough to fit in your washing machine safely.
How often should I wash my washable rug?
Generally, we recommend washing your rug once a month or once every two months, depending on how much foot traffic the area receives. However, since most washable rugs can be cleaned using a washing machine, you can conveniently clean your rug more often, such as every two weeks.